In today’s do-it-yourself world, an artist or songwriter may find themselves needing to hire professional musicians to record on their next project. Whether it is because they do not have access to a studio, or know any professional musicians in their area. It is possible to have some of the best musicians in Los Angeles record tracks or stems, remotely.
One of the most challenging parts of recording a song are the drums. Finding a session drummer that has the ability to create custom parts that fit your songs can feel daunting. Here are five guidelines to help you find a remote session drummer that is right for your project.
#1 Clear communication:
Knowing exactly what you want and being able to communicate that to the drummer is essential for getting a product that meets your needs. If you do not know what you want, you cannot expect them to create music that satisfies your vision, no matter what level of professional they are.
Set up an in-person meeting or speak with them over the phone. Do not just rely on emailing back and forth. You should also have two or three reference songs to give the drummer a better idea for the sounds and feel you want to capture.
#2 Turnaround time:
From the time you hire the session drummer to the time you have the first take can be anywhere between one to three days. Drummers should offer one or two takes/versions of each song. If so, it may take another day or two to complete.
It should not take a month to record stems or a finished drum track. However, you need to be willing and able to review recordings in a timely manner, otherwise the process will take too long and the project can fizzle out.
#3 Mixing and Mastering:
Do you need mixed and mastered drum tracks or are you doing your own editing and just want raw stems to manipulate yourself? If you want the tracks to be cleaned up, make sure you are clear about that from the beginning.
Not all drummers have the knowledge or ability to do this. It will also affect the turnaround time. The more work the drummer has to do, the longer it will take to deliver the finished product.
#4 Equipment:
It is no longer necessary to book studio time in a Million Dollar, state-of-the-art recording studio to produce amazing music. However, it is important for the drummer to have professional gear. This will ensure that no matter what you are recording, it will sound amazing. This not only includes professional level drums, cymbals, and percussion. It also means having good microphones, and preamps.
#5 Price:
Do not be fooled by Five Dollar drum tracks. Remember, you get what you pay for. No professional musician is going to offer their services for free. The higher in demand the session drummer is, the higher priced they will be.
Prices may be negotiable depending on what the session is for and how much material you want recorded. Make sure that you know what your budget is and be open from the beginning to ensure you are getting what you want.
These are just a few important points to help you through the process of finding the best music drummer in Los Angeles for your next recording. The process may be a little different for everyone, depending on what you are looking for, but these key factors should help. Remember, you do not even have to live in LA anymore to have some of the most talented musicians record on your next project.