Anthony Gooden's List: How To record an Album

• The first step is to take stock of where you are. You need to know how many  songs you want to record, the basic instrumentation, and the style of recording you want to make.
• • Determine your BUDGET.
   
  • Shop for an appropriate studio. (See our tips for that on our home page!)
   
  • Decide on whether or not to use an outside producer.
   
  • Familiarize yourself with the recording process.
   
  • RECORD!!!
   
  • Have your album mastered.
   
  • Have your album duplicated.
   
  • Sell millions of copies and thank us in the liner
• Ok, first, the budget. This makes and breaks every project. Few people have  unlimited funds to throw at recording. You need to determine a FIXED dollar amount you are willing  to allocate to the process
• Studio managers (like Amy here at MEM!) can be valuable resources in this step,  as well as every other in creating a recording. Making albums is what we do for a living, and we pride  ourselves on making good ones
• Choosing a producer is another major step, as is choosing not to use a producer.  This is best discussed in detail with your band members, as well as anyone whose has recorded an album  you admire. Producers can be the single-most important person in getting a project in on time and  budget - but they can also sink a project as well if they are poorly suited to the material
• It's also beneficial to familiarize yourself with the recording process. I'm not  talking about becoming an engineer!!! I'm talking about learning what terms such as "basics session"  and "overdub" means. It will really help you communicate with studios and studio personnel. It helps  to know you can "punch in" certain parts of a perfomance instead of the whole thing, and it helps  even more to understand the studios limitations
• Once you have recorded and mixed your project, it's time to have your album  mastered. You cannot afford to skip this step! This is the final stage before your project gets  duplicated. In other words, this is the last chance to catch any mistakes! It might not be a major  thing - but any little detail that can drive you crazy six months after is usually caught in  mastering by an objective set of ears
• Then it's off to duplication. Again, it pays to shop around and ask a lot of  questions. We have strong opinions and ideas on this topic, and will be more than happy to discuss  the options you have when you visit us for a studio tour. Suffice it to say, you usually get what  you pay for in duplication. Lower prices often means less service, and the first service to go is  quality control

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• The Artist & Repertoire (A&R) Director runs the department responsible for finding and signing new music talent. They are responsible for the budget of the department, managing the staff, hiring new staff and sometimes acting as A&R manager for larger acts
• A&R (Artist & Repertoire) was developed when it was rare for artists to write their own material. A&R in those days was concerned with matching artists with songwriters. Nowadays A&R is responsible for scouting new talent, signing it to a label
• From TV and movies, to CD and radio, an Audio Engineer makes the transmission and translation of sound, atmosphere, and music possible. They're a vital part of any production and tend to work in groups, especially on larger productions such as movies. An audio engineer uses machinery and equipment to record, synchronize, mix or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects
• A Booker schedules live performances for their clients. To do so, they must network with venue operators, music promoters and other Bookers. They handle all financial matters in connection with the date and coordinate the scheduling logistics
• An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including electronics, acoustics, psychoacoustics, and musi
• An Assistant Engineer will assist the recording engineer in operating the soundboard and other electrical equipment during the recording session, usually in the recording studio. They will assist in recording, editing, mixing and mastering sound using a range of specialized mechanical and digital equipment. While usually associated with music production, an Assistant Engineer may work in post production for video and film
• live sound, advertising, multimedia, and broadcasting
• Recording Engineers (sound engineers or audio engineers) usually work in recording studios making high quality sound recordings, mainly for the music and entertainment industry. They need to be able to operate complex electronic equipment to reproduce music, dialogue, sound effects and other audio content to the highest quality.
• Label Assistant will assist a record label in a variety of departments and areas in which they require help
• A Label Director is responsible for the overall operation of the record label. This person will give the label direction and purpose daily, and serve as the team leader for final decision making
• he Label Manager will supervise and see that all day to day operational tasks are carried out appropriatel
• A Mastering Engineer is one skilled in the practice of taking audio (typically musical content) that has been previously mixed in either the analog or digital domain as mono, stereo, or multichannel formats and preparing it for use in distribution, whether by physical media such as a CD, vinyl record, or as some method of streaming audio
• A musician is someone who has studied and performs on one or more instruments. Often needed as a fill-in for a symphony orchestra, or a rock band member. Sessions Musicians are often versatile artists used primarily for recording sessions in recording studios.
• Recording industry Producers organize all aspects of recording music. Many operate in the traditional way of working with performers in a recording studio with the assistance of a sound engineer. Others use their own equipment to try out ideas but use a commercial recording studio for the final recording. With changes in technology, an increasing number of people are becoming involved in producing their own music.  Some experienced sound engineers become recording industry Producers
• A Producer, Assistant helps a Producer to oversee and manage the recording (i.e. "production") of an artist's music. This position's responsibilities include but are not limited to helping to gather ideas for a project, assisting in selecting songs and/or musicians, coaching artists and musicians in the studio, controlling the recording sessions under the Producers direction, and helping to mix and master music
• Professional Singers or Vocalists perform live in front of an audience or make recordings for broadcast, CD or download. They interpret music by using their knowledge of voice production, melody, harmony, and rhythm. They might do session work for backing tracks, advertisements and films. They may sing alone as a soloist, work with a group of musicians or sing with others in a choir. They may sing classical music, pop, ballads or in musical shows.  Singers may specialize in one of many fields
• A Studio Manager in the music industry makes sure that the studio is organized in terms of bookings, equipment and administration. They are often involved in the business side of the operations, making sure they keep existing clients satisfied and attract new business to the recording studio.  Very often recording Studio Managers will be experienced musicians or producer
• A Studio Manager Assistant is a position often occupied by current production students, or recent college graduates. This is a job that will allow for great experience in a recording environment, and also with the day to day operations of a recording studio

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