Recording a CD

jhatpro · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:01 am Post subject: Recording a CD

Our swing band would like to make a CD and I'd appreciate tips from anyone who's made one.

How do we find the best recording studio? How much should we expect to pay?

What can we do to keep the costs down and still get a good product?

If we want to use it to get gigs (and we do!) what should we keep in mind as far as content?

Anything else?

Thanks!
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

Proteus · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 4:53 am Post subject:

Happy to give you some high-level advice:

- don't even think about going in before your playing is as perfect as it can be
- decide everything that requires a decision before you go in (ie. solos, tempos, order of tunes...everything
- know exactly which tunes you want to record
- decide beforehand who gets the producer job (quality control): one person from the group; the whole group; or whether you're going to hire an independent producer who's familiar with or knows your stuff
- most studios charge by the hour, so be as efficient as you would at a gig; alternatively, you may be able to negotiate a block of time...but time is still money
- decide beforehand whether you're going to multi-track or go with a live mix...and budget for enough time for overdubbing (solos) and mixing down (if multi-tracking)
- keep things moving and keep things 'creative' and 'up'
- if you get to a point where you're beating a dead horse on a particular tune, move on ("one more take, juuust one more...")
- discuss the entire project beforehand with the studio owner/manager and engineer to everyone's clear what you want as a take-away

Hope this helps.
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VetPsychWars · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 5:59 am Post subject:

Also consider a venue other than a studio... for example, Harry James's "The King James Version" was recorded in a church with excellent acoustics by a firm that was well-known for excellent "remote" recordings.

Tom
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dstdenis · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 6:41 am Post subject:

If you want to promote your band to get more gigs, I suggest you think about putting up a website and/or a Facebook page. For example, use your favorite search engine and look at what pops up for "chicago big band wedding."

Look at how these bands promote themselves on their websites. They're using web pages with photos and links to youtube videos and sound clips. They also have contact details to request info for bookings.

Then get your band's web page listed in band listing sites like gigmasters.com. Have business cards printed with a link to your website and Facebook page. Have your members hand out these cards instead of CDs.

Good luck!
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mdtrptguy · Regular Member Joined: 05 Sep 2012 Posts: 26

In addition to what Proteus said:

- is the studio physically large enough to comfortably fit your band, with mic stands, etc? Take a tour of the studio to see it.
- does the studio have enough appropriate mics and headphones?
- does the studio have any experience with this style of music? If yes, mixing live to stereo might be ok. If not, multi-tracking and then mixing down later is better, even at a different studio with more experience.
- know your players. Most studios will sell 4 or 8 hour blocks at a discount. Don't book 8 hours if everybody's chops are gone after 3.
- know your players! Can they play consistently enough to do multiple takes that could be edited together with the best parts of each take? If there are balance changes, tonal differences, tempo differences between different takes, you won't be able to edit effectively.
- understand that additional time is needed for mixing, editing and mastering. Ask what those costs are up front.
- understand that recording a piece will take multitudes longer than you think it will. Checking mic levels on all instruments, setting a monitor mix, a player making a noise during a great take, listening to playbacks, all take time. 4 hours a song, including overdubbing solos, is not unreasonable. Then add mixing and editing time.
- be efficient, but keep the players relaxed, yet focused. Having a producer in the control room listening during each take can hear things that players won't.
- take in recordings that you want to emulate the sound of. This will give the engineer the best chance of getting the sound you want.

Be over prepared, relax, have fun, and take care of business!
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jhatpro · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 7:15 am Post subject:

Thanks, guys, all good!

We have a website at soundhoundsband.com that, I'm sure has gotten us a gig or two (although it may have disqualified us from some, too, because the guy I paid $300 to for recording services neglected to mike the brass. Duh!

We are really starting to pound the pavement in search of serious gigs. Not that playing for senior citizens isn't rewarding from a humanitarian standpoint but $100 split ten ways barely gets you in and out of Starbucks.

So we're thinking we need a mailable press kit with cool photos, clever copy, and a mini-disk with excerpts from some of our best tunes.

We're going for bars, restaurants, hotels, dance clubs, park districts, corporate events and the occasional second wedding. I say second because we don't do hip hop but we do play classic swing and jazz standards that people over 40 like to dance to.

Another sign that we're entering the professional zone: I'm looking for a good accounting service. I don't do numbers well and I definitely don't look good in orange.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

mm55 · Heavyweight Member Joined: 01 Jul 2013 Posts: 1412

I you don't own the copyrights to the tunes, and you intend to sell the CD's or distribute them for promotional purposes, buy the appropriate compulsory mechanical licenses through the Harry Fox Agency. It's fairly cheap; I think it's currently USD 0.091 per copy per song.
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homebilly · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 8:13 am Post subject:

whatever you do
don't spend thousands to make hundreds
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jhatpro · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 8:33 am Post subject:

I already have.

I figure it's going to cost $5,000 minimum to get a professional press kit with a photos, art, mini-disk.

I plan to propose to the band that I front the cost with the understanding that I take 50% off the top of future gigs until I'm made whole.

I just don't see any other way to move from the hobby band to working band category.

I imagine this will meet with some resistance. Good ideas always do. Hey, this is America we're talking about here.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

Richard A · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 8:49 am Post subject: How to Make a Band Work

Get a copy of "How to Make a Band Work" by Pete Wernick. Lots of good advice from a good fellow.
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I am a Mechanical Engineer and have many years of Social Distancing experience.

Richard III · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 9:10 am Post subject:

jhatpro · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 11:45 am Post subject:

Very good point, Richard. I just got very similar advice from my tenor and keyboard players. Both want us to perfect the product before we make a CD.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

Honkie · Veteran Member Joined: 20 Apr 2013 Posts: 245

A good recording engineer can make a professional-sounding recording in a location that is not a recording studio...as long as the space has decent acoustics. There are certain engineers who especially enjoy this type of recording, and might be happy to work within your budget. If you're lucky, perhaps you could make contact with someone like this.