The Studio Experience

Engineering a recording session, on the surface, can seem like a mess of complicated equipment. Compressors, eq units, different preamps, tube vs solid state, far too many types of cables, and different microphones with various levels of mystique. There can be a tendency to get lost in the patchwork of gear and loose sight of one of the more critical parts of a session, the social aspect. What makes a recording great is a great performance, and if the mood, comfort and vibe of the musician is neglected, a good performance can become hard to achieve.

The comfort of the artist is often more important than any particular piece of gear. Using a microphone on a singer which requires them to back off when they are only used to “eating” a mic might make sense from the engineers seat, but it runs the risk of the artist thinking of the mic more than the singing. Of course, this probably won’t be an issue for a highly experienced singer, but not all singers are experienced. It can be appropriate to make concessions on the part of the artist’s comfort if it is necessary, but this is where the art of balance comes to play. Observe them, and try to anticipate what they can pull off. If you sense they are getting nervous, find another solution. Always remember to compliment when you like something, and when asked for an opinion, be as thoughtful as possible. At the end of the day, yes, you are there to facilitate the recording, but also the experience of recording. 

Avery Johnson - Sound Engineer at Stone Cottage Studios