But having a solid concept going in, and knowing what you’re trying to accomplish, that can be helpful. “If you’re really improvisational, for example, it’s possible to over-prepare. “It can be so different for each situation,” he continues. While he recommends putting in hours to solidify your arrangements and overall vision, Pelton is also loath to generalize about the preparation necessary for every artist when it comes to a recording session. “If you’re going in to your recording session and still haven’t written the bridge to three of your songs, that’s probably going to be a problem, so spending some time in pre-production can be helpful.” “When you’re recording music, the balance between being prepared versus over-prepared is an interesting thing,” says Pelton. “There’s really no right or wrong way to go about the art of recording, so be ready to deal with different situations that may pop up.” Be adequately prepared “As a sideman, or as a member of a band, or even if you’re the artist, flexibility is key,” Pelton affirms. The process can be all over the map.”ĭoes the producer prefer to track every instrument separately, digitally slicing and morphing each tone to perfection in a home studio - or does the solo artist you’re working with want to rent out a pro studio and record an entire album live, in stereo to analog tape, in a single afternoon? Whatever the case, go with the flow, bring your focus, and have fun. “When you’re first starting out recording, it’s easy to have certain ideas about how things should go in the recording studio,” says Pelton, “but what’s interesting about the recording process is that records are made in millions of different ways by different artists and producers. Here are some tips from the master on how to bring your own best playing to every take that you track. The top-call New York studio drummer has recorded for artists like Ray Charles, Sheryl Crow, Pink, Rod Stewart, Shakira, and Elton John. Once your preamps are set and your mics are placed, how do you summon your musical mojo, nail that single, transcendent take, and truly make your composition sing?īest known for his tenure as house drummer for Saturday Night Live, Shawn Pelton has built a tremendous career by capturing such in-studio magic, session after recording session. But when it comes to a great music performance in your next recording session, getting your home studio setup is only half the battle. If you read Disc Makers’ recently published Home Studio Handbook, you probably know quite a bit about what it takes to craft quality recordings in whatever recording studio space you have access to. Top-call NYC session musician Shawn Pelton talks about what to expect, how to prepare, and how to nail the take for your next recording session

Shawn pelton playing with a click track