How I Prep A Recording Session | Mic Choice, Nashville Charts, Setup

[@ArmchairRamb0]

Prep is very important to keeping your client, and yourself, happy and productive during the actual session. Nobody likes waiting, even when the clock is not running. This is often overlooked. Thanks.

[@lune_aquiline]

Not having a dedicated tracking space for myself means so much of my session prep happens on paper/in my head--going through the lists of mics that the studio has, making a spreadsheet assigning a mic to a source, plus any outboard processing before hitting the computer is key. Though it's still more manic than setting up the day before, of course. An iPad or similar tablet has been super helpful for me, both for charting but also just having an easily portable digital reference for things I want to remember. The basic principles always apply though--if you can do it beforehand, do it beforehand, and leave as little to chance as possible. Great video in so many ways!

[@LeChapeauMusic]

also the part you played is actually in D natural minor :)

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Players like to see charts in major…

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s an imperfect system

[@trbone64]

I’ve been to studios where nothing was really set up and it was literally me setting things up with the engineer and making decisions on the spot. Those are not fun days. The more prep the better, and having everything mapped for the songs is even better. I worked with an artist recently that made their own sheets and it was amazing. I think you nailed it with making the artist comfortable and having some options (like 3 or less) helps them along with telling their story and getting it printed.

[@bernhardhenkes]

I love your videos! They are informative, inspirational and incredibly down to earth. I imagine people are having a blast working with you!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Thank you so much!

[@isaacvining9941]

Can confirm 😎

[@billyhughes9776]

The M160/SM-57 combo has been my go to for a while on guitar cabs. I think they work together beautifully. Will be interested to hear your take after this session if you chime in. My studio is smaller than yours (which makes things easier) but I like to be prepared so that the people playing can get in and out as quickly as possible.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Right on! I’ll check in with it for sure

[@battmanvonrichtoven]

This is great stuff Jeremy thank you. Really interesting all the way through. Love the quick tutorial on the Nashville number charting. Thank you so much!!

[@EVILJAMARR]

I’m only five minutes in and I can relate so much to your points about studio musicians

[@LightsandMotion]

just letting you know, I like this!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

your all's music has been a part of the sound track of my life... wild to see you comment on a video of mine.

[@LightsandMotion]

@@RecordingStudioLoser thank you KZbin algorithm!

[@donferguson5521]

good info

[@TheOnlyGuyInTheVillage]

Hey Jeremy, Sorry if I've missed this in a previous vid, but what is your combination of Mac/Screen in your control room? Looks epic!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s a Mac Pro. And a old tv. Lol

[@satch72]

oh I'm kinda curious about that Chandler mic

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Same. I’ll update once I play with it

[@Phantommxr]

Charts! please

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

anything in particular?

[@jalapainyo]

Awesome! How do you manage takes?

[@jalapainyo]

Playlists I suppose, oui?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Playlists are gold

[@ralfsrubenis6782]

Lauten Eden better than Soyuz 017 Tube for vocals?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

When I don’t know the vocalist… I’ve been a fan for sure. The three different circuits are very handy

[@battmanvonrichtoven]

Do you still get the nerves chills even after all the years doing this?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Oh yeah

[@mephiston9]

what is that talk back pedal switch that you use?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

sweetwater.sjv.io/g1d1kX here ya go

[@mephiston9]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Thank you so much!!

[@legacyShredder1]

Is the Beyerdnamic M160 new to you? I've used them with 57's on cabs for a long time. They can be great on overheads, especially in smaller spaces. On certain acoustic guitars they can be magic, but that's hit and miss.

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Yeah first session with it

[@legacyShredder1]

@@RecordingStudioLoser Did you like the results?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

The session is later today. We’ll see

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I really like it. It lived on gtr cab all day.

[@legacyShredder1]

@@RecordingStudioLoser I thought you would. To me it's just the more vintage version of the Royer 121 + 57.

[@LeChapeauMusic]

hey i just wanted to ask what i/o do you use for your outboards? also maybe you could do a video on setting up and patching cause there's not that many videos on that on youtube...

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

I use gurl for A/D and D/A conversion. Those ins and outs go to a patch bay. Witch go to the outboard pieces.

[@10duders]

What is that chart app? I looked it up and didn’t see anything

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

It’s 1chart on the App Store

[@thealeclewisgroup]

Hi Jeremy, I'm wondering why charting falls onto the recording studio/engineer? It seems to me having an audio engineer take the time to plot an entire song by ear is a waste of their time when the artist (who in most instances wrote the song) knows the song and should be doing this, and should already honestly have their song charted out by this point? Just confused. Are you also the producer on this track and is that who the charting would fall on? Perhaps you don't trust the average musician to make charts of high enough quality/accuracy for the average session musician?

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Not a trust issue at all. Some artist do. And there’s fine. Some songwriters just don’t know for to chart for a band. Some don’t know what chords they are playing…. Sometime you just need to chart a song.