Working on New song for Tim Probst

Working on New song for Tim Probst, adding drums , bass, sax piano..then to vocals gonna be a good fun day in the studio !
Talk soon Tony Ray

New Randy Martin recording this week!

Been in the studio recording a song Randy Martin & I wrote called "Wildone"will post song on my blog soon !

Tony Ray

Tony Ray singing at private party .

Top 5 Recording Tips To Live By

No matter what type of music you record, or how simple or complex your studio is, there are a few tips to keep in mind when you're starting your recording project. Remember, these aren't just beginner's tips; I know many recording engineers - myself included - who've been doing this for years who live by these same rules! Do it...... Thanks enjoy Tony Ray

1. The Better The Source, The Better The Recording
Think of your microphone as your ear. If something sounds bad to your ear, chances are it won't sound great in front of a mic. Making sure your source is the best it can be is the first thing to remember whenever starting a new project. That could mean a new set of strings, fresh drum heads, or having your vocalist do warm-ups before tracking. Remember that there's a lot you can edit out later on down the line, but there's a lot that you can't add if it's not naturally there.

2. Save Your Work Often
Nothing is worse than losing something you worked for hours on, especially when you're running your studio as a business and you have a paying client. Always save your work between takes. It also doesn't hurt to have an external hard drive that you backup your sessions to nightly; if something happens to your hard drive, you'll at least have a copy to start over from, and you won't have to waste blank media backing up every night.

3. Always Keep Spare Parts
Keeping basic items at your studio will always help keep things going smoothly when the inevitable happens. Stock a set of guitar strings (both electric and acoustic), some drum sticks, and always keep spare instrument and microphone cables on hand. You never know when your session will be saved because you came to the rescue! It also helps to be able to kindly suggest a new set of strings to the stubborn guitarist who showed up with old, dead strings on his axe.

4. Nothing Leaves Until The Check Clears
This tip applies only to the home studios that record for profit, not your simple project studio, but it deserves a mention of it's own. Don't ever, ever let any mixes leave your studio until you're paid in full. This includes mp3 copies you send out via email, and CD-Rs you let leave your studio with rough mixes. At any point during the recording process, a financial dispute of some sort may arise, and they've still got a rough mix. This is rare, but it happens.

5. Keep It Simple
I can't stress this last tip enough: keep it simple. One of the biggest and most common mistakes a new recording engineer can make is being too fancy. You'll waste a lot of time — and your client's money, if working for profit — by overdoing it in the studio. Examples of this include recording an instrument in stereo when a mono (single) track will do, doing too many vocal overdubs, or laying down too many guitar layers. Let the band's music speak for itself.

Backwoods - Recording Tips

Hey folks this is my very first blog , I thought I would put some info on here for studio owners,song writers, or just people who might be interested in the recording process. Below are some tips to take in consideration before going into the studio to record your project...let me know what you think, as Im new to this blog thing, happy blogging right ?

37 great common-sense tips and techniques were culled from some of the country’s top studio and mastering engineers.
Before you go into the studio.

1
Record your songs during live gigs and pre-production rehearsals. Even a simple cassette recording on a boom box may reveal weak parts of songs.
2
Have all musical and vocal parts worked out. (Know your guitar solos!)
3
Using a computer or sequencer? Prepare all sequenced material before the session.
4
Make sure your drummer is comfortable playing to a click track. (To get “tight,” practice to a click track at a very slow tempo.)
5
Rehearse more songs than you plan to record. You never know which songs will sound strong on the final tape. (If you plan to have a four-song EP, prepare six songs just in case.)
6
Take care of your body before and during your recording sessions. Eat well, get enough sleep, and keep your ears rested and clear.

Setting Up
7
Be early! The clock starts running whether you’re there or not.
8
Make the studio a comfortable and relaxed place. If it’s not, it will show in your finished product.
9
Make sure you and the engineer have the same “vision” — go over your songs with him/her before recording. Before booking your studio time, ask to hear other material the engineer recorded.
10
Depending on whether your studio has 8, 16, 24, or 48-track capability, plan out how you will leave room for the essential parts. This should simplify the mix and eliminate the need for bouncing tracks later.
11
Use new strings, cords, drum sticks and heads — and bring spares!
12
Find out the hours of the local music store just in case...
13
Don’t use new gear or different equipment that you haven’t used before, even it it’s “better than what you have.” Surprises can cause problems.
The Recording Process
14
Remember, it’s emotion and feeling that make the best song, not necessarily the best technical rendition.
15
If you mess up a part while recording, don’t stop and start over. That can easily cause you to burn out. Instead, have the engineer punch in the correction.
16
You don’t have to fill all the tracks on the tape — don’t try to force something that won’t fit.
17
Always keep in mind the focus of your music. If it’s the vocals, plan to spend the most time on them. Don’t waste time on things that don’t highlight the focal point.
18
Get the sound you want while recording. (Never assume that you can fix it in the mix.)
19
Record individual tracks clean, and add effects later.
20
Don’t necessarily double track everything. Doubling a lead vocal can hide all the subtleties that make a song personal and likable (although it can work well for a chorus).
21
Know when to quit for the day. If you’re tired, it will show.
22
Keep guests out! It’s your recording. Guests will distract you and may sway your opinion of how the music should sound.
23
Make backup copies after every recording session.
24
Tune up often.
25
Singers: always bring water, but don’t use ice! Ice constricts your vocal chords. Hot tea with lemon and honey works just as well.
26
Always get a track listing and accurate time log from the studio.
Monitoring The Mix
27
Listen to your music at moderate levels in your car or on a boom box. This is how most of your fans will listen to it, and mixing at loud levels will fatigue your ears and distort the “true” sound.
28
Sometimes it’s good to take a day off and come back to listen; ears don’t last very long in the studio!
29
As you review each mix, make sure you can comfortably hear all of the instruments. Tweak the mix on a small pair of speakers at an extremely low volume. You should be able to pick up each instrument even at this level.
30
Know when to quit for the day. You’re better off quitting a session early when you’re tired than wasting time making a bad mix that will have to be redone anyway.
Mixing
31
Listen in the studio to CDs you’re used to hearing on your home stereo, to get an idea of how the studio’s system sounds.
32
Determine a band spokesperson ahead of time. An engineer getting five different opinions on how to mix will grow tired and try to rush through the job.
33
Once you have selected an engineer (or a producer) to mix your recording, trust them to do a first mix. Their ears are better trained than yours. Try to keep an open mind.
34
Think about the songs as a whole, and not just the individual instruments. Otherwise everyone will want their instrument louder in the mix.
35
If mixing somewhere other than the recording studio, make sure you use the same speakers. If not, the mix will sound completely different.
36
Decide which format you want the finished mixes to be on: DAT, one-off CD, PMCD, reel-to-reel, or 1630. (Your studio may not offer every option.) Use the format that is most practical and economical for you.
37
Count on and budget for unforeseen delays.


Extra Bonus Tip
Always, always, always make a safety CD copy. or backup to your hardrive DVD , or external hardrive!
Happy Recording !
Tony Ray Jones-Backwoods Recording Studio- 2008