Put the rhythm down before the room fills up.

Churches book a studio because Sunday already works and the recording does not. The reason is structural. On Sunday the congregation covers small disagreements in rhythm. A microphone collection does not. The way through is rehearsal, a smaller decision group, and a tracking order that respects the song.

Before anyone books the kombi

Rehearse to a click if you ever plan to use one. If the team hates clicks, decide that honestly and arrange the song so it can breathe without falling apart. Print lyrics and charts. Name a leader who can accept a take without a vote. Record a phone video of the best rehearsal and send it with the enquiry. We will tell you whether the band is ready for a studio day or whether you still need a musical rehearsal that is not yet a recording.

Choose the songs by readiness, not by how new they are. A new chorus the team loves and does not know is a production session. A known song with a stable form is a recording session. Those are different quotes. Read the worship and choir service before you ask for “a quick team booking”.

The order of the day

1. Soundcheck the rhythm section. Drums and bass first. The kit is already in the live room.
2. Lay the foundation of the song, including the form, the clicks or cues, and any pads that must be in time.
3. Add harmonic instruments once the time is boringly correct. Boring time is a compliment.
4. Record the lead vocal while the singer is fresh.
5. Stack choir or backing vocals in sections if the parts are specific, or as a group if the blend is the sound you want.
6. Listen in the control room. Mark keepers. Go home.

Do not start with the soloist at 9am while the drummer is still parking, and do not keep the choir standing during an arrangement argument. People sing sharp when they are anxious and flat when they are tired. The clock is a pastoral tool as much as a technical one.

After the team has left

The mix is not a group activity for the whole roster. The leader listens, sends one set of notes, and the studio finishes. If the song is for congregational release, say so, because the vocal should sit further forward than on a performance single. If you also want a video, shoot it to the approved mix. A music video of the rough, filmed on the same afternoon because everyone looked nice, will not match the record you actually release.

Questions this guide usually raises