Please read this page carefully before your session date.
DPD can capture the sound you create and render the best possible tones. However, no studio can work miracles. This means that if the material you present is full of inconsistencies, you can count on the final session being full of errors. The studio can ‘replace’ most errors using punching in/out for vocals and instruments, however if the original material has multiple timing errors, then there’s little the studio can do to help unless you are prepared to spend money for tedious, time consuming editing.
You must be prepared to listen critically to your material and decide what your capability level is. If you want an absolutely perfect recording, then you need to come into the studio ready to produce perfect sounds or spend days to get it right in the studio. We suggest that you be able to play the full arrangement of your songs in excellent time with minimal errors before setting your recording date. This will allow you to focus on the quality of your performance while maximizing your recording time and budget.
General Tips:
- Get plenty of sleep the night before to keep your energy level consistent.
- Practice.
- Arrive in a good mood; it will set the tone for your recording.
- Be on time – map directions the day before recording.
- Use an 8-beat count-off with the last two beats silent to begin a song.
- Make no sound after you finish a take. Wait for the last notes to fade.
- If you’ve written a part too difficult to play be prepared to simplify it.
Vocalists:
- Treat your vocals carefully before recording.
- Drink warm water with lemon and use cough drops.
- Do not record dehydrated, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol before your session unless you intend to sound that way.
Guitar/Bassists:
- Put new strings on your guitar about a week before. This is very important for electric basses in particular.
- Make sure your guitar is not creating any noise on it’s own. If so expect that to be on the final recording.
- Bring chord charts for each song – even if you are sure you won’t need them.
- Bring extra strings, cables, and batteries for your instruments/equipment.
- If your instrument tends to go out of tune, do not record with it.
- Borrow or rent a reliable instrument for your recordings.