Respect!

When you enter a recording studio, you’ll find the ever-important light indicating that someone is recording in the studio. Make sure to wait until the light is off before entering the recording studio. This is proper etiquette.

Upon entering a traditional recording control room, you’ll find a well-equipped space with a control panel, mixing desk, laptop, monitor speakers, amplifiers, a private area for vocals, instruments, and other audio recording equipment. 

You’ll also see various types of microphones designed to capture different sounds. Each microphone has different uses.

Some microphones will have pop filters to reduce additional noise during vocals. The room should be fitted with sound-absorbing tiles. You’ll also see one or two keyboards and an assortment of instruments, depending on the genre. More than likely, there will be a handful of people recording music, managing the technical aspects of the audio equipment, and you, the sound producer.

RECORDING STUDIO ETIQUETTE TIPS FOR SOUND PRODUCERS

As a sound producer, it’s crucial for you to set a high-quality standard and adhere to recording studio etiquette. If you follow this etiquette, everyone else will follow your lead.

You’ll show that you care about everyone else, their space, and their time. Music recording is a team effort, and you must set a good example. It’s important to show respect, support the team, and maintain a moral character.

Here are some fundamental etiquette tips to keep in mind. By following this recording studio etiquette, you’ll get more quality work done and maybe even create the next music masterpiece.

ETIQUETTE TIP #1: SHOW RESPECT

You’ll obviously be working with many different people throughout your time as a sound producer. Some people you’ll get along with, and others you won’t. Some people will be nice, while others will be rude.

Regardless of whether you become friends with everyone in the recording studio, you should show respect to all.

Showing respect to others means consistently acting, speaking, and thinking about others in a considerate way. You never know when your paths might cross again. Once you burn a bridge, it’s hard to rebuild it.

Think about your habits and make sure you’re not disrespecting anyone.

Think about your habits and make sure you’re not disrespecting anyone. You might be used to bringing coffee and food into the control room, showing up five minutes late, or talking while someone is recording in the booth.

While these might seem trivial, they can add up over time, and you might become complacent. What happens when an important artist is in your booth or your boss stops by for a few minutes? Will you disrespect them by bringing food into the control room and showing up late? If you do, you might not last long. Break the habits now and show respect to your coworkers. It’s best to create good habits and follow recording studio etiquette.

Imagine you bring your mobile phone to the recording studio and forget to turn off your ringtone. Someone calls you right in the middle of recording a track, you get distracted, and you have to redo the session. Everyone will be angry at you and think you have no respect for them. Make sure to take care of the little things in the recording studio, like your mobile phone or soft drinks, so that they don’t cause a situation and violate recording studio etiquette guidelines.

ETIQUETTE TIP #2: SUPPORT THE TEAM

Don’t just show up to work and do the absolute minimum. Being respectful toward others also means being helpful. As a sound producer, you’ll rely on others to get the job done. By being helpful, you show respect to others, and they show it back to you. They help you, even if it’s time to leave for the day, because you have a deadline to meet. Your colleagues will give you the budget you need to create a great album, and they’ll consider your needs before their own.

This is what a supportive team does. It’s important not to fall into the trap of thinking you can do everything yourself. If you do, you’ll find yourself working late nights and weekends without your team’s help. 

When you help them, they’ll help you back in return.

Also, follow the chain of command and don’t overstep your boundaries. You might have a great idea or suggestion, but find the right time or place to bring it up, so you don’t undermine your superiors or tell the singer what to do when they’re trying to vibe. Everyone in the recording studio must feel comfortable, so make sure to be helpful while respecting everyone else.

ETIQUETTE TIP #3: MAINTAIN A MORAL CHARACTER

Maintaining a moral character means being diligent, thorough, hard-working, meticulous, and reliable.

Habits form the foundation of our character, and these repeated actions influence our behaviors. By having a good moral character, you improve your habits, demonstrate self-control, and are responsible and trustworthy. You create an efficient and organized recording studio atmosphere.

By being moral, you can set a higher standard in the recording studio. You will meet deadlines for release dates, methodically and accurately complete tasks, and take your responsibilities seriously.

Creating a great song is hard enough, but sabotaging yourself with bad habits can make the obstacle insurmountable.

Imagine someone on your staff inviting their friends to the recording studio without considering your time. They create a lot of noise in the studio because they aren’t trying to meet a deadline.

These friends might bring food that can damage sensitive music equipment. The easiest way to neutralize this situation is to invite them to the launch party. Ask them to respect your time and let you complete your tasks. A conscientious colleague shows respect for the team, is helpful, and can be trusted to do what’s best for the team.

However, it’s also important that friends and colleagues come to the recording studio to collaborate and show support. It’s just as important to understand that this isn’t social hour, and a crucial job needs to get done.

ETIQUETTE TIP #4: REMEMBER THE BASICS

There are some fundamental recording studio etiquette tips to follow. Keep in mind that this basic etiquette might not seem like a big deal, but it adds up over time. Do you show up late to almost every meeting? Do you always have a cup of coffee in your hand? Do you wait until the last minute to get ready?

Remember to prepare for a session, focus on your colleagues speaking, and show them the respect you’d like them to show you.

Don’t bring food or drink into the recording studio

Have you ever worked on a form and accidentally spilled coffee on it? You rush around trying to wipe up the coffee before the form becomes illegible. Now you have to get another form, remember what you wrote, and be careful not to spill anything else on the new form. Just don’t bring food or drink into the recording studio, and you’ll never spill on an important form or the expensive recording equipment. It’s also disrespectful to eat or drink while working (and talking) with others. Show respect and take a break to snack or drink your coffee before coming to the recording studio. Practice good studio etiquette.

Show up on time

Nothing is worse than keeping people waiting. Respect their time and be there when you’re expected to. You might be late because of an accident or if you had an emergency. The person will understand, but if you repeatedly show up late, you disrespect the other person and show you don’t care about their time.

Be ready to go

Don’t wait until the last minute to set up the recording studio. Make sure you’re ready in advance, because you might encounter a problem that needs to be resolved. Take the time to plan your session, get the right equipment, and be ready when everyone else shows up at the recording studio.

Don’t touch anything that’s not yours

Have you ever been in a situation where you had the perfect sound and someone came in and turned a knob or changed a setting? Show respect to the person in charge of the recording studio and don’t touch anything that’s not yours to touch. Ask for permission before you change or even suggest anything during a session. Artists and instrumentalists need to stay in the zone when they’re being creative, and any change can throw off the whole vibe.

Turn off your phone

Don’t be the person whose phone rings in the middle of an important meeting, while sitting in the boss’s office, or at the most inopportune time. Make sure to turn off your phone and focus on the task at hand. If you’re not expecting a baby or don’t have someone who really needs to contact you, turn off your phone and let everyone leave a message.

Be professional

Most importantly, be professional and show everyone the respect they deserve. A professional sound producer is reliable, competent, has moral character, maintains their composure, is tidy in appearance, and respects others. Make sure you are honest with everyone and adhere to a higher standard. Lead the recording studio team and show them that a professional considers proper etiquette by showing everyone their respect.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Follow these recording studio etiquette tips and everyone will respect you. Their respect will go a long way when you have a deadline to meet or need a little extra help. Following recording studio etiquette is not just important

, it shapes the habits that you create and ultimately influences the quality of your work.

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