Many musicians are unaware of the proper methods for creating a budget for a recording studio. This is because of the process’s numerous moving parts, many of which artists are frequently ignorant of. A professional recording involves more than just placing a microphone in front of something and pressing the “record” button, says Jet Kernaghan.
Imagine you’re wondering what components are necessary to produce a record with great sound. If so, this article will give you all the solutions you require. It can be difficult to decide what you should budget for and what you shouldn’t while organizing your next recording, but I’ve written this post to make it easier for you to achieve.
The instructions that follow will lead you through each essential individual you need to think about to do everything correctly. Once your studio recording budget permits the participation of the following important players in your next recording session, you won’t have to worry about anything other than writing a fantastic song and giving it your all.
Let’s dig in!
Studio Artists
Finding the perfect musicians to surround oneself with is the key to a great-sounding recording. The rest of the procedure will go much more smoothly if you can secure your musical arrangements and the appropriate personnel early on. Additionally, you will have a better chance of engaging with your target audience as a result of this, says Jet Kernaghan.
Having the right players will save you a ton of time and money because you can’t imitate a vibe during a recording session.
Additionally, selecting the incorrect musicians makes it difficult for everyone else to move forward. Everything will thus take longer, need more maintenance, and—worst of all—cost you more money.
Don’t cut corners when hiring your studio musicians because the wrong ones will ruin your album from the beginning.
Working with musicians, especially those who perform online, is an art form in and of itself.
Sound Editor
Sorry to bust your purist bubble, but nowadays everything is edited in some way. Whether it’s synchronizing the percussion, fine-tuning the voices, or combining several takes. Casual listeners are now accustomed to the “sound” of today’s recordings because they have undergone extensive editing.
Jet Kernaghan says the beauty of a professional audio editor is that they can make these modifications undetectably.
Serious professionals have listened back to a track where their performance was altered during sessions I’ve attended, and they haven’t batted an eye. They were ecstatic at what they could hear coming from the speakers.
On the other hand, I have attended sessions when the editing was subpar and the client was offended.
An audio engineer does more than just set up a few microphones, press record, and talk to you through a strange-looking microphone, as you can see. Instead, a trained audio engineer carefully considers how each instrument will sound when it is played back through speakers.
They will use particular mics to emphasize particular frequencies, select pre-amps for additional colour, apply compression for more headroom, and use subtle EQ for shaping.
Sound Engineer
Ask if an audio engineer is included in the cost when hiring a studio or outsourcing your job to an internet provider. It’s important to understand if you are merely renting a room. Make sure your studio recording budget covers both the room and the audio engineer if they have separate costs.
However, if you hire remote musicians, it’s common for them to design the project themselves.
While there is nothing wrong with this, it could become difficult when tracking many musicians and instruments.
An audio engineer is aware that the frequency spectrum has a finite amount of bandwidth. As a result, each piece of gear will naturally position particular instruments in their proper location, says Jet Kernaghan.
Sonic coherence is produced by a talented audio engineer.
Engineering Master
A mastering engineer gives your track the ultimate touch. Compared to you and me, a mastering engineer perceives music very differently. To ensure that your song is perfectly balanced and will sound well on all speakers, they listen in “micro-dynamics” and make little tweaks.
A skilled master will bring out the best aspects of your track while generating clarity and power.
Someone who hasn’t previously worked on the project should be the mastering engineer. This is essential because when everyone has heard the music several times, they will no longer be able to improve it objectively.
Online “instant mastering” services are available, and some plugins, like Izotope’s Ozone, contain AI features to master your track.
These services, in my opinion, are fantastic substitutes for a qualified mastering engineer for low-budget and/or demo recordings.
But if you’re serious about creating the finest music you can, working with a pro will help you find the “x-factor” that an algorithm frequently misses.
Final Words
One of the most important components of your career is your record, thus it’s important to maintain it. Before starting work on your next project, be sure to include these 5 areas in your studio recording budget if you want to strike a home run with your recording.
Putting all of these pieces together, though, can be very difficult. Working with a producer who can put a team together and carry out your ideas in this situation is important. This is crucial for anyone who has never produced before or simply needs advice on how to get the greatest possible recording of their sound from beginning to end, says Jet Kernaghan.
