If you do anything enough, you can easily fall into bad habits and recording with bands and artists is no exception. Here are seven of the easiest habits to fall into and how to break them.

1. Not Allowing Enough Time For To Capture The Magic

It’s one thing to say that there is never enough time during a tracking session but it is quite another to set yourself up for failure before you even start. Be realistic when you are planning the session with the artist or band. The best studio session players from LA, Nashville or London might be able to record 12 songs in a day but there is a fair chance that you are not going to be recording that level of performer.

There is no law about how many tracks you can fit into a session but as a general rule of thumb, I think most bands can record 2 or 3 songs to a high standard in an 8 hour session. That is as long as the arrangement is fixed in place and the song is not being written in the studio during the recording. If the songs are still being written and crafted you can say goodbye to getting more than one, or at best two songs recorded in a day. And then be prepared to go back to them the following day when the band decide overnight that they want to change things.

2. Not Allowing Enough Time To Set Up And Get Comfortable

This one could almost be called 1a rather than 2 but when you are planning your session remember, it takes more than just the time to set the instruments up to be ready for the first take to roll. Again as a rule of thumb, I try to allow at least half a day to get the drum sound, dial in the headphones and get all the performers comfortable and ready to perform at their best. The vibe is created by people, it is not just switched on when required. It can take time to get the mood right and get everyone ready to give that magic take. Have time available so you don’t have to try to rush the un-rushable.

3. Hitting Record Too Late And Stopping Too Early

When you’re in the driving seat always make sure you give plenty of lead time into the start of the take. Don’t hit record as the drummer is on 3 or a 4 count. If you are running to a click track or pre-recorded backing track give yourself at least 2 bars or count in. There are some classic cases where, back in the days of multi-track tape, the tape was not up to speed as the band started the intro. For an example of this listen to the original album version of Roxanne by The Police.

At the end of the take always let the instruments ring out. Leave at least 3 or 4 bars (measures) of time (depending on the tempo of the song) pass before you press stop. Choked cymbal ring is a bad sound.

4. Forgetting To Talk To Your Artist

Engineers and Producers, this one’s for you. When the track finishes remember to hit the talk-back button so you can clearly communicate with your artists. You may have no idea how it feels to see the people in the control room having a chat or laughing at the end of a take and not knowing what they are saying. All sorts of thoughts rush through your head. And also remember to turn the talk-back off when starting the next take. It’s a simple thing but so important.

5. Thinking That More Gear Fixes Problems

As long as it is in good working order and not faulty, learn to use the gear you have to get 100% benefit from it. Buying more gear to fix problems is not the answer unless something you do use goes faulty. And if it does fail, get it fixed or throw it away. A studio is no place for dead or dying gear.

6. Getting Stuck In A Creative Rut

It’s all very well going for your tried and tested techniques but you should always try new things. Be it a different mic for the lead vocal or a different technique for recording drum overheads. It keeps you fresh and you might just stumble on something that is better than how you were doing it before. However, if it’s not working don’t be afraid to trust your gut and go with what you know. If I’m going to try something completely left of centre I’ll set the new technique or mic up alongside the old tried and tested method. This gives me a JIC (Just In Case). You can then decide later which you like. This one of those times when you won’t hear me say the words commit commit commit!

7. Settling For Good When Only Great Will Do

There can be a tendency towards the end of a session, although this feeling can strike at any time, to settle on a take that is, at best OK when maybe nothing better is coming naturally. This is a sign to take a break and go outside. Maybe change the mood, change the lighting or change anything to keep the energy levels up. It’s your job as the producer to spot these dips and turn them around. Try the line “Does anyone need a brew”?

What Bad Habits Did You Have And Have Broken?

These are just a top seven starting point. Let us know about any bad habits you had and how you have broken them. Or should that be if you have broken them?