recording information

Engineer experience is the single most important factor in getting quality sound. Good equipment is important, but great equipment in the hands of an inexperienced engineer will not yield nearly as well as an experienced, gifted engineer with even modest equipment! I do consider my engineering ability a gift, & although I don't say it boastfully, I thank God for the talent he's given me & the sound quality we've been able to attain through the years here at Upper Room Studios. Engineering is a continual learning process, with new tricks & techniques being uncovered everyday! Experience also allows an engineer to do a better job faster, thus saving you money in the long run.

The producer's role is to view the overall project as a "whole" & be sure that "all the pieces" will blend together to create the best end product. Some artists prefer employing an outside producer, while others choose to handle this task themselves allowing a member, or members, of the group to function as such. I have acted as producer on many recordings over the years, & will be glad to provide guidance as needed, pointing out matters which I feel need attention, but always being mindful that the artist pays the bill & therefore has the final authority.

Preparation is key to the success of your recording! Be thoroughly familiar with your material when you arrive!

Guitars should have reasonably new strings & be checked for adjustments, buzzes, & intonation. You should bring your effects & amps along if needed for your particular sound. Guitars are usually taken direct from the effects, but if your amp is essential for a certain sound you'll have it. Bass guitars are almost always taken direct in through our preamp/effects or direct box.

The studio has keyboards including a full 88 weighted keys digital piano, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer. If you choose to do so, please be sure to bring all accessories, including stands, cables, pedals, & even the owners manual.

A complete Pearl Session Series drum kit including several snares is available, already mic'd for a great sound. Percussion items are on hand as well. Just bring your sticks & any specialty equipment you may desire such as snares, cymbals, etc.

Vocalists, know your vocals. Harmony or background singers should rehearse the pronunciation and intonation closely with the lead vocalist. What sounds acceptable live sometimes doesn't sound as well when analyzed closely in the recording studio. Practice entrances, phrasing, and cutoffs. The lead vocalist should direct the cutoffs. You can also typically give a better performance if you don't have to read lyrics while recording. If you have a home studio or recorder of any type, recording & reviewing your material beforehand can oftern reveal unforeseen problems. Providing a rough copy prior to your arrival will also allow me to be familiar with your style & sound.

If we are recording your music tracks with studio musicians we need a work copy of your music as far as possible in advance to prepare.

It's usually best not to have an excessive number of spectators which are not directly involved with your project in the studio. Children can also tire very quickly of the studio environment. While the studio atmoshpere may appear intriquing at first, it generally grows boring quickly if you're not actively involved.

Mastering typically follows the mixdown, & is the final & least understood part of the process, but can make the difference between a good sound and a great sound! Several steps can be involved, such as maximizing overall volume, fine tuning equalization & dynamics or compression, & even placing songs in the proper sequence & being sure of the proper flow from song to song.

At Upper Room Studios we usually attend to this task in conjunction with the mixing process, but offer our services to master projects recorded & mixed elsewhere.

Church Ministry Tools. Many churches and groups have realized that a quality recording of their music is a great fundraiser and powerful ministry tool, & can even pay for itself! Music directors & ministers, choirs, & praise and worship teams are using their recordings as a teaching tool to introduce new songs, choruses and music to the congregation. Many would even buy several to share with extended family & friends. Your CD can even open doors beyond your church & on a much larger scale. Leaders & members of other churches might welcome your music as well. Many music distributors started out this way and discovered a demand for their music. The key is having a quality professional recording. Share this information with a leader in your church & contact me for more information to get started.