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pre-session
Before Your Session:
Before you record at SMS, it helps us to know more about the artists we are recording so we can capture your vibe and essence and "what you're about" as we engineer your project and design your promotionals. If you have any musical influences, send us links to those artist sites of interest, so we can also prepare on our end.
You should have a producer before recording begins. SMS can recommend one if needed. You should also have arranged your musicians and vocalists participating in the studio recordings.
Additionally, We Have Some Tips Before Coming To The Studio:
#1
Have your music already copyrighted or in the process of being copyrighted (see
Copyright
for more information). SMS does not hold any copyrights of any artist we record, unless a special collaboration agreement between the artist and SMS is reached beforehand.
#2
Rehearse well and be prepared. Have all the kinks worked out of the music beforehand. Be ready to begin recording. Practice and warm up before arriving.
#3
Know your intros, transitions, endings, and solos. In other words, map out each song on paper before arriving and print out
2 extra copies
of your lyric and mapping sheets for our engineer(s), complete with song dynamics, instrumentation, and vocal ques. If you already met with a producer at SMS, then we will have the mapping sheets already. Still bring the extra lyric sheets. Know the exact feel you want for each song. Let the Engineer know the length of each song before you begin recording.
#3
Bring extra strings and batteries, as SMS does not provide these items. Have instruments tuned and ready to go.
#4
Avoid wearing any loud jewelry or clothing, bangle bracelets, etc. Or, be prepared to take off such items during recording.
#5
Don't jam between takes. Don't talk or move around during active recording and wait a full 8 beats after the song ends before doing so.
#6
While recording, if you make a mistake, don't panic but please point it out. Most of the time we can punch it in later. If a song isn't going well, we suggest you put it aside and we move on to something else, or take a short break to regroup.
#7
Get a good night's sleep the night before recording. Arrive in a good mood.
#8
Remember: Recording is fun. Don't stress out. Enjoy the process. Relax!