Name: Jessica Cook
Date: Nov/10/2012
Time In: 3pm 
Time Out: 5:30pm
Lesson: #2

Today we had Mike McGuire in the studio with a potential keyboard player. Mike and my mentor Brad just wanted to hear what the keyboardist had to offer, it was a very laid back session.

Brad had me set up studio 3 and have it ready for the keyboardist. I had to move the keyboard, chair, and food peddle in place. I had to move the microphone in place and test the headphones. You need to make sure the headphones are balanced in both ears as well as they need enough slack in the cord, so the artist can move around. When placing the microphone it needs to be either lower facing up or higher facing down. We do this so the artist can move around while recording and not affect the quality of the sound.

We used the program Nuendo to record the keyboardist. Brad showed me how to open a new session and where to save it to. We then created 2 separate tracks, 1 for vocals, (named Vocal1) and one for the keyboard(named Piano1).
The keyboardist did a few songs, and the session was done. 
I had to put the headphones, mike and keyboard away after the session.

I've learnt in this session that communication is key when it comes to welcoming someone new into the studio. I believe that this was my strength in this session. I have taken multiple courses in communication skills. This is important to make the person feel comfortable and relaxed, because no one performs well when their nerves take over. I noticed that Brad explains how everything will go. He lets them get comfortable with their surrounding environments.

I've also learnt the importance of putting equipment away properly. If it's put away right the first time then you don't fuss with it the next time you use it. It is just as important to make sure no equipment is placed on the cords as well. 

My weakness in this session is just the lack of knowledge of how a session with artist goes. Everything is new to me, so i'm just like that keyboardist, as I am too getting comfortable with the environment and equipment we use.