eliya wrote:Don't make anyone mix 11 songs in one day. It's a nightmare and it'll sound bad.I wouldn't say it's impossible, but it should absolutely be its own dedicated day, hopefully with some space from the recording session (at least a week, even a month or two), and the type of album without much variation between songs. Best case scenario you're still looking at 8-12 hours to pull it off.Another tip: it helps to take some rough reference mixes home (cdr, mp3s on a thumb drive, whatever) throughout the process (at the end of each day, hell even during a session break if you live nearby). Studio monitoring will probably be very accurate, and you won't be used to it at first. Even just hearing a 30 second pass on a familiar stereo can reveal obvious things that may have been overlooked on the spot.

I agree with Garth Ave 154. Two days for recording, two days for mixing. Maybe three days for recording if the whole band is green. I like 154's suggestion to mix and record vocals as you go along.Don't make anyone mix 11 songs in one day. It's a nightmare and it'll sound bad.

Riff Magnum wrote:NewDarkAge wrote:Not sure where to ask this and sure it has been addressed multiple times on the board before, but I was wondering if folks could give me advice on how many days to book a studio for making a record. It s 11 3-6 minute songs, straightforward band set up (guitar, singing, drums, bass, violin), and we ll be pretty well rehearsed. I know this is a hugely variable thing but wondered if you guys had ballpark advice.You say you're well rehearsed, but does that include doing demos of all the songs? Doing demos can expose flaws and weaknesses in your songs and in your band members performances. It's also a good way to get used to that "someone is listening to me play with a fucking magnifying glass" feeling you get in the studio. Sort all that shit out before you drop cash on a real recording. Prepro Bro, prepro.This and any band member should be able to play any song solo or with only one or two others to reference. Even though you are playing the backing tracks together, headphone mixes in an unfamiliar space are likely to throw off your well-worn paths. Your familiar cues may not be front and center.

Not sure where to ask this and sure it has been addressed multiple times on the board before, but I was wondering if folks could give me advice on how many days to book a studio for making a record. It s 11 3-6 minute songs, straightforward band set up (guitar, singing, drums, bass, violin), and we ll be pretty well rehearsed. I know this is a hugely variable thing but wondered if you guys had ballpark advice.

NewDarkAge wrote:Not sure where to ask this and sure it has been addressed multiple times on the board before, but I was wondering if folks could give me advice on how many days to book a studio for making a record. It s 11 3-6 minute songs, straightforward band set up (guitar, singing, drums, bass, violin), and we ll be pretty well rehearsed. I know this is a hugely variable thing but wondered if you guys had ballpark advice.You say you're well rehearsed, but does that include doing demos of all the songs? Doing demos can expose flaws and weaknesses in your songs and in your band members performances. It's also a good way to get used to that someone is listening to me play with a fucking magnifying glass feeling you get in the studio. Sort all that shit out before you drop cash on a real recording. Prepro Bro, prepro.

endofanera wrote:Riff Magnum wrote:NewDarkAge wrote:Not sure where to ask this and sure it has been addressed multiple times on the board before, but I was wondering if folks could give me advice on how many days to book a studio for making a record. It s 11 3-6 minute songs, straightforward band set up (guitar, singing, drums, bass, violin), and we ll be pretty well rehearsed. I know this is a hugely variable thing but wondered if you guys had ballpark advice.You say you're well rehearsed, but does that include doing demos of all the songs? Doing demos can expose flaws and weaknesses in your songs and in your band members performances. It's also a good way to get used to that "someone is listening to me play with a fucking magnifying glass" feeling you get in the studio. Sort all that shit out before you drop cash on a real recording. Prepro Bro, prepro.This and any band member should be able to play any song solo or with only one or two others to reference. Even though you are playing the backing tracks together, headphone mixes in an unfamiliar space are likely to throw off your well-worn paths. Your familiar cues may not be front and center.Best thing I've done getting ready for recording is having a practice or two with just the drummer.Also, are you planning on recording to a click? I'm assuming know, but if you are spend some time at practice getting your BPMs figured out, and having your drummer listen to them while at practice. It'll make things sound less like you're playing to a click if it's gotten to where you almost don't need it.

NewDarkAge wrote:Not sure where to ask this and sure it has been addressed multiple times on the board before, but I was wondering if folks could give me advice on how many days to book a studio for making a record. It s 11 3-6 minute songs, straightforward band set up (guitar, singing, drums, bass, violin), and we ll be pretty well rehearsed. I know this is a hugely variable thing but wondered if you guys had ballpark advice.The way I prefer to do it (as you probably figured out from the week you and I spent in the garage recording covers), is to just bang things out as live and loose as possible.11 songs is about a set. How possible is it to set up mostly like you would do live, and just play your set a couple times? I don't know the specific music you'll be recording, but there are very few times when I've heard a good band and thought 'I wish this had more separation' or 'I wish the tempo was dead-on 120 BPM' I think 1 day to track (and try to do some of the vocals), a second day for whatever overdubs/sleigh-bells/didgeridoo and the rest of the vocals. By then you should have a pretty decent idea of the mix- maybe another day to bring everything together.

I fully support everything Chris says above. If you aren't used to playing to a click and are comfortable playing all together in a live-type setting, I wouldn't pick that apart and try to do a totally different approach for your recording session. Especially if you are hoping to get 11 songs done in 2 or 3 days. I feel like live and loose is more likely to provide you with a positive result in that that time period than breaking things down track by track/instrument by instrument. Doing it as a set, do the set a couple times, and remove songs or change the order as you get good takes, this has worked great for my band. You can keep some of the momentum and feeling of a live session rather than getting bogged down in studio drudgery this way. So you're not sitting for 3 hours doing fuck all while your drummer is recording parts with headphones on. Everybody's working.I also agree with Mr. Magnum that demoing stuff out ahead of time (if you haven't already) would be useful and would save time in the studio. This is just the way I like to work, it is certainly not the only way, but if your time is limited I think it's good to play and work the the session as a band rather than individuals having to be on to nail their parts in short order.