The Wonders Of Pre-Production
DARA has been practicing to get this album recorded for quite a while now. I am of the opinion that practice is one of the most valuable things that can be done in preparing to record an album. That being said pre-production can go a long way in helping to take a song to the next level. The benefits of pre-production go far beyond just having a rough take. What are the advantages of doing pre-production?
Taking Yourself Out Out Of The Song
One of the biggest benefits of having pre-production done on a song before going into the studio is it gives you a more accurate snapshot of your music. By having something that you can listen to before you go into the studio you are able to take a more objective look at what’s working and what isn’t. Admittedly it’s impossible to completely remove yourself from your music. That doesn’t mean that you can’t step outside of it for a moment. When you are playing, your mind is hyper focused on playing the part. You can listen, and respond, to the other musicians that you’re playing with, however a part of your focus will always be on what you’re playing.
By having a recorded version of the song that you can sit and listen to you are more able to focus on the bigger picture. Something structurally that may not be working, or a riff that you’d like to interject again later. When you do take an outside listen to your music, I’m sure you will be amazed by all the extra things that you are able to pick up on.
Having Something To Reference
Being able to get a quantified version of your music can go a long way in making edits to improve your music. When you can sit with the band and point out “this part of the solo 2:36 into it needs tweaking,” it saves the time and energy that goes into playing the part over and over to find exactly the spot, or the feel.
Another advantage of having something you can reference is that you can get opinions and beta test the music a little bit before getting into the studio. By having something to show to people, you can get an idea of what people will think of the music.
Being Prepared For The Studio
By getting a good rough cut of your music, you are able to better prepare for your time in the studio. As I’ve talked about in our How To Get The Most Out Of Studio Time blog, being prepared for the studio is going to go a long way in saving time once you’re there. The biggest thing that doing pre-production helps with is that it gives clarity for when you are in the studio. Having the songs from pre-production laid out gives you better ability to plan for what needs to happen in the studio.
Having Fun With Pre-Production
As useful as pre-production is, my favorite part about it is that it’s a blast to do. The entire reason we play music is because it inspires us with how fun it really is. When we go in to do pre-production we enjoy being able to focus on creating, and that’s a joy in and of it’s self. Afterwards when we’re going over the songs is when we can roll up our sleeves and dig in. While we’re recording, whether for pre-production, or in the studio, all of our attention goes into the moment and the joy of creation. In the end, the moments that we live are all that we have. What will you do with your moments?
Sending love from DARA,
Squid Hampton