‘Red Light Fever’

•   Problem: Some artists may seem incapable of performing naturally and without making mistakes when the recorder is ‘rolling’.

•   Possible solution: Set the multitrack to record constantly, i.e. without a stop-and-go ‘take’ approach, and instruct the artists to perform as if the session was a rehearsal, i.e without worrying about the control room.

Unnatural Under or Over-Confidence

•   Problem: Some performers may lose their confidence or become overly arrogant while tracking.

•   Possible solutions:

-    Reduce the number of people in the studio.

-    Dim the control / live room lights.

-    Play the performers some of the music they love (inspiration).

-    Create an ‘atmosphere’ in the live room.

Change in Planned Recording Parts

•   Problem: Some musicians may change their playing parts or overplay when recording, with negative results.

•   Possible solutions:

-    Reduce the number of people in the studio (the musicians may be trying to impress someone or may be feeling intimidated).

-    Discuss the lyrical content and the other elements (parts) of the song and how they connect or support each other (mention a possible theatrical role of each part).

-    Bring up the original part emphasising how an instrument will sit better in the Mix By playing the agreed part.

Lack of ‘Feeling’

•   Problem: Artists may play their parts in a ‘sterile’ or ‘clinical’ way when recording.

•   Possible solutions:

-    Discuss the lyrical content and the other elements (parts) of the song and how they connect or support each other (mention the theatrical role of each part).

-    Play the demo.

-    Create an imaginative or artistic ‘atmosphere’ in the studio.

Lack of Objectivity

•   Problem: Some musicians may lose sight of the ‘big picture’ while tracking, e.g. they may want to keep chasing the ‘magical’ or perfect take or in the case of simultaneous tracking one artist may want to discard a good take and continue recording basic tracks because of errors in their own individual performance.

•   Possible solutions:

-    Play the take and highlight its positive attributes.

-    Play the take ‘muting’ the instrument being questioned and discuss the possibility of overdubbing parts later.

-    Suggest a break and play the recorded take upon returning to the studio (artists may judge it more objectively at this point).

-    Work on a different song temporarily and return to the original one at a later stage (with ‘fresh ears’).

Lack of ‘Drive’

•   Problem: Artists may give up too quickly when tracking and deem sub-standard performances as adequate.

•   Possible solutions:

-    Suggest a break and play the recorded take upon returning to the studio (artists may judge it more objectively at this point).

-    Play the demo highlighting its positive attributes.

-    Play the performers some of the music they love (inspiration).

-    Create an ‘atmosphere’ in the live room and discuss the lyrical content of the track and the intention of the composer.

Aggressive Behaviour

•   Problem: Performers acting unreasonably and aggressively towards each other or towards other members of the production team.

•   Possible solutions:

Call a break and:

-    Step outside the studio (address the offending members of the team individually or in small groups – attempt to diffuse situations humorously).

-    Create a distraction, e.g. take the offending members to the lounge and get them to play a video game.

-    Offer the performers something to eat or drink (some individuals become noticeably more aggressive when they are hungry).

-    Consider recording separately / overdubbing parts.