3 Questions to Ask Yourself (and 3 to Ask Producers) When Choosing a Recording Studio

So you wrote 10 songs, you have a killer band, and you’re playing in clubs, you’ve even played a few festivals over the last year, you’re rehearsing every week sometimes twice… But does that mean you're going to walk into a recording studio and walk out with the record you want to make? Here are some questions to ask yourself, and some to ask recording studios to get an idea of where you’re at, and what kind of product and experience you’ll get from the studio.

Questions to ask yourself:

Can I play to a click?

This seems very basic, but this determines so much about how your record is produced.  Be honest with yourself here.  This will inform every other aspect of how your record sounds, and what producers can do with your music at every step of the process. 

Who is this for?

Are you making music for yourself or for an audience? Bluntly this means “does anyone else care about this 10 minute solo?” But more acutely this means trimming the fat and only putting forward your best work.  A sophisticated and high quality recording requires a lot of careful and thoughtful work on the part of the producer, and much of it happens in real time, with each step informing the one before it. 

How much will I spend trying to do this myself?

Be realistic about the DIY approach.  A good recording studio has the best tools for the job, just like any other good business, and a good producer understands how to use those tools efficiently and effectively. 

Questions to Ask Producers:

What do I get for my money?

Do you bill hourly? Do you charge a flat rate?  Does a flat rate include pre-production guidelines and guidance? Does a flat rate include production and mixing? How many rounds of mix revisions do I get? What is your turnaround time? What if I need to reschedule? Do I need to make a deposit for the time?

Every recording studio operates differently and approaches their work differently in many ways, asking these questions is a good way to understand how much attention your project will get, and what you are actually paying for.  Consider the cost if billed hourly for each aspect, and the value each aspect holds.  Ask the recording studio to walk you through what those things mean if you’re unsure.

Will you help to refine my sound?

A good producer will take time to study and prepare to make your recording, and take time to ask you questions to get an understanding of your vision.  They might ask you for a playlist of bands or artists that you think are in your genre, and will ask you what made you choose those particular songs.  A good producer is a good listener, and a good listener asks questions.

What is your understanding of my project?  What can I do here that I can’t do anywhere else?

What makes your recording studio experience unique and valuable?  Why do people come to you? What are your ideas for making my record? These questions seem straightforward, but the answers can be very informative.  A producer will care about these questions, and have thoughtful and realistic answers to them.