What to Expect When Booking a Recording Studio in Calgary
Booking a recording studio for the first time can feel more complicated than it actually is.
You have the songs.
You have the instruments.
Then you start thinking about microphones, recording software, engineers, session files and how many hours you are supposed to book.
It can be a lot.
The good news is that most recording sessions become much easier once you understand how the process works.
Here is what musicians, bands and podcasters can expect when booking a recording studio in Calgary.
Decide What You Want to Accomplish
Before choosing a session length, decide what you want to finish.
“Record our band” is too broad.
A more useful goal might be:
- Track drums for three songs
- Record vocals for one single
- Capture a live-off-the-floor demo
- Record guitar overdubs
- Record two podcast episodes
- Track acoustic guitar and vocals
The clearer the goal, the easier it is to estimate how much studio time you need.
Trying to record an entire album in one evening is probably going to create stress.
Recording one or two well-rehearsed songs may be completely reasonable.
Book Enough Time
Recording always takes longer than playing the song.
A four-minute song does not take four minutes to record.
There is setup.
Microphone placement.
Sound checking.
Level adjustment.
Multiple takes.
Listening back.
Fixing mistakes.
Changing parts.
Packing up.
For a band, drums generally take the longest to prepare because several microphones may be involved.
Vocals can also take time because singers frequently record multiple takes, harmonies and doubles.
If you are not sure how long you need, give yourself some breathing room.
A rushed session rarely produces better performances.
Rehearse Before You Arrive
Studio time should ideally be used for recording, not learning the song.
Make sure everyone knows:
- The arrangement
- The tempo
- The key
- The intro
- The ending
- Any stops or transitions
- Which parts are being recorded live
If you use a click track, practise with it beforehand.
Do not make the drummer hear the click for the first time while everyone else is waiting in the studio.
This is where booking a rehearsal space before the recording session can be extremely useful.
You can work through the material without the pressure of trying to capture a final take.
Bring What You Need
Studios generally provide recording equipment, but musicians still need to bring their instruments and anything that is part of their sound.
For guitarists, that could include:
- Guitar
- Pedalboard
- Amplifier
- Picks
- Spare strings
- Power supplies
Drummers should confirm what is already available at the studio and what needs to be brought.
Singers should bring water and anything else they normally use while performing.
If you are producing from your own laptop, bring the laptop, charger, necessary adapters and any external drive you use for sessions.
Expect Some Setup Time
When you arrive, the first part of the session will usually involve setup.
For a vocalist, that may only take a few minutes.
For a full drum kit, it can take considerably longer.
Microphones need to be positioned.
Cables need to be routed.
Levels need to be checked.
Headphone mixes may need adjustment.
This is normal.
Do not rush through setup just because you want to start recording.
Ten additional minutes getting the sound right can save hours of trying to repair a poor recording later.
You Will Probably Record More Than One Take
Movies have created a strange idea of recording sessions.
The artist plays the song once.
Everyone looks at each other.
The producer says, “That’s the one.”
Sometimes that happens.
Usually it does not.
Most recordings are built from multiple takes.
You may record a complete performance several times and choose the best one. You might also combine portions of different performances.
Vocals are commonly recorded section by section.
There is nothing wrong with that.
The goal is not to prove you can perform the entire track perfectly in one attempt.
The goal is to create the best recording.
Know Whether You Are Working Independently
Calgary studios use different booking models.
Traditional recording studios typically include or require an engineer.
Self-serve recording studios give you access to the room and recording equipment while allowing you to run the session yourself.
If you already produce music at home, self-serve recording can make a lot of sense.
You may simply need a better room, additional microphone inputs or access to microphones you do not own.
You can record the raw tracks in the studio and continue editing and mixing later.
Just make sure you understand the studio’s setup before you arrive.
Podcasters Have a Simpler Workflow
Podcast sessions usually require less technical setup than a full band recording.
The main priorities are:
- Quiet room
- Good microphones
- Proper microphone levels
- Comfortable monitoring
- Reliable recording
Once those are established, you can concentrate on the conversation.
If you record a recurring podcast, using the same studio and microphone setup can help maintain a consistent sound between episodes.
It also avoids having to rebuild your recording setup every week.
Save and Back Up Your Files
Do not leave the studio with the only copy of your recording living on one computer.
Ideally, leave with at least one copy of every important audio file.
An external SSD is useful for transferring large multitrack sessions.
You may also want exported WAV files of each individual track so the session can be opened in another DAW later.
Before leaving, confirm that the files actually copied successfully.
That takes two minutes.
Re-recording a performance because files were lost takes considerably longer.
What Happens After Recording?
Recording is only one stage of producing a finished song.
After tracking, you may still need:
Editing.
Comping.
Tuning.
Mixing.
Mastering.
Some artists do all of this themselves.
Others send their recordings to a mixing engineer.
There is no requirement that every stage happen in the same studio.
One increasingly common workflow is to use a professional recording studio for the stages that benefit most from the room and microphones, then complete the rest of the project at home.
Recording Should Feel Creative, Not Intimidating
Your first studio session may feel unfamiliar.
That disappears quickly.
Once the microphones are set up and you begin recording, the process becomes much more like playing music anywhere else.
Prepare beforehand.
Give yourself enough time.
Know what you want to accomplish.
And choose a Calgary recording studio that fits the way you prefer to work.
The less time you spend worrying about the studio, the more energy you can put into the performance.