Here's some quick tips that will help make your time spent at Summerhill Digital Recording Studio more productive...

1. BE PREPARED!  Make sure your songs are rehearsed and ready to record.  This means practicing as much as possible before you arrive and having everything you'll need to start recording when you get in the studio.  Coming up with new arrangements or re-writing songs is a job for rehearsal time- not when you're in the studio and the clock is ticking.

2. [KIS]  KEEP IT SIMPLE!  A lot of people think that since they are recording a CD to be played back for all eternity, they should try to pack as many notes as possible into their performance from the beginning to the end.  Unfortunately, if every member of your band plays with this attitude, the song sounds like a big pile of mush!  So, when you're rehearsing, try to play the song as simply as possible.  You'll find that paring the song down to a simple arrangement with a sparse backing tracking will sound cleaner, clearer and more like the recordings you hear on the radio!  Don't believe it?  Spend a few minutes listening to your favorite radio station and you'll see that most songs are recorded with minimal backing tracks.  Which brings me to the next tip.....

3. IT'S THE SONG THAT COUNTS!!  Most people won't be able to tell if the kick drum is too loud or the guitar player was using a soft pick- but they will remember the song, if it's good.  That's why when that crappy band at the pool hall tears into "Sweet Home Alabama," people get on their feet and dance.  Even if the playing isn't the greatest, if the song is good, people will remember it.  So, don't spend all your time trying to play a guitar riff you'll never be able to reproduce live.  Work on the song.  It's the song they'll remember!

4. GET YOUR EQUIPMENT READY! Before coming into the studio, make sure your equipment is in tip-top shape.  That means new strings on the guitars about 3-4 days before your session, new heads and tuning your drums, and make sure that you have all the little things you need like picks, drum sticks, stick tape, chord charts, sample discs, etc. when you arrive.  Summerhill Studio has just about everything you will need for your session, but if you just have to have that "ratty old Pearl Jam T-Shirt" to be comfortable,  make sure you bring it with you!

5. BE READY TO RECORD BY YOURSELF!  Summerhill Studio has separate isolation rooms for just about every member of your band, but will usually only track the rhythm section all together- everything else is done individually as overdubs.  That means we'll try to track the drums, bass guitar, one chordal instrument like a guitar or keyboard and scratch vocal track at the same time, and everything else is overdubbed and stacked on top of the basic track one instrument and even one section at a time.  So be prepared for a different enviroment than you are used to- recording in a professional studio is an awkward experience for many musicians, so be ready and be flexible.  Summerhill Studio has plenty of experience to help make your recording session pleasant and easy!

6. BE ON TIME!  When you book a session, the clock starts at your scheduled time- not when you arrive. You should plan to be a few minutes early so you're tuned up and ready to go!  Recording is hard work- so leave your friends and kids at home.  We don't want you to feel uncomfortable with 12 pairs of eyes staring at your through the glass!

7. DON'T TALK!  On days that you plan to record final vocal takes, try to keep talking to a minimum and drink plenty of water!!  The main cause of vocal fatigue and hoarseness is a lack of moisture in your vocal chords.  So drink plenty of clear, sugar free beverages during the hours before arriving at the studio.  Water with lemon and warm, sugar-free tea work great!  When you get in the studio, we will provide plenty of water for your session.  But we suggest that vocalists drink warm/hot water between vocal takes- no ice water, please!

8. DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO THE WHOLE CD IN ONE DAY!  One of the most common mistakes made by bands is that they can track the entire CD in just one recording session.  In reality, it takes about 2-3 hours to record just ONE SONG, and that's usually just the basic backing tracks.  So prepared for a lot of long hours and hard work.  Your recording will be around long after you're gone, so we won't move on until we get each song done right.  And we won't wear your out either- we generally record in short sessions that last no longer than 4 hours.  Trying to record while you're tired will only produce recordings that are lackluster and will have to be done again.