The recording process can be quite simple, it can also be complicated if you do not know what you want from the session. It’s all well and fine to say I want an album but there is a little more work required from you before you go to the studio. We at Claycastle Studio are here to offer advice on how you should approach your time in the studio.

Always remember that a studio is a place of work, you can still have fun and relax but the people that work in the studio are professionals who have spent a lot of time effort and money to provide you with a relaxed working environment in which you can create your masterpiece.

There are some simple rules involved before you go to the studio
1. Prepare
2. Prepare
3. Prepare.

As you can see there is a theme here. It’s amazing how many musicians and singers do not prepare before they come to the studio. Songs, keys, words, music not learned. The studio is not the best place to experiment on new sounds even though we at Claycastle will help in every way, but for your own benefit its advisable to know the songs, music or lyrics before you come to the studio? After all it’s your money that you or the band may have spent months saving up for. Why waste it in the studio because the bass player does not know his riff or the drummer didn’t know the rhythm etc. It makes sense to have your music prepared before you come to the studio. Yes you can record the same piece of music several times, but only if you play or sing the part that’s close to each take.

Don’t get the wrong idea a studio is a great place to discover your sound and get the most out of it but don’t expect the engineer to work miracles. Always be prepared.

In our studios we aim to provide each musician with a place that they can express themselves and get the most out of their instrument, with four sound booths main room and recording area we can mix individuals or the band together, whatever the requirements are from the artists.

The basic steps in recording are broken up into two main options

Option 1
1. Lay down a rough guide track, this is sometimes a guide vocal and guitar or piano with a simple drum beat behind it.
2. Start to lay down the proper instrumentals tracks using the guide vocal as a guide. Normally starts with drums bass and rhythm guitar
3. Lay down proper vocals with backing vocals if required.
4. Lay down other instruments from lead guitar keyboards sounds etc
5. Mix the final track to make an instant hit

When it comes to mixing the final tracks we recommend that you take a day or two away from the session to clear your head and think about what you have recorded and come back with a clean ear to do the final mix, there is not always time for this but even a few hours away from the studio will help

Option 2
1. Record the band playing together
2. Redo any vocals or instruments that may be a little out of sync
4. Lay down other instruments from lead guitar keyboards sounds etc
5. Mix the final track to make an instant hit

When it comes to mixing the final tracks we recommend that you take a day or two away from the session to clear your head and think about what you have recorded and come back with a clean ear to do the final mix, there is not always time for this but even a few hours away from the studio will help

These steps are just guides as to what you can do in the studio you can also record using a mix of the two main options listed above. We have the facilities where we can record everything from a single singer songwriter and his acoustic guitar to a full school or church choir. A folk band with 10 musicians to a rock band with just 5 members. We can in our second editing suite work quite well at editing one song while a group can be recording in the main studio.

Your music is unique. CLAYCASTLE studio can help you with the individual attention and planning your project needs to guarantee a successful product. If you have any questions about recording please feel free to contact us for any information you need