THE METALHEAD

Maximise studio time, advises Cradle Of Filth bassist Dan

Last month I talked about the studio experience, particularly the importance of preparing your gear for a session. Being on top of things musically is the other side of the coin, and every bit as crucial. Firstly, unless you’ve got money to burn, I would say the studio isn’t the place to be writing your bass-lines. I always strive to have my parts planned, written out and rehearsed as much as time allows before walking through the door. That’s not to say that things can’t change from the original plan, because they nearly always do! In my bands we tend to start with drums, then record guitars, and then bass, so by the time my turn comes around the songs have often altered from the demos a fair bit. I find that working with those changes to discover the most complementary bass parts is one of the most enjoyable challenges of being in the studio. New sparks of inspiration always arise during the recording process, give birth to some of the best ideas.

Creativity when recording is definitely something to be encouraged, but going in blind to do a whole album sounds very stressful to me. Being well-rehearsed and having the parts ‘under the fingers’ should bring those great takes closer to your grasp, reducing the potential need for editing. Not only will this save time, but the recording will sound more natural overall.

Having a good work ethic in the build-up to and throughout a session is essential for getting the best results and value for the money invested. When I’m in the studio, I’m there to record, so I try to avoid possible distractions like scrolling through social media; instead, I concentrate fully on the task at hand. Occasional breaks are necessary, of course, not only to avoid becoming too fatigued, but also to make a fresh cup of tea now and then… As for the people behind the desk recording you, they’ll appreciate working with passionate, focused musicians who take pride in what they’re doing. It’s true that they’re getting paid no matter what their clients do with the studio time, but I’ll wager that as long as you put your heart and soul into your recording, they’ll be happy to do the same.

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