StudioPros

Mr. Dylan said it best, “The times are a changing”. So are the ways of getting your music recorded. Back in the day you could only go into a recording studio to get your songs recorded. Now, there’s the option of Studio Pros.

Some people may be turned off by this. Sending their music off into cyberspace seems unrealistic and threatening to the songwriter. The truth is each “studio musician and producer” you are collaborating with across the web has a face and a name. Not only are they living, breathing, and laughing people but they want to collaborate with YOU as a songwriter. Recording online is just a way to make recording more convenient for the songwriter.

Studio Pros is the perfect example of this. You can send your song off to Los Angeles to get it produced. Of course all of this is done via the internet, and the next thing you know… BAM, your song is produced and ready for the radio.

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Ever feel like your stuff isn’t good enough for other people to hear? Many musicians feel that way, and as a result, their songs just pile up and collect dust.

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Mark Ibberson is a perfect example of someone who decided to push through those feelings of self doubt and uncertainty, and get his songs out there to share with the world by using Studio Pros music production service.

He’s from a small village near Lake Geneva in Switzerland and has been songwriting for ten years now, but it wasn’t until 2003 that he decided to release anything. Songwriting is his passion he says, “I can do it whenever I want: Late in the evening, on the train to work… or in one of those boring meetings!” It’s usually in the most unexpected moment that inspiration hits you and you just have to write!

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Mark Sadek Ricotta is a man of few words, but when it comes to songwriting he doesn’t hold anything back. Studio Pros just recently did a music production for Ricotta and got in touch with him to get to know the man behind the song.

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How long have you been writing songs?

“I’ve been writing since I was in junior high. I started playing guitar when I was 6 or so. I wanted a toy guitar when I was little out of curiosity and got a few lessons and that’s was about it really. I’ve been playing ever since.

Do you have any major influences in your music and songwriting style?

“My major influences would probably be early 90’s rock, a lot of classic rock, as well as cheesy pop music (it’s the truth). I take a lot from listening to the hooks in pop and applying them to my songwriting.

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Emily Russo is a Boston based diva on the rise who just recently finished a Studio Pros Music Production Service.

Listen to the production of her song “The Price of Letting Go” step-by-step with the Studio Pros process:

Step 1: Song sketch

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Step 2: Recording the drum track

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Step 3: Laying down a bass groove

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Step 4: Adding guitars

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Step 5: Recording keyboards

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Step 6: Final mix and master

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She has been playing piano since she was five years old, and started songwriting when she was fifteen. She is currently attending The Berklee College of Music in Boston where she is studying songwriting.  Emily draws her inspiration for songwriting from many different walks of life – both her own and other people’s. She worked with us on her song “The Price of Letting Go” and kindly answered some of my questions about her experiences with Studio Pros…

Who would you say are some of your main influences?

The Beatles for sure, but also oldies, motown, and old school metal. I’m not really influenced that much by today’s modern music.

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Creating a ‘band sound’ when recording individual session players

One of the most common problems I encounter when producing a track is the lack of a ‘real space’ sound. Most self-recording artists are trying to make the best out of what they have. What they usually have is a small room with home recording equipment. Sometimes it is easier and more feasible to have a musician record a separate track individually instead of a full live band. In dealing with this situation I’ve found a few ways to create a full band sound out of these individual session player’s tracks. The greatest obstacle to overcome in recording tracks separately is maintaining a natural sound. We always need to remember that some styles simply aren’t meant to be recorded separately. Try recording a jazz trio individually and you’ll soon find it’s a mission impossible. In the end, some albums were just meant to be recorded live.

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Ever wish someone could help guide you through the entire music production process? I know I do, and for that, I turn to Studio Pros.

Musicians are notorious for being a bit behind the game when it comes to getting things done on time. That’s what we’re here for. At Studio Pros, we help you record your song every step of the way. We make sure our session players deliver quality material, in a timely fashion. Sure you could book time at an expensive recording studio, and spend thousands of dollars on your album, but why not keep the money you’d save NOT doing that, and work with us instead?!

If you’re having trouble getting things done in a timely fashion, and people aren’t taking recording your demo seriously, I have a few suggestions for you.

1.  Hire Studio Pros. Don’t waste time trying to organize musicians and overcoming technological problems when you could be concentrating on writing new material.

2.  Check ups. Don’t be anonymous.  Make sure you are interacting with the production team at StudioPros and are collaborating on musical ideas with the musicians.

3.  Show there’s prospect. Nothing gives musicians more hope than the prospect of a future in music. Get serious about your goals, and show them you have a plan.

4. : Set a deadline. Whenever you have a project goal in mind, make sure you have an “end in sight”.  Always set a goal for a project completion date.

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There’s a reason that guitarists should stick to their guitars and songwriters should stick to their songwriting…

Sometimes it’s better to go to studio musician for some outside recording help. Outside ears can bring attention to the minor flaws you may have in your home recordings that you’ve unconsciously brushed aside as being “good enough”. Studio Pros is the best place to outsource all of your musical needs. This allows you to be creative without the time consuming effort of trying to do everything by yourself at your home studio.

The music industry is changing! Now anyone off the street can go and record a song with their home equipment and post it on their myspace page and call themselves an “artist”, but what is being lost in this process is quality.

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Brenna Whitaker is a talented singer that has worked with Studio Pros over the years. She’s also had years of experience performing around the country and studied and had her own bands around the country from New York, Vegas to Los Angeles.

Do you have any tips for vocalists out there who are trying to record in their home studios?

First of all, find a comfortable spot to set up your studio in your home. Next, have a basic set up to where everything is accessible to you while you’re recording. Make sure the outside noise is quiet and you are getting the best sound with what you have to work with. It helps to cover the windows to reduce noise and hang blankets or tapestries on the walls to soften the echos. Be creative with what you have in your home recording studio. There are no rules for recording in your own studio.

Do you have any particular vocal warm ups you do before you step into a recording session?

Depending on how big of a range the song is, I usually have to warm up my voice for about 25 minutes. I like to go through a series of ooh’s and aah’s, scales are always helpful to get my voice going. Also, just singing harmonies to a song on the radio is a fun way to get ready to record in the studio.  Do you do all of your vocals in one take?
Every once in a while I have that lucky song. But most of the time, I have to perfect things by punching into the song. The trick to punching in is finding a spot in the phrase that doesn’t effect the fluidity of the song. You never want to punch in the middle of a phrase or word.

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