If it seems like I dwell too much on the importance of being prepared for going into a studio, believe me, it is crucial. I’ve had folks come in prepared to spend a fair amount of money for studio time, yet their guitar will not tune correctly, or it won’t stay in tune long enough to finish one song. There have been keyboard players show up with broken keys which they can theoretically play around, but it can sure make for some awkward sounding moments on a song. On the other hand, I’ve had customers walk in with brand new keyboards but, because they haven’t learned how to use them yet, they waste hours trying to find the sound they want. The most common problems are bad strings, dead drum heads, no drum sticks, squeaky pedals and rattles on drum sets, no guitar picks, bad cords, and amplifiers with numerous noise issues. Most of these problems are somewhat easily dealt with. The other common problems, which in many ways are much worse and beyond the control of the studio are bad attitudes, squabbles within the
band, wives and husbands, girlfriends and boyfriends, lack of rehearsal, lack of instrumental ability, and a lack of understanding the importance of playing in-synch with each other. That last example sure has an impact on the actual sound of the recording. This art is sometimes called “being tight” or “in the groove” or “in the pocket”. Whatever the term, it is a vital part of a great recording. Mushy compared to crystal clear? That’s what it boils down to!
A favorite story I recall concerning the importance of playing together well is about a man who had a family gospel band. The band members were okay musicians, but not seasoned and definitely not hot pickers. This man heard several great sounding hit songs and discovered they were all recorded in one particular studio, so he contacted said studio and set up some recording time. That studio would be the key to greatness! The big day arrived and the recording started. Listening to playbacks of the day’s efforts, the man was not happy with the sound and asked why his band was not sounding great like those bands on the hit records. The engineer explained it like this: Whether the hit was sung by Alan Jackson or Jason Aldean or Dolly Parton, all of those hit recordings have one very important thing in common: they all had the same group of studio session players. These particular players are considered THE BEST in the industry. They are not only hot pickers, but they know how to play together. They are tight players. They also bring with them some of the finest instruments and sound effects money can buy. They are professionals and generally leave their egos and attitudes at the door. This is their job and that job is to give every song 100%!! At the same time, the money spent recording each of those hit songs may have been enough to buy a really nice car, or even a nice home in some areas. When the drummer walked in, he was handed a check for $5000 and then paid $250 an hour after the first hour. The bass player was handed $4000 up front and paid $200 an hour after the first hour. If that’s not enough, the guitar player was Brent Mason and he walked out of the studio after the first day with about $10,000 in his pocket. What it adds up to is that if you don’t bring it with you, you won’t find it here!
Johnny Divine Outback Studios 940-613-8436
