This week’s featured FAQ Friday question is:
I am going to be recording a band in a professional studio, using thousands of dollars of mics and hardware. It will be a live session with all of the musicians playing at the same time.
How should I go prepared for my first recording in a professional studio? Should I record everything pure or use a compressor or EQ for some instruments? After the recording, I will mix it in my studio.
The most important thing here is to make sure you have all the information you need to set up the session. Find out what you can about the studio, and everything you can about the musicians. Make sure you know what instruments they play, which instruments will be on the track, and everything else that will help you figure out how to set them up for recording. Once you know about the studio and your musicians, you can map out where you are going to put them, how you are going to baffle them, and even choose which mics you want to use before you arrive. Finding this information and being prepared is key!
In terms of compression and EQ, just by the nature of the question, I would say that you likely will not want to apply compression and EQ while recording. If you are not confident about applying it or knowing what kind of compression and EQ to use, then just don’t! This is something you can always apply afterwards, while you are mixing.
Remember that unless the studio you are recording in has tons and tons of iso booths, you are going to have some bleed, but I would spend less time worrying about compression and EQ and more time on getting as much separation as you can. Focus on placing the mics and the musicians in the best place possible!
Watch the video below for the full answer to this question, and the answers to other great FAQ Friday questions!