Tricks from the desk, written by the guy behind it.
Studio tips from Omar Vallejo, for bands and artists who want to walk in ready and walk out with a record.
Why are December and January good months to make a record?
Time off work, players back in town, a year of songs nobody has recorded, and a way to end the year with something finished instead of another resolution.
Should you bring your own drums and amps to a recording session?
What it costs to load in and tune a drum kit in the studio, what the house kit and amps at 512 Studios save you, and when it is still worth bringing your own.
How should a band plan a recording session?
Recording is fun and exciting, and it is even more fun when you have prepared: what to decide before the first day, what to tell the studio, and how to plan the day itself.
What is good studio etiquette during a recording session?
How to behave in a recording studio so the session goes well: when to arrive, who calls the takes, phones, guests, the gear, and how to leave the room.
How many takes does a singer need to record vocals?
Omar Vallejo on takes, punch-ins, comping and headphone mixes, for singers getting ready to record vocals at 512 Studios in Austin.
Should a band record an album live together or one instrument at a time?
How to set up a live band recording: who goes in the isolation booths, what to do about bleed, how the headphone mixes work, and which parts still get overdubbed.
What does analog tracking through a console change for a band?
Recording through a large analog console into Pro Tools moves the big sound decisions to the moment the band is playing, and here is what that means for your session.