My First Studio Session - Posted on 2014-08-26 by Justin Bruckerhoff

I had my first studio session on 8/23 and it was a great learning experience! I called my my mentor, Jeff Smith, to schedule my first lesson, and we instead discussed me coming into the studio the next day to help out with a recording session. I immediately accepted the intvitation to join in on the recording. 

The next day I arrived at the studio, Jeff gave me a SongSmith Records polo and we went over how the day was going to unfold. We got into the studio and he introduced me to one of his Neumann mics and discussed its great quality and the settings that the mic are switched to for different situations. He showed me how properly run the mic cords and adjust the mic stand.

In this recording session we recorded a piano, flute, oboe, viola, violin, cello, and upright bass for a song called "Heaven's Babie's." It's a heartfelt peice that a young lady wrote for one of her family members who had recently lost a child at birth. It felt great to donate my time for this session that was given to the family completely for free.

In this session I observed Jeff utilizing Pro Tools HD9 & Melodyne and he discussed some of the numerous features of each program. We talked about cross-fading, EQ, compression, auto tuning, D-verb. He even allowed me to use the software to help record him as he played the viola and violin parts in the song. After 6 hours of studio time I had to make an exit and get to a concert I had previously made plans to attend. Before I left we had finished recording all of the instrumental parts and were working with Melodyne to help correct pitch imperfections. 

 It was a great studio session! On 8/27, Jeff and I will continue with recording vocals.