Guide to Recording Preparation

1. Finalizing Song Structure and Rehearsal

Deciding whether to modulate a key or how to enter a chorus on the day of recording can stall a session's momentum. We recommend creating a demo tape and freezing the arrangement completely before arrival. It is crucial to know the exact number of bars for each section—verse, pre-chorus, and chorus.

During your rehearsals, focus not only on the notes but on the "dynamics" (volume and intensity). By designing the contrast between intimate, quiet passages and powerful, emotional peaks, you allow our engineers to set the microphone gain and compression levels accurately, preventing clipping or excessive noise.

2. Organizing Lyrics and Formatting

While tablets are common, we suggest bringing lyrics printed on paper. This prevents eye strain from screen backlighting and allows you to scribble emotional cues or structural notes directly on the page. Ensure your lyrics are secured with clips or in a folder so they don't slip off the music stand during a high-energy take.

If you have multiple versions of a song, double-check that you are bringing the most recent edit. Discovering a lyric change after the recording is finished often necessitates a re-recording, which may result in additional studio costs beyond your initial booking.

3. Health Management and Vocal Care

Your performance depends heavily on your physical state in the 24 hours leading up to the session. Yokohama's coastal location can bring sudden changes in humidity and temperature; keep your throat hydrated to avoid dryness. Prioritize deep sleep and consistent water intake.

We recommend warming up your voice shortly before entering the studio. Avoid extreme temperatures—such as ice-cold drinks—and stick to room-temperature water or warm herbal teas. To combat tension-induced shallow breathing, a few minutes of light stretching can help relax your diaphragm and shoulders.

4. Essential Gear Checklist

To ensure a seamless start, please prepare the following items. Avoiding forgotten materials prevents unnecessary downtime during your paid session.

5. Backing Track Formats and Delivery

Please provide backing tracks (instrumentals) in high-quality WAV format (minimum 44.1kHz/24-bit). Compressed formats like MP3 can reveal sonic limitations during the mixing stage, potentially affecting the overall professional polish of the final master.

If possible, providing "stems" (separate files for drums, bass, etc.) allows us to optimize the monitor balance in your headphones. This creates a more comfortable singing environment. You may share these via cloud storage before the session or bring them on a USB drive.

6. Studio Time Management and Rules

At Maravediflow, sessions begin exactly at the reserved time. If you require time for wardrobe changes or specific gear checks, please book an extra 30 minutes. For instance, a 2-hour booking used for 30 minutes of setup leaves only 90 minutes for actual recording.

Per our studio policy, clients under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guardian. While we archive session data for 12 months, we strongly advise maintaining your own backups. For full details on our policies, please refer to our Terms.

7. Post-Recording Workflow and Mixing

Once recording is complete, you will work with the engineer to select the "best takes." We encourage you to trust the engineer's objective perspective on pitch and timing. The selected takes then move to the Mixing & Mastering phase.

During mixing, you are entitled to up to 3 rounds of revisions. Sharing your sonic vision during the recording—such as wanting a "dry, intimate feel" or a "lush, ethereal reverb"—will make the subsequent engineering process significantly smoother.