This is arguably the most important process in making an album. Preproduction
encompasses everything you're going to do before you step foot into any studio.
It starts with you
outlining your project and ends with you and the studio having a solid knowledge
of what it will take to accomplish your goal..
- Objective for the record
- Decide why you are making an album
- Personal enjoyment
- Distribute to radio
- Sell at shows
- Provide demo
- What songs do you want to record
- Decide on instrumentation for your songs
- How many guitars
- Add vocal harmanies or leave them out
- Add percussion or leave it out
- With this info make a list of tracks that will be used
- Eight drum tracks, one bass track, two guitar tracks, etc.
- Who is performing what part on each song
- Develop a track map for each song
- Intro eight measures, verse one eight measures, chorus sixteen measures,
etc.
- Decide order and how to record your instruments
- Usually you will record the drums and/or the bass first, building the
song from the bottom up
- Use click track or drum machines to keep tempo
- Estimate times of each song
Lastly, it is up to you to practice your music. There is only so much any engineer will
be able to do if you can't play your own music. Everything starts with a good source, and
that source is you.
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