Jeff,

Just relax and enjoy yourself. In the studio you are under an aural microscope and it's really easy to become overly self-aware and then everything becomes really sterile. Maybe bring along a little something fun to focus on (lava lamp, some picture you like, Bears helmet, who knows.

Technically, the engineer is not only at the desk to monitor levels going to the record hard drive(s) and setting eq's for the recording; he is also there to mix your headphones (often referred to as "cans" in studio parlance). Son part of his job is making sure you hear enough of yourself, the click if you are using one, and the other band members. So when they ask you if you like your cans, that is when you say I need more of this, less of that. Keep in mind that if you keep asking for more that you are in effect increasing the overall volume in your mix. Sometimes it is better to ask them to turn something down that is louder than turn something up that is softer. Just know your can mix is critical. A bad monitor mix can make for a miserable and difficult day while a great mix can be really inspiring.

> we are not a good band

Jeff - If you guys use the KISS concept, you'll end up with a recording that you can all be proud of. Just keep it simple, make sure everybody knows and has practiced their parts. Then it's just a matter of going in and hoping you can nail it in a few good tries. The engineers will take the best from each pass and you guys will swear you're Santana! LOL

Have fun! Keep it simple and within the range of what everyone can do. You'll be surprised how good you can sound!

John

The Kiss concept?

Scott, thanks for the lesson on "the cans" now I can impress my buddies knowing what that means, lol!

Jeff, just go do it. If you've never been in a studio, it will be helpful and enlightening.

My first experiences with recording were without a click track (the term would have brought a poorly constructed railroad to mind). That first session, and the following few jingles and demos, allowed me to learn a lot about my playing.

Bring your pedal, sticks, and cymbals, but don't be surprised if their rig sounds good as is. Just like driving someone else's car, it takes a minute to adjust.

Have fun and torp the dampedoes!

K. I. S. S.

Keep It Simple Stupid. Not that you're stupid of course. That is just what the acronym means.

Oh, I thought you ment we need to look like this,

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?&id=HN.608000694452161034&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0

LOL - I just meant, pick a song everybody knows, that doesn't have a lot of tricky changes.

Keep It Simple.... (I won't call you Stupid, you're not, and I like you too much for that.) :p

John

Hey JC! Go in and have fun, play with a smile and just be relaxed. I love doing studio sessions these days, but years ago I used to scare myself to death over it and seriously get red light fever. That just made me clam up. As the others have said already keep it simple and clean.

Take your fave Snare in, if you have a couple of snares that would be great. Moongel and an o-ring are really important. You can make an O-ring from an old head if you have one around.

And take your Kik pedal in too. Cymbals of course.

Good luck.

Can`t say anymore than has already been said.Once you get one track done and past you then you`ll notice things really start to flow.Engineers are there to help you with anything and everything.Enjoy the cool challenge and put down some nice tracks for us Jeff.We`ll all be cheering you on at the VDF.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne! Ya were all looking forward to this. None of us know what to expect and we are a little nervous about it. My drumming is not that good, I cant play the kick drum worth a dime, I m gonna tell them to un-mike my bass drum, lol!