StudioPros

Did you know that 9 out of 10 artists who have used Studio Pros’ music production service and submitted to TAXI.com had their songs forwarded to record labels and music supervisors?

In case you didn’t know, TAXI.com is a service that connects independent musicians like you with record label personnel, music supervisors who place songs in TV shows and movies, and other industry people who are always looking for new music. Studio Pros conducted a survey of 10 customers who used our music production services for their songs and discovered that artists–even those who previously had major difficulty in getting their songs forwarded to industry folk by TAXI.com–were now finding it much easier to get their music passed along after using Studio Pros. In fact, as I mentioned above, 9 out of 10 artists noticed this improvement!

We were very proud to hear this, not only because it means we’ve helped lots of indie musicians take a huge career step, but because it further reinforces our belief that it is incredibly important to have a professional quality recording of your music before you try to shop it around. There are many reasons for this… Here are two that directly relate to TAXI.com:

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What is a song “sketch?”

Now it’s official… Even the world’s best music recording magazine chose Studio Pros over other production companies!

Sam Inglis, feature editor of Sound on Sound magazine, reviewed 3 of the top online recording studios in the July 2009 issue of Sound on Sound magazine using one of his songs.  To test them as equally as possible, Sam used a Christmas song he wrote last year and used Studio Pros’ full music production.

Sam’s scratch recording:

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After StudioPros’ full music production:

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Sam’s article spreads over 6 pages with detailed descriptions of the pre-production and production process. In brief, Sam writes: “Very high quality of playing and recording; strong production skills. Ideal  for: Anyone who wants to hand over production of their material to someone else and get top-quality results.”

Here are some of Sam’s conclusions:

“All the instrumental parts Studio Pros delivered were straight out of the top drawer.”

“…I would choose Studio Pros’ version ahead of the others”

Try Studio Pros’ full music production on your song.  Click here to learn more.

Many songwriters ask me how they can distribute their material online after completing their productions.  Distributing your materials online is a very easy way to broaden your listening audience and make your music accessible for purchase throughout the world.  What would we do without the internet?

What Is Digital Distribution?

Digital distribution, when it applies to music, is selling your content online in digital mp3 format.  Instead of purchasing a physical copy of a cd in an old school record store, consumers are now able to purchase recordings online.   This is a sad reality for record stores, but at the same time makes distributing independent music much more accessible!  Currently, the world’s largest digital music company is iTunes.  Ever heard of it?  I thought so.  iTunes has changed the music industry with their model of providing digital music for sale across the globe through their online sales.

How Do I Get My Recordings On iTunes?

Believe it or not, digitally distributing your materials for sale online through iTunes is easy!  Any independent songwriter can post their music for sale online if they take the proper steps.  Just another reason why independent musicians have much more advantage than 20 years ago when the need for label support was more necessary in making your recordings accessible to the public.

Which Companies Offer Digital Distribution?

These sights can help you get your materials live on iTunes:

1.  TuneCore
2.  ReverbNation
3.  CDBaby

All you have to have is a finished master of your materials and you’re ready to get your songs for sale on iTunes (but first make sure you go through the proper steps of determining if it’s ready for release).

Typically, an iTunes single song purchase is .99 cents up to $1.29 per song and the artist receives a designated percentage of the sale of each single song sold.  For every single sold on a .99 cents purchase the artist receives .70 cents.  Managing your iTunes purchases through these online distributors is easy and a great way to get your music sold.  I have personally used Tunecore myself in releasing my materials and find the layout very convenient and user friendly.  They keep track of my sales and have an accounting breakdown of sales per month.  As the artist, I can request to have the royaltees from my sales sent in a check whenever I’m ready, or can choose to have the money transferred to a future project.

Are My Songs Ready For Release?

Get a producer or trusted musical ear to take a listen to your recordings to help you determine if all of the steps have been taken to assure your song is ready for release.  Remember that once your song goes live, you cannot take it back.  Re-releasing materials after they’ve already gone up for sale is not professional.  If you’re happy with where your song is at, I would recommend emailing your final mp3 of your product to a producer at Studio Pros (info@studiopros.com) and they will give you some feedback on what can be improved and help you make the correct steps to get it released.

Improve Your Recordings…

Common improvements that can be made on home recordings are: get your programmed drum tracks recorded by a live drummer, putting some polishing touches on your vocals with  vocal tuning where needed and a professional mix/master by an experienced engineer to get the final polishing.  If you are hesitant of the overall quality of your production, Studio Pros can help you get a professional broadcast quality production complete and radio ready within weeks.

If you’re ready to take the final steps at making your materials live, you can do it today!  Contact a producer at Studio Pros: 1-310-928-7776 or email us at: info@studiopros.com and we can help you put the finishing touches on your recordings.  You can get your recordings distributed in no time!  Give us a call.

There are a few organizational steps you need to take to clean up your session before sending your files off to our Studio Pros engineer.

1. You’ll need to hide all muted, inactive, midi or any other track that you didn’t intend to play in the  final mix.  Set up the files as clearly as you can by making sure the tracks are clearly labeled.
2. If you do have midi tracks, you must record the midi sounds to an audio track.
3. If you have special effects that are part of your audio track, bounce the track to a new channel by clicking: File > Bounce To > Disk.
4. * PLEASE NOTE: We will not be able to take off any processing or effects you have applied to an audio track.   We prefer to do the effects or processing for you within the mix.  Please be sure to mention the sounds you had in mind in the description of your order.  You may also include reference tracks from similar artists to clarify the “mix sound” you had in mind.

Cleaning up your session

1. Make sure to double check all edit points throughout your song and make sure there aren’t any noticeable clicks or clips that would make your edit obvious in the final mix.
2. Remove all plug ins and automation you may have applied to your song within your own session.  This will ensure that all of the files will transfer over to us correctly, and we’ll use our own plug-ins and automation techniques in our mix.
   

   Consolidating your tracks within your session

1. When you have all your tracks lined up and ready to send to mixing, it’s important to listen to your project from start to finish.  Double check for errors in your song before consolidating your tracks.
2. Then, select all the tracks, first by clicking on the first channel, holding the shift button and clicking the last tracks, and then by clicking Apple (or control) A, and consolidate them by clicking: Edit > Consolidate.
3. Now you should see all your tracks from the same starting point in your project from beginning to end. (more…)

At Studio Pros, we provide you with professional players, producers and engineers for the production of your songs. When it comes to recording the vocals on your song, it’s your time to shine and sing on tracks that our Los Angeles based studio musicians have laid down for you.

You have 3 options for vocals before we mix your tracks at Studio Pros:
1. Hire one of Studio Pros’ professional vocalists to sing your song.
2. Record your vocals at your home recording studio.
3. Record your vocals at a local recording studio.

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I’ve collaborated with singer/songwriters and recording artists from around the world and a universal question seems to be “Now What Do I Do?”

If this question has at one time or another crossed your mind, you are not alone. This is a common question that we deal with on a daily basis at Studio Pros.

Writing is not the only thing that goes along with being an artist, but getting a great quality recording is just as important. If you have a hit song, and a bad recording, you aren’t doing yourself any favors. Being a songwriter takes hard work, and we’re here to make it EASIER for you.

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Let Studio Pros help you fill in all of the missing elements to your home recordings.

Adrian Sakashita is a composer who spends his time between Los Angeles and London as well as an online business owner.  This is the perfect case for Studio Pros, as Adrian can manage his projects from all around the world and still be kept in the loop on his production, while not wasting too much time at a studio.

 Studio Pros just recently worked with him on his latest work “Seduction” and filled in the missing pieces of his recordings using our studio musicians, “Studio Pros helps make better music!  I simply couldn’t resist the temptation and dove in head first a few years ago.  Since then, I’ve turned my attention back to composition.”

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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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