Q. What equipment does my band need to bring?

Bring the gear you would normally bring to a gig, remembering it's better safe than sorry. It’s always great to try new things when recording so keep an open mind. If you’re looking to experiment we can provide some alternatives to achieve the sound you’re looking for.

Q. Can we all record at once?

Yes! I usually record drums from 8-14 tracks and that will be a starting foundation. With guitars, bass and vocals as a guide track recorded rough, (not the end product) you can choose to record live. This will speed up the process and you can re-record tracks later. In most cases, if it’s a great take, many prefer to record live to save money.

Q. Am I stuck with my first take?

NO! You can redo part or all of any track, even drums. It’s your decision what take stays and goes. The less takes needed the more money you’ll save. It will leave us more time to mix which can really make a huge difference.

Q. How much time does it take for one song?

It really depends on the artist or band. Once we have things set up, I work as fast as you do. It also depends on how fast you can get the take you like. Remember, it does take time to perform the song or part, then listen back and decide if that is the right performance. It also depends on why you’re recording. If you are recording a major release, you’ll probably want to spend a little more time on your song than a quick demo that represents the band’s “live sound”. I’ve spent 2 hours recording a live 4 song demo and then spent 2 months working on vocals (other project). If money is involved, try and keep it short as possible.

Q. Tuning a drum kit, is it really important?

Again it comes down to how much time and money you want to spend. Drums are the foundation. So you want to get a decent sound and not something which sounds awful. Some tips?? New skins, oil your kick pedals. If you don’t know about tuning, I can help. If worst comes to worst I can replace with samples from a Tama kit used on many recordings for its sound, or use sample bank, but again doing that will cost more.

Q. Are there any set rules?

Rules were meant to be broken at Audio Kaos. We throw the books out the door. So keep an open mind, and most of all have fun recording.

Pre-Production Tips. Practice...Practice and even more PRACTICE. Recording can expose strengths and opportunities in musicians. So often times it pays to have an unplugged jam between band members. You may think you're playing the exact same riff, but often you'll be playing slightly different. This is where the recording can be affected and momentum is lost through endless takes getting it right.