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If you aspire to become a professional singer, recording a song is something that you will need to do to get your music out there and get your singing career off the ground. If recording a song is one of your main goals as a singer, being able to pour your heart out into your song and have a finished product that you can be proud of is likely to be one of the biggest achievements of your career. But before you start, there are some things to be aware of. Before you head to a music studio to record the vocals for a song, being prepared to make the best use of your time there is important. Since music studios tend to be rented by the hour or day, they can be quite expensive, which is why getting ready to make the most of your recording session is always a wise move. 

Research Recording Studios

The first step is to do some research on the recording studios that are available in your area. This Dallas rehearsal studio from PIRATE is an ideal choice as it is set up with everything that you need to get started with recording your first song. PIRATE offer studios in various locations in the US and Europe; if you are a musician, finding one nearby that’s suitable for you should be easy. Their website offers more information on the type of studios that they offer and where you can find the nearest one to you. Before heading to the studio, one of the most important things to research is the engineers that you are going to be working with there. Before booking your studio session, make sure that you are clear on the fees and how much time you are going to have. Ask as many questions as you need to find out more about the equipment that they have, how you will get your recording once you are done, and anything else that you need to know. 

Plan Your Session

Since your studio session will be limited and you will need to pay for any additional time there, it’s always best to go into the studio armed with a plan. Knowing what you want to achieve while you are in the studio is important to ensure that you use the time more effectively. Keep your plan simple to allow for some deviation from it if needed, and have a clear, concise goal in mind when it comes to what you are going to be working towards while there. It’s a good idea to write your plan down and share it with your producer or engineer before going to the studio to make sure that everybody is on the same page and knows what they are going to be working towards. 

Get Your Track Ready

If you are going to be recording vocals over a pre-recorded track, it’s a good idea to send this to the engineer in advance, as this allows them to make sure that it is going to be working in the studio. On the other hand, if you’re planning to record the track from scratch, it’s a good idea to record one instrument at a time and make sure that you have allowed enough time for it all, so that you can take your time to get it right before recording the vocals. However, if you have booked your studio session without a full band track ready for you to record over, it is still possible to record your song with a simple solo guitar or piano track. 

Prepare with a Vocal Coach

Before heading to the studio to record your song, you will want to make sure that you are at your vocal best on the day. To do this, be sure to set aside some time to prepare with a vocal coach beforehand, or ask them to come to the studio with you to work alongside you as you are recording the song. Spend some time in advance to practice the music with your vocal coach, to make sure that you are at the top of your game and ready to impress when you head into the studio. If this is your first time recording a song in a studio, then it’s worth bearing in mind that it will usually require some different training compared to performing live on stage, so working with your vocal coach gives them the chance to teach you the techniques that you will need to succeed. 

Allow for Extra Time

It’s always a wise idea to have a little bit extra in your budget for hiring the recording studio so that you can allow for extra time if needed. It is never a good plan to go into the studio feeling pressured or rushed to get your song recorded in a specific or short amount of time. Make sure that the option to take some extra time is available if you need it, so that there’s no need to worry about going over. Most of the time, two hours per song and per instrument is sufficient for getting several takes, but it’s not unusual for everything to take a little bit longer than you might think when you are first going in. Be prepared for any circumstances that will be out of your control such as testing levels, engineers getting set up, finding the best mic that works with your vocal style, and more. Plus, if you book extra time and don’t end up using it, you will always be able to use that free time that you are left with for any re-recordings that you might need or to get started with another song. 

Recording your first song in a studio as a singer can be an exciting and daunting experience. However, doing this is vital to the success of your future career in music. Before you head to the recording studio, make sure that you are fully prepared, to get the most from your session. 

Author: Jodie James

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