Studio Preparation Guide
July 31, 2026
Your instruments and performances are the foundation of a great recording. Below is a prep guide to help get the most of out of our sessions.
Guitars & Basses
• Fresh Strings — Replace strings within 24–48 hours of your session for better tuning and tone.
• Proper Intonation — Make sure chords ring true and leads stay in tune. You guitar should stay in tune when playing notes above the 12th fret.
• Clean Electronics — Tighten jacks, clean pots, eliminate crackle and noise in any pedals, guitars, or power supplies.
Live Drum Recording
• Fresh Drum Heads — Old heads = inconsistent tone. • Proper Tuning — Tune before arriving. • Quiet Hardware — Tighten squeaks, rattles, and loose stands.
Vocals
• Know Your Harmonies - Any pre-work on harmonies speeds up vocal day. Need help with harmonies? That's okay - we will figure it out together. • Warm-Up Routine — Warm up on your way in for vocal day, or while other instrumentalists are wrapping their parts to keep things moving efficiently. • Hydration & Vocal Health — Hydrate early, avoid strain, and getting a good a good night of sleep can go a long way.
The Big Picture
• Reference Tracks - Bring 2-3 songs that capture the tone, vibe, and mix you're aiming for. Having our true north to work toward ensures that we're all aligned songically on what a great finished song would sound like.
• Song Details - what is the tempo of your song? Do you have chord charts or lyric sheets? Make sure to bring all of this along.
Cleanliness & Safety
• No Food in the Tracking Room — Please keep meals and snacks outside of the tracking room. No Drinks on the Control Desk — Drinks stay on the side tables or floor for safety of the studio equipment. Shoes Stay on Hardwood — Carpeted areas and rugs are shoe free please. Lastly, please step outside the house if you need to smoke or vape.
Quiet Zones
• Quiet Zones — If someone is recording vocals or acoustic instruments, keep voices low in adjacent rooms. Sound travels more than people expect. If you are in the tracking room as we are recording, silence is expected to make sure we aren't losing good takes to room noise. That includes cell phones which should remain on silent mode.
With all of that out of the way we can focus on what matters most: capturing incredible performances and making your music shine. See you in the studio!