Things I learned watching Cameron Webb record Much The Same in California....
- Fix problems at the source, as soon as you notice them. For instance, a certain guitar part needed to "float" above the other guitars. Rather than use the same tone for the guitar and just EQ it into place, or even a different tone that simply sounded good on its own, Cameron didn't settle until we got a tone that meshed perfectly with the other guitar tones and still stuck out enough so that you noticed everything in the particular part.
- "Prove me wrong." I'm totally stealing that line. Along with another one which takes too much explanation to write out, but is genius nontheless.
- To make a great record, you need great tools. If the tools aren't helping you, then they are a hindrance. This is not good news for my debt/savings ratio (ha!) but shit, if you're building a house, sure you can do it with a file, but wouldn't a power saw be better? That said, sometimes the right tool isn't always the most expensive. We used the $2000 Neumann condenser mic for group vocals, while leads were cut with a $350 Shure SM-7b. We had $20,000 worth of guitar amps, but for bass one of the components was a cheap practice amp, and a $50 Boss Super Overdrive got used on the solo I played.
- Mind control over your studio equipment is a Good Thing. Know what each amp/speaker/microphone is capable of and exploit it where it's necessary for the song. Focus, Daniel-san.
- Listen for timing and performance, not necessarily pitch.
- Do as much as you can without the artist present. It saves your sanity.
- Take any money the label offers you.
- Take weekends off. You don't have to kill yourself.
- Anything to make it sound better. Always turn out material that's as good as it can possibly be.
Most of this stuff I really already knew already, but it's awe-inspiring to actually see it in action.
