Why Should a Record Label Care About Recording and Mixing?

A great-sounding record is crucial for a record label's success. It not only enhances the label's reputation but also enriches the back catalog, propelling the brand forward. As a label, your role often involves coaching artists and supporting them throughout their careers.

Traditionally, record labels would pay for the recording of songs or albums, arranging studio time, producers, mixers, and engineers for the artists. Young talents like a 17-year-old Elvis Presley or a 13-year-old Taylor Swift wouldn’t know how to make a record in the early days of their careers. While this type of label-artist relationship is less common today due to the accessibility of home recording, labels should still be involved in the creative process.

Some artists seek creative consulting and collaboration. As an artist myself, I’ve found value in having a label I admire give feedback on my mixes or production, even when I handle most of it myself. Fresh ears can provide valuable insights. While some labels prefer not to engage in the recording or creative process, a level of creative collaboration can be beneficial. Understanding the basics of recording and mixing, if not every piece of gear, is essential for anyone in the industry.

What is Recording, Mixing, and Mastering?

For those unfamiliar with the technical side of music production, here’s a breakdown of the process an artist goes through when making a record. Typically, an artist has a batch of songs ready to take into the studio. These songs start in a raw form, whether it’s just a vocal and guitar/piano or a more complex arrangement.

The Recording Process: Four Key Steps

1. Pre-Production

   • Songwriting

   • Song structure

   • Planning instrumentation

2. Tracking (Recording)

   • Mic setup

   • Coordinating sessions with various instruments

   • Getting the best recording of each instrument and mic

3. Mixing

   • Blending all recorded instruments to create the final track, the final mix.

4. Mastering

   • Adding finishing touches to the final mix, ensuring it’s compressed and EQ’d for streaming or vinyl. If it’s an EP or album, ensuring all songs are consistent in volume and tone.
     

What Should a Record Label’s Involvement Be?

Pre-Production

• Likely the area where labels are least involved.

Recording

• Not typically a place for a label, aside from perhaps providing snacks. However, recording sessions are rich with social media content opportunities. Filming videos, taking photos, and creating content for album promos can be done here.

Mixing

• Minimal involvement from the label. If the mixing process doesn’t align with the label’s vision, it may be time to reassess the artist relationship. The mixes should represent the label’s sound, whether for sync licensing or vinyl quality. However, many artists handle their own recording and mixing, only seeking the label’s help with marketing, connections, manufacturing, and distribution.

Mastering

• This is where labels are most involved. Mastering bridges the studio and the final product. Labels should ensure the mastering engineer understands the end-use of the masters, whether for vinyl, high-quality streaming, or other formats. Artists may need financial assistance or professional input at this stage. Mastering can provide that final layer of professionalism or a fresh perspective.