PRE PRODUCTION
WHAT IS PRE PRODUCTION?
Pre production is the name given to the process in which the producer and the band (or just the band, if they are self-produced) prepare and rehearse the songs before entering the studio to record. It can also encompass planning the sonic direction of the single, EP or album.
It is one of the most important elements of recording and yet too often, it is overlooked. This leads to valuable time being wasted in the recording studio; solving problems and making decisions that could have been taken care of before pushing record. In the worst case scenario a lack of pre production could lead to having to re-record sections or entire songs.
The ultimate goal of pre production is to be as prepared as possible before the recording session. By analysing and improving each song before beginning the recording process, the band is free to concentrate on delivering their best possible performance.
It is ultimately a way of imposing order and organisation on the creative process. This organisation will save time by mapping out exactly what needs to be done and in what order. It has the added benefit of making the recording studio experience more relaxed and enjoyable.
Let’s break down the process of pre production into some of its elements and look at them more closely.
SONG MECHANICS
The song mechanics are the elements of the song outside of the chord progressions and the lyrics. By this we mean the arrangement of the song, the tempo, the time signature and the key.
ARRANGEMENT
The arrangement of course is the structure of the song as a whole. Which section goes where and how long is each section.
Some things to think about include the intro and ending. How does the song start and with which instruments? How does the song end? Is it fade out or does it have a definitive ending?
Is it the most concise version of the song? Sometimes the best way to get people to listen again is by leaving them wanting more. Are there any sections that feel bloated and could be trimmed?
Does the structure suit the dynamics of the song? Does it build effectively towards the high point of the arrangement?
Lastly, does the arrangement make sense for the genre? A three minute jam outro might make sense for a prog rock song but will not likely lead to radio play for a pop track.
TEMPO, TIME SIGNATURE AND KEY
Think about the tempo of the song. Is the song working at this tempo? Do the vocals sound rushed? Does the song groove? Try playing it slightly slower or faster to see how this feels. When you have found the ideal tempo for the song, tap it out on a metronome and make a note of it. You can download many free metronome apps for your smartphone.
What time signature is the song? It’s probably unlikely that you would need to change the time signature but it will be useful information for the recording engineer or any session musicians.
Is the song in a key that is comfortable for the vocalist? Are they struggling to hit the highest or lowest notes? If so, it would be worth transposing up or down to place the song in a more comfortable range. Don’t just assume that they will be able to hit those notes in the studio.
DEMO-ING
Recording demos of your songs is an extremely useful tool during the pre production process. Listening to the elements that I’ve outlined above can be extremely hard in the rehearsal room when everyone has their amps cranked up to eleven. An arrangement that sounded good while playing together might sound clunky when recorded. A tempo that might feel great to play could sound too fast when listening back. The notes that you thought the vocalist was hitting could sound flat in reality. I’ve had many bands come in to record that weren’t even aware of exactly what someone else was playing in a certain section.
That is why making a demo or, at the very least, recording your rehearsals, is so important in the pre production phase. If all you have is a phone to record with, then this might be sufficient but you could run into the same problem where it’s hard to hear what each instrument is doing. Experiment with the location of the phone in the rehearsal room when recording; try to find a location that allows you to hear each instrument clearly. This might take some trial and error but it’s worth the effort.
If someone in your band is moderately tech-savvy, if could be worth investing in a cheap audio interface and microphone. You can download a free DAW (digital audio workstation) such as Studio One Prime and make multitrack demos relatively easily. Record a rhythm instrument such as a guitar or piano to a click at your chosen tempo and then build up the song by recording each subsequent instrument as another layer.
CHARTING THE SONG
When you have finalised the arrangement, tempo, time signature and key of the song, write out a basic chart. Put the title of the song at the top and note the tempo, time signature and key. Map out each section with the chord progression and the number of bars or repeats. This will be useful for the band and the recording engineer and will be indispensable for any session musicians you have organise to play on your songs.
Click here for an example of a simple song chart
REHEARSAL
Pre production is not the same thing as rehearsal. Having said that, it is an important component of the pre production process. You should rehearse the songs until every band member can play all their parts in their sleep. If you are planning to record the basic tracks live as a band (usually drums, bass, guitars, guide vocals) then your demo recordings should ideally sound like lo-fi versions of the finished record. If you intend to record with a click in the studio, you must rehearse with a click. See here for more information about recording with a click.
PRODUCTION
The pre production phase is also the time to start thinking about the production of the song.
Think about the sound you are aiming for in the finished product. For example, are you going for a big, roomy drum sound with open, ringing drums? Or is it a tighter, more focussed sound with lots of muffling? What sort of bass and guitar tones are you after? Is there a particular vocal effect that you like?
The answers to these questions influence the way the engineer will mic the instruments and the instrument choices themselves. It’s much better to try and get as close as possible to the sound in the recording phase, rather than trying to fix it in the mix and put a spare peg in a round hole.
If you haven’t thought about it before, start by listening to songs by bands that you consider to be influences. Pay attention to the production choices on these songs. Make a playlist of these songs and give it to the engineer. Sometimes these reference tracks may just be a single element, such as a drum sound or a bass tone. Make a note of what it is that you like about each reference and communicate this to the engineer.
Start thinking about any overdubs that might be needed to flesh out the songs. Should the rhythm guitar be doubled throughout the song? Or perhaps just in the choruses? Which other parts could be doubled for intensity or width? Are there any vocal parts that could benefit from harmonies or doubles? Is the vocalist comfortable doing harmonies or would it be worth getting in a session vocalist for that?
Are there any other instruments that could benefit the song? If no-one in the band plays those instruments, should you hire in a session musician?
Make notes of any ideas you have for each song so that you don’t forget to explore them in the recording studio.
A NOTE ABOUT EGO
If you are self-producing as a band it is important to try and suppress your ego somewhat in check to be objective about what is and isn’t working. As musicians we take pride in the parts that we create and it can be difficult to admit to ourselves that as cool as something might be in isolation it might not be serving the song as a whole.
As well as being objective about the musical parts themselves, it’s important to be critically objective about their execution too. Are the drums really tight enough for a recording yet? Is the guitarist able to pull off that particular solo? Is the band tight with the click track?
It’s difficult to acknowledge flaws in our art, but being objective about the parts and the skill of the players during the pre production process will allow you to improve them before you hit the recording studio.
SONG SELECTION
If you are planning a multi song release and have a number of songs, part of the pre production phase will be working out which songs to put on the EP or album. The demo making process will also help you with this. When each song demo is as good as it can be you will be able to work out which are the strongest songs and which deserve their place on the release.
LOGISTICS
This is just the boring but essential stuff such as working out what time the session starts and at what time everyone should arrive. It also means making sure that you have the right equipment and that that equipment is in a fit state to be recorded.
For example if you are looking for a particular guitar sound, do you or the studio have the right amp for that sound or would it be worth hiring one for the session?
I go into more detail about this in Preparing For Your Session.
CONCLUSION
I hope that some of this information has been useful in helping you to think about the pre production phase of recording. If you’re in Sydney and you’re looking for a Recording Studio and/or a producer please get in contact and we’d be happy to help you through the pre production and recording/mixing of your release.