The
recording session is obviously the most important part of
the whole process and there are a number that you can do to
ensure everything goes according to plan. Take a look at the
page on Preparation on the website to see
first of all how you should approach the recording session.
The
modern mobile recording studio now comes complete on a laptop
computer with a series of connecting boxes and a selection
of microphones and stands. On the day of the recording I will
arrive in plenty of time to set up though really all the gear
can be set up now inside an hour unless we need to run really
long cable runs and the musicians can be warming up while
this goes on. Once everything is in place then we will record
a couple of short pieces to check for levels and microphone
placement and when we are all happy then the recording session
will start. I will record the first piece and then will sit
and listen back with the MD and a score and mark any parts
that can be done better. If the piece is not really that good
(nerves etc) then we may do the whole piece again and then
check with the score. Any edits will then be done a number
of times if necessary to ensure that we have everything covered
. Modern Digital editing
enables us to drop in a single word or even a single note
though of course you may want to go back to the beginning
of a phrase to get the feel of the piece but the days of going
over the whole piece time and time again are long gone.
That
is really how the day will progress and it is hard work to
keep concentration to get the best result. Obviously regular
breaks need to be planned and of course for brass players
there is only a limit to how long they can blow before their
lips begin to go and brass recordings are always best done
over a two day session.
IMy
aim is to be able to walk away from the session knowing that
for every bar of the score I have a good take on the system
knowing that I can edit it together to get a great result
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