Ok, so you got a deal. You got a budget. Sure it’s not the budget of yesteryear but it’s enough to make a record. Now you have a decision to make…how and where are you going to record your record? Friends in other bands say that you can get a small Pro Tools M-Box or Logic setup and do virtually everything yourself. The cost that you’d pay out to a commercial studio will easily pay for the new system, a new computer and tons of new plug-ins. So, no brainer right? Well, not so fast. There are some important factors that you should consider before laying down the plastic at your local music store.
1. THE ROOM - Does your recording project require a live room where your players can spread out and have good isolation between the instruments to avoid unwanted leakage? Contrary to what you may think, the differences of the acoustics of a professionally designed room vs. those of recording in your living room, rehearsal space, bedroom or garage are massive. Unless you hit the lottery, there is little chance that without spending vast sums of money on design, treatments etc, you can ever achieve the same quality of sound in your own environment. In addition, recording the natural room sound along with the direct source adds life and personality to drums, guitars, etc.
2. THE BOARD – There is no plug in or summing box in the world that can replace the sound of a full blown analog console. Sure you may not be able to afford recording your whole project on it, but getting “That sound” your basic tracks, vocals or better yet, on your mixes will give your recordings that big punchy sound that cannot be replicated any other way.
3. OUTBOARD EQUIPMENT – The analog boxes that line the outboard racks in the commercial control room also have their own sound. Although plug-ins have come a long way since their inception, there is still no substitute for the real thing. Most commercial studios offer a range of outboard gear that is available to enhance your sound design. Also, many have analog tape machines. I have found that using the tape machine as a huge effects box, i.e. recording through it (even reusing the same tape for budgetary reasons) and then bouncing back to digital retains much of that “analog” warmth and depth and produces a sound that is impossible to achieve through digital only gear.
4. MICROPHONES – Because of cost restrictions and availability most project studios only have access to a limited number of mikes. On the other hand, a well-equipped commercial studio will have a variety of condenser, dynamic even vintage mikes that are available for many of your audio requirements. Drums, guitars, pianos and vocals have different requirements. Having a selection of mikes to A-B in the recording process is invaluable, especially for vocals not to mention the fact that it isn’t desirable to have the same mike coloration on every track.
5. CONTROL ROOM ACOUSTICS AND MONITORS – Actually getting what you hear in the studio in your recordings is paramount. Face it, unless you are extremely lucky, your monitors and control room acoustics will not compare to the accuracy and response of a professionally designed control room. It’s a daunting job, even for the pros to balance out the right hi’s, mids and lo’s on a recording The selection of monitors both near field and full in wall studio will provide you with a much better chance of capturing the sound you are going for. Also, the way you hear the monitor mix is crucial to how you sing, play and perform. Many pro studios have sophisticated personal mixing stations where each player or singer can alter their mix to their own taste and preference.
6. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND TECH SUPPORT – Most commercial studios provide at least a second engineer and many a first included in your booking rate. These individuals know their rooms, the best place for drums, vocals, etc. They can help you keep the recording process organized by keeping accurate notes, freeing you to get on with the making of your record. Tech support is an unspeakable blessing when you are hitting your stride or using an expensive musician and there is a tech failure. Also, just having someone to lend a hand in hooking everything up with access to the proper cables and connectors is a major plus.
7. EQUIPMENT – Many pro studios offer instruments as a part of your rate. Almost all have a grand piano, maybe a B3 Hammond, guitar and bass amps, even various guitars and basses. This gives you a lot of flexibility. As an example, if your record centers around an acoustic piano, it will be very difficult to reproduce the sound of an expensive Steinway with a plug-in. It can be done but there is no substitute for the real thing.
8. CONTACTS – Your studio staff sees the bests and the worst players etc. come through their facilities on a daily basis. A lesser consideration but none the less important is the fact that between the studio staff and engineers, you may gain access to “other” musicians, singers, etc. that are beyond the scope of your contacts. It’s a great help when you need a special guitar part and you can turn to a staff member who has a just the right suggestion of the guy who “killed” the same kind of part a few weeks before.
These are a few of the benefits you may derive from utilizing a commercial facility vs. only a project studio. Of course, every project is different, has different budgetary requirements and successful completion calls for different things. For example, if the bulk of your recording is in the MIDI realm, then a room may not be as important at the offset but there is still much to be sonically gained even in this situation by dumping your tracks to analog and then back to digital. Vocals and acoustic instruments always require a room and some form of separation. Mixing “in the box” is cost effective. Having only a mouse control is limiting, especially if you need to ride faders simultaneously. Having an external control surface is better but again, there is no way to beat the sound and flexibility of running your tracks separately through a pro and maybe vintage console, even if to just record stems and take them back to your project studio for completion.
