4 Steps to a Great Pre-Production Process
Before we dive into what a good pre-production process looks like, let’s quickly go over what it is and why it’s important.
Pre-production is simply the process of preparing for a recording session. This is generally when the songwriter, artist, and producer (or any combo of these people) will work together to create the blueprint for the studio session. A good pre-production process can save time, money, and ensure that the final product meets the artist's vision. This is especially true when working with remote session musicians and using mixing engineers, mastering engineers, and/or musicians from different studios and locations. Unfortunately, this process is one of the most overlooked areas and one that many people don’t spend enough time dialing in. You can not overdo the pre-production process. The more effort and planning that goes into a recording session BEFORE the recording starts, the smoother the whole session will go. Period.
The pre-production process can vary from artist to artist and producer to producer, but there are a few key elements that can help anyone produce their music like a pro. I like to think of my pre-production process as having 4 main areas of focus.
Pre-production begins with the artist and producer discussing the overall concept and direction for the project. This includes discussing the artist's goals, influences, and desired sound. The producer will then work with the artist to create a detailed plan for the recording sessions, including the selection of songs, specific studio musicians, mixing engineers, mastering engineers, and equipment needed.
Next, the artist and producer will work on demos of the songs. These demos are rough recordings that are used to test the arrangements, melodies, and lyrics of the songs. The demos also give the artist and producer an idea of how the songs will sound in the final recording. This stage in the process is crucial for hearing how lyrics will work in the “real world”. This is where one can check if keys are in a comfortable range, if the tempo feels the way it should, and if the lyrics are working. These demos can be anywhere from an acoustic guitar track with a simple vocal, to a more produced demo that has drum loop ideas, band arrangement ideas, vocals, and other elements.
After the rough/scratch demos are made, the artist and producer will work on finalizing the arrangements and preparing the songs for recording. This includes creating charts for the session musicians, notes on arrangement ideas/tempos/keys, and other information that will be needed during the recording sessions. When working with multiple studios and remote session musicians, having the session info like sample rates, bit depths, and click tracks will be very helpful. Keeping these notes easily accessible during the recording sessions will ensure the overall vision is not lost and any must have sounds or parts are captured.
Finally, the artist and producer will work on a schedule for the recording sessions. This includes determining the length of each session, the order of the songs to be recorded, and the musicians who will be needed. When working on an in-person recording session, scheduling all the musicians and engineers can be tricky. These people may need to come in on different days or even weeks to get all the parts captured. For this reason, working with remote session musicians and remote mixing engineers can be a huge time saver. Either way, having a clear schedule and a confirmed calendar to work from will save hours of headaches and make sure the music can be produced and released in a timely manner.
A solid pre-production process is imperative to putting out great music. Like building a house, having a thought-out blueprint and plan is the key to success. By following a good pre-production process, you can ensure that the final recording meets the artist's vision and is completed efficiently and in a timely manner…and if YOU are the artist, that’s even more reason to have your vision and thoughts represented! Every hour of pre-production saves you and your session musicians multiple hours (and hundreds or thousands of dollars) on the day of the session.
If you would like a FREE pre-production checklist (the exact checklist I personally use on all my recording and producing projects), please visit the Drum Arsenal Production’s Studio Library and sign up for the email list. You’ll get exclusive access to an ever-growing library of resources for artists, songwriters, and musicians, and never any spam…just the occasional studio promotion and production tips and tricks!
