How To Prepare For A Recording Session

Getting ready to begin a recording project is no walk in the park. Not only are there the initial challenges of preparing your material and finding the right people and the right studio to get the job done, but there's the suspense of waiting to begin. But worry not! You don't have to twiddle your thumbs. Here are some things you should do to prepare before going into the studio.

Copyright Your Songs

According to U.S. law, you own the copyright as soon as you write your song down or record it, but it is always a good idea to register your songs–especially if you are going to be releasing them on an album, playing them in public often, or putting them on the internet. You can register your songs through the U.S. Copyright Office, or through an online service like MySpark that can help you handle the paperwork.

Clear Cover Songs

Recording a cover song (a song originally recorded by another artist) can be a great move for many reasons, but you will need a license to do it. Services like Limelight and Harry Fox make it easy to "clear" a cover song so that you have the permission and the license to record it.

Record a Worktape or Demo

Each recording project is different, but chances are that no matter what your style or who you have chosen to record with, having a "worktape" or "demo" of your song will be very helpful to the engineer, producer, and band leader. By having a copy of your worktapes or demos, the production team will be able to do some preparation in advance to help make things go more smoothly once you are in the studio. So what's the difference between a worktape and demo?

• A "worktape" is a rough recording (often recorded on a laptop or phone) of you performing the song from beginning to end. The band leader or producer will use this to create charts for all of the musicians.
• A "demo" is a recording that demonstrates what you would like the song to sound like. If you have specific ideas for the instrumental parts in a song, recording a demo can help the production team hear your ideas and be sure to implement them in the final recording.

Type Out Your Lyrics

Your engineer will thank you! When you are recording vocals, it is very helpful for the engineer/producer to have a copy of your lyrics to make sure your pronunciation is good, ensure no mistakes that slip through the cracks, and to use as a reference while editing.

Understand Your Style

Your production team will be there to help you create a unique style and feel for your project, but you should be able to describe the basic sound you are going for in a succinct way to jump start them in the right direction. For example: "I'm going for a modern pop/country sound. Think Taylor Swift meets Lady Antebellum." If you know what sound you want but are unsure how to communicate it in words, have a playlist ready on your iPod with a few reference songs to play for the musicians if needed.

Sign Up With A PRO

A PRO (performing rights organization) collects royalties for you when your song is performed in public: on radio and TV, in music venues, and just about any place music is performed. If you don't sign up with a PRO, you are missing out on this source of revenue! In the U.S., there are three PROs: ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Essentially, they all do the same thing, although there are some minor differences in things like the length of contracts and membership fees. You can easily determine which one is right for you by doing a little bit of research or calling and speaking to a representative.

Photo: Rae Hering at OmniSound Studios - www.raehering.com