Martyr Art - The Unorthodox Sound

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"TIPS FOR RECORDING A 3-SONG DEMO"
PART 1 - BEFORE YOU WASTE A BUNCH OF MONEY AT A RECORDING STUDIO...
PART 2 - THE COSTS OF RECORDING
PART 3 - ???????

Published by Outsider Magazine
PDF Versions will be available sometime in the future

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01/15/2010 • PART 1 - BEFORE YOU WASTE A BUNCH OF MONEY AT A RECORDING STUDIO..

1. Know your material
You should be well-rehearsed. This may sound silly, but you'd be surprised how many bands are just learning their songs once their in the studio.

2. Work with what you got and know your limitations...
Whether it's gear, time, budget,... know your limitations. You will be surprised by how much energy and aggravation you can save yourself by respecting
and adhearing to this step.

3. Respect the Gear
Before you book the studio, book your gear. Get your gear serviced before you record. (Remember, when your in the studio, your on the clock...)

Set-Ups for Guitars and Basses should include:
• Neck Adjustments
• Bridge and Saddle Adjustments
• Checking the Electronics
• New Strings
• Possible Fret Work...

Drum Set-Ups / Tweaking should include:
• Tighten any loose screws and bolts
• New skins (at least on the side you play on)
• Kick Pedal Adjustments...

Additional Pieces of Gear:
• Replacing batteries in stomp boxes and tuners...

4. Research The Studio
Find out which studio will work for you. A studio that specializes in hip hop may not be equipped to handle/capture the sound and spirit of punk rock.
Studios usually have samples of their work, so listen to their samples and figure out if their style of production will work for you. Also comparing quotes to
other studios and finding out if they offer packaged deals (artwork, press kits, web design,...) can also help you save cash in the long run.

To Be Continued...

02/16/ 2010 • PART 2 - THE COSTS OF RECORDING

You've got your gear in prime working condition, your material memorized and you found and booked the studio that will be your artistic home for the
next few days. You maybe thinking that you've got everything under control and there's nothing to kill the momentum that has been building up. WRONG...

1. Don't F*ck Around
Did you know that most studios will start their hourly rate when you step into the studio, even if it's BEFORE loading in your gear. Make sure that all
of the gear tweaks and replacements are done before you get to the studio.

2. Know your "Studio Set"
Make up a set list for your day in the studio. This should include a warm up song, the songs your going to record, breaks, and so on. Go the extra step
and list estimated allowances alongside each part of your scheduled day. For Example...

DAY 1 - Basic Live Tracks and Mixing
DAY 2 - Bass, Guitar and Vocals Overdubs with Mixing
DAY 3 - Mixing, Edits, Final Mixing and Mastering

3. Your Grand Arrival
Get to the studio anywhere between 15-30 minutes before your scheduled session. This may seem pointless, but this formula usually alleviates any
pre-studio anxiety / jitters and will allow you to become more comfortable of your new environment.

PLANNING A BUDGET TO COVER PRODUCTION COSTS AND MAYBE MAKE A PROFIT...

Let's say that your a 4-piece Punk Rock Group (Vocalist / Guitarists, 2nd Guitarists, Bassist and Drummer) and let's also assume that you have a decent
budget to work with....

Hourly Rate ($25) x 8 hours ($200) x 3 days = $600 for 3 days of Studio Time.

Now let's say this includes everything (Recording, Editing, Mixing, Bells and Whistles...). And then you'll have to pay (if your lucky) $30-$60/hr for
Mastering (bringing all of your songs up in overall Volume and any last-minute EQ-ing and Compression tweaks).

This means that for 3 days at the Studio for $600 + and 2 hours of Mastering for $120, your total studio project may cost $720 (Again, the more your
prepared and know your sh*t, the less your project will cost). And if you sell the 3-song E.P. (in CD format) for $5, you'll have to sell 144 units just to
cover the production costs. And this is all BEFORE you get your Album Artwork done (which can range from Free to $500).

Don't be shocked by the cost of the studio time. Most studios cost more than $25/hr and usually the bells and whistles are "À la carte". Digital Media
Facilities like Hit The Road Productions (Chester, NY / 845-469-5203) usually take a deposit and then you pay as you go. These facilities will also cut
you a deal on the cost if you purchase other services (Album Artwork, Website Design, Digital Distribution through iTunes, Duplication, Promo
Packages, Etc.)...and they don't start the hourly rate until the recordings begin.

All in all, this means that you will need to constantly maintain and monitor your workflow of your project to keep within or under budget. Don't forget
to check back for the next installment of my column coming out in the next issue of Outsider Magazine. You can also get a PDF version of this column at
MARTYR ART dot com.

To Be Continued...