At the core of my work, this is the question I think about the most.

Ever since my first studio session, I’ve always wanted to know:

“What is the BEST way to record music and make records?”

And this isn’t just a technical question about the quality of the recording or the price of the microphone. It’s about the process - what is the best process in which artists feel comfortable, get the best takes possible, feel good, and have a good time doing it.

I want to know what the most efficient methods are to achieving a polished and great sounding record, and I want to do it every single day - perfecting the process as I go.

Here are a few things that I’ve learned along the way:

Takes are NEVER precious

AND while you can always do more, you should also do as FEW as possible.

With more takes comes both mental and physical fatigue, which leads to bad decision-making and confusion about the big picture.

It’s better to keep an imperfect take in place so that you can see how it fits in after you’ve added more parts.

You can always come back later and redo it.

Imperfections matter

Often the little mistakes and imperfections make the track sound more interesting.

A “perfect” drum part or a “perfectly” in-tune vocal may seem enticing, but you lose all of the idiosyncrasies that make music feel alive.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t have parts be in time and in tune - but never sacrifice the audio quality of something just to make it more “perfect.”

Quantization and auto-tune often make parts feel lifeless.

Sometimes what you think is a flub ends up being the best part of the song once everything else is in place.

Choose the right vocal mic

Don’t use condenser mics on vocals unless it’s the right one that fits the type of vocal perfectly.

I use large diaphragm dynamic mics like SM7B and RE20 on vocals almost exclusively.

When they are run into a high quality preamp like my BAE 1073 and a great vocal compressor like my Retro 176, they sound huge and natural.

Condenser mics (especially cheap ones) require far too much EQing to fit easily into the mix.

They work great when the vocal is the main element, but in many songs a dynamic mic just fits in perfectly.

Manage fatigue and reset often

Daylight, fresh air, and regular walks outside are critical for avoiding burnout and listening fatigue.

I try to go on a walk with my artists outside whenever possible - at least once per session, often twice.

When I’m mixing, I take breaks almost every hour to help me reset and keep a fresh perspective.

No drinking or smoking in the studio

Some people associate weed, alcohol, and partying as part of the studio experience - but it has no place in the work.

We need to be at our very best when we are recording music, and that requires proper sleep, hydration, concentration, and mindfulness.

We owe it to ourselves and the songs to show up as our best for every single session.

Good vibes only. No distractions

It’s ok to take breaks and shoot the shit sometimes, but if you are in the studio, the MAIN focus is on the current step in making the record.

It’s not a place for networking or endless distracting conversations.

If you’re not an integral part of the work that is actively being done, you should try to remove yourself from the studio as much as possible.

Step outside, or be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible.

NEVER talk or play an instrument while someone else is recording.

Don’t hyper-focus on one thing

Try not to hyper-focus on one single element for too long.

Always step back and listen to the whole mix regularly.

Context is key

It doesn’t matter what a single element sounds like in isolation if it will only be heard in context.

Try to play the song in its entirety as much as possible.

Don’t just loop bits.

Have fun

Music is our way of celebrating life and sharing experiences with each other.

Don’t let the stress, pressure, or intensity of the subject matter keep you from enjoying your time in the studio.

Music is a blessing, and we should enjoy creating it.

That joy ALWAYS comes through in the final product.

There are probably more, but that’s where I’ll leave it for now.

Maybe I’ll pick this topic up again someday and think of some more.

Happy spring everyone. 🙏

Jon

How to make records