Record Your Songs

Whether you need a demo to help get more gigs, or an EP/album to stream to your fans, recording is more accessible now than ever. Get your ideas down this year with these easy steps

Make sure you’re ready

Before you step foot in a studio, you’ll need to make sure that your song ideas are complete. There’s no time to be making decisions on structure, lyrics and parts once the red light is on, so decide on your song formats, tie up any loose ends and stick to them.

Rehearse, then rehearse some more

Just like a gig, you should know the songs like the back of your hand before you start rolling. The difference between this and a gig is that this will be committed forever! Once you’ve settled on your songs, get rehearsing. Book a couple of practices before you’re due to record and pay attention to any recurring mistakes that you or the band are making, and work on them until they’re seamless. Spending time on this stuff now will make for a more relaxed and enjoyable recording session, and ultimately, the best recording you can make.

Book a studio

Studios don’t have to cost a fortune, there are plenty of well-equipped places available at an affordable level. You’re normally looking at between £150 to £300 per day, for which you’ll get use of decent mics and gear, plus someone who knows how to use it all. There’s also the added benefit of only having to focus on your playing, rather than where to plug in the XLR cable.

Or do it yourself

Of course, there’s also something to be said for investing in your own set up for recording. Your requirements will be based on what types of instruments you’re recording and the space you have to do it in. For most people, an interface with a couple of inputs (for your instruments and mics) will be enough to overdub your guitars and vocals one at a time, then you’ll just need an instrument mic (a Shure SM57 is standard for guitar cabs) and a condenser mic for acoustic guitars or vocals. If you need to record a drummer, you’ll need more inputs and mics, but you could also consider using one of the many great drum sample plugins such as Toontrack’s EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer. Failing that, you could book a studio to track your drums, then do the rest off the clock!

Try going live

This is by far the simplest form of getting your ideas down, and can make for a great demo if done well. The key is in the preparation, and your PA’s mixing desk will be at the centre of it all. Set up in a rehearsal room and spend a bit of time placing your mics/instruments in the room. Run them all into the mixer and take a line out into a laptop or even your phone to get a stereo recording. You won’t be able to mix the final results, so it’s important to try a few tests and get the balance of each instrument right. You could also use this method to capture instrumental tracks and add vocals later. Failing that, wait until you’re playing a gig with a sound engineer and take a feed from the desk for a well-mixed free demo!

Collaborate long distance

You’re a singer-songwriter, but you want real musicians on your recording. This used to mean heavy studio rates and funding a hoard of hungry gunslingers to play on your tracks. But there is another way. Online recording software such as BandLab removes the limitations of geography, and you can post your ideas for collaboration with other musicians.

Don’t forget the ‘post’

Recording your ideas is half the story. In the case of live/demo recordings, mixing and mastering might not be as critical. If, however, you’re going to be releasing your music, you’ll want to mix – and most likely master – your tunes. Mastering can be a bit of a dark art; it requires experienced ears and expensive equipment, but a quick Google will uncover some mastering engineers with serious credentials offering their services from around £30 per track. At that price, it’s a no-brainer!