In response to our "Planning to do a CD?" article, we have decided to share a few tips with you about making your own CD with your worship team. There are a ton of churches out who feel a need to make a CD of their music and fail to take into account the huge task at hand. We hope to shed a few thoughts to better help you get through the process. These tips are not in order of importance.
1. Have someone who is not attached to the project act as producer.
This person needs to have experience in producing CD's. It is a huge task to line things up, make sure the budget is set properly, and secure the studio, line up session times for your people and more. The producer needs to have a great ear and be somewhat of an arranger. He has to know what songs are worth putting on a CD and what needs to be thrown out. He has to be objective and understand the dynamics of working with non-professional volunteers. His role is that of bring everything together to make it happen.
2. When planning your budget, add a few thousand for cushion.
When working with volunteers, it is very difficult to know how long a song will take to lay down in the studio. Unless you have had experience in one, it can be very intimidating at first. Good studios cost a lot of money. Practicing until you are sick of the song will help in your preparation. A CD isn't as forgiving as live sound. When wrong notes are sung or played, they are there forever. One important tip: make sure your drummer can play to a click track before you step into the studio. You will spend hundreds of extra dollars if he isn't used to playing to a click track.
3. Choosing the right studio.
There are thousands of studios that you could choose from to do your project. For most of us, location plays a large role in the studio we choose. Many of you have in-house studios and that's a beautiful thing. For those who don't, check around for pricing and reputation. Ask to hear some of their work. Make sure they have the equipment you need to do your project. Find out what instruments they have in-house. Do you use their drums or your own? Check for references and talk to them. Check dates for available session time. Determine when your people can be there and plan accordingly. There is nothing worse than scheduling recording time and one of your players or singing can't make it. Do your research ahead of time and your project will flow much better. Important tip: for many studios, the minute you walk in the door the clock starts. In my first recording session I came early to set up the drums. I thought I was getting ahead so we could start on time. The clock was running while I was setting things up. I was under the impression it was for actual recording time. Not too smart.
4. Choose the right players and singers for your project.
It's fun to go into a studio with your worship gang. The idea of doing a project together is an exciting event. The intensions of many Worship Leaders and Music Ministers are great in wanting to use their people for the project when in reality it is not realistic. There is a reason studio musicians make such good money. They play perfect...the first time. It's what they do...all the time. To ask an average musician to come into a studio and play the song right first time through is unrealistic. On average it will take hours to get one song done. Now, let me say that there are many players who can nail it in a few takes. You are the only one who knows what your people can do. Keep in mind that time is money. We need to be good stewards of it. Determine up front what you plan to do with regards to players and singers. Think through your group and decide who will work best in this situation. It is not a bad thing to bring in a pro to help make your project the best it needs to be. Remember the final product will represent Christ and your church. If you can't do it well, don't do it. You will regret getting into the studio with people who cannot do what you need to get your project done. It will harm relationships when you have to make changes. Keep in mind that many groups use studio musicians on their CD's. There is a reason for it.
5. Have as few in the studio as you need during each session.
The fewer people in the studio, the more expedient things will be. Noise level and distractions are a killer of session time. People love to socialize. Keeping the numbers down will keep things moving along.
6. The forgotten cover and insert.
Many churches go full steam with the recording end and fail to spend the proper time and money on the cover. Sadly, if the cover stinks, people won't buy it. The cover and insert are an important part of the CD. It is the visual art of the project. Spend the money and time on producing a quality cover that adds to the music and the project as a whole.
6. Pray about whether this a something you need to do.
Sounds almost too foolish to mention. However, half the projects I have listened to should never have been recorded in the first place. I am not a beat around the bush kind of person. Most of us are not good songwriters. We want to be but it's not our gifting. The idea of making a CD is a cool venture. We want to "get our songs out" to others. The truth is it's usually songs they don't need or want. There are those who are called, gifted and anointed writers. We are not all called to write songs. Our egos tend to get in the way of what we really need to focus on. I share this only to keep you from doing something in vain. I've done it.
7. Bathe it in prayer.
Once you decide to go with it, pray that God's anointing is on it. Pray that His spirit flow through everything. Pray daily for those involved. Pray that God will use it for His glory. It's a wonderful thing to have God's anointing on what we do. Keeping Him first in the whole process will make the process more focused and run smoother.
8. Be Flexible.
The process of recording is an art as well as a science. There will be times when things aren't going as expected. You have to be willing to take advice from others. The engineer will make suggestions. The producer may want to change something. Once you go into the studio, your music in no longer your own. If you have the right people around you, things will change for the better. If you are not good at receiving constructive criticism beware.
9. Keep things simple.
The tendency in recording is to add a ton of sound and parts because you can. We have umpteen channels and can do anything. Some of the best songs are the simplest. A drummer who keeps a steady simple beat. The guitars who know when to play and when not to play. Simple is cheaper and easier to lay down. There are few Quincy Jone's out there. I think Jesus appreciates the simple. He always loved children because they were simple. Simple faith, simple love, simple music.
10. Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
You can never be too prepared. I mentioned the click track earlier. If a drummer cannot play to a click track you will be in trouble. Studios rely on metronomes to get songs recorded. There is nothing worse than having a song speed up and slow down. Besides that it's hard to follow as a singer and musician. If you wait to see if your drummer can do it in the studio, you will waste a ton of money. Make sure every song is as tight as it can be before you step in the door of a studio. Planning should be done months before you start. Set goals and deadlines for each song to be rehearsed. Organization is a must to pull off a project such as this.
If you have any tips or helps in the area of recording, please send them to us. This is not a manual for recording. We desire only to give you information that will help you in your process. Recording is a huge undertaking. If you surround yourself with the right people, things will go smoother and it will be an awesome thing for you and your people. If you don't, it can be a nightmare. Good luck and let us hear from you.
Experiencing Worship, The Study