Nail the Sound: What Top Producers Do On A Recording Session

In an age where anyone and everyone can call themselves a “producer”, it is important to look at the tried and true techniques great producers use to make hit after hit.

As a session drummer, I have been fortunate to work at many commercial recording studios with fantastic producers from around the country. While every one has their own workflow and style, a few qualities are shared between the best.

Organization:
The best producers are masters of time management. They know artists have busy schedules, studios have other sessions, and musicians are constantly traveling. They are able to take all these factors in to account and make sure no one’s time is wasted, especially the artist they producing. There is no fumbling for hard-drives, trying to find long lost lyric sheets or asking “What’s next?”. They have a plan.

Making Changes:
Every recording session, whether remote or in-person, is going to have elements that change. A rhythm section part may need to be revamped, a vocal might need another pass, or a harmony may not work out in the end. A good producer can make these changes quickly and efficiently, and they know how to give criticism in a way that makes the artist, engineers, and musicians feel respected. They know how to focus on the work/performance, be specific, and be straightforward as to what needs to happen.

Big Picture Ideas:
In the modern recording world, sessions are often completed over a span of days or weeks and a lot of times with only 1-2 people in the room. Drums could be day 1, guitars a week later, keys after that, and vocals down the line even further. Due to the space and timeline of modern sessions, having a big picture idea is imperative. A good producer needs to know what the end product is supposed to be so they can give clear direction on how to best get to that destination.