First Session – Step-by-Step Guide
Your first visit to a recording studio is a stressful experience for many. Unnecessarily — we’ve prepared this guide so you know exactly what to expect and how to get the most out of your session.
One Week Before the Session
Section titled “One Week Before the Session”Prepare Your Material
Section titled “Prepare Your Material”- Backing track — in WAV or MP3 format, on a USB drive or cloud
- Lyrics — the better you know them the better, but you can have them on your phone
- References — find 2-3 tracks that sound like what you want to achieve
Lyrics Preparation Options
Section titled “Lyrics Preparation Options”| Option | Benefit | Time | For Whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready lyrics | Save time, polish on the fly | +0h | For the prepared |
| Lyrics on site | Full creative freedom | +1-2h | For spontaneous types |
| Outline + improvisation | Balance of plan and creativity | +30min | For most |
Send the Backing Track Early
Section titled “Send the Backing Track Early”If you have contact with the engineer — send them the backing track before the session. This way they can prepare the session beforehand and you can start recording right away, without waiting for upload.
Practice at Home
Section titled “Practice at Home”- Record yourself on your phone and listen back
- Sing/rap to the backing track repeatedly
- Experiment with different versions of phrases
Day Before the Session
Section titled “Day Before the Session”Take Care of Your Voice
Section titled “Take Care of Your Voice”| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Drink lots of water (2-3 liters) | Don’t drink alcohol |
| Eat light meals | Don’t eat anything spicy/acidic |
| Go to bed early | Don’t shout, don’t strain your voice |
| Limit talking in the evening | Don’t smoke cigarettes |
Prepare Mentally
Section titled “Prepare Mentally”- Remember why you’re doing this
- Listen to your references
- Relax — tomorrow will go well
Morning of the Session Day
Section titled “Morning of the Session Day”Checklist Before Leaving
Section titled “Checklist Before Leaving”- Lyrics — on your phone (we can also print on site)
- Backing track — on USB/phone or send to engineer beforehand
That’s everything. Water, coffee, tea we have on site for free. Equipment (microphones, headphones) too — everything is ready and waiting.
Vocal Warm-up
Section titled “Vocal Warm-up”After booking a session, we send a link to a prepared vocal warm-up. If you don’t have it, basic warm-up before leaving home:
- 5 min — deep breathing
- 5 min — humming at different pitches
- 5 min — singing parts of the song at 50% power
Don’t strain your voice — it’s just a warm-up. From the morning, speak clearly, move your head — catch the energy.
On the Way to the Studio
Section titled “On the Way to the Studio”How to Find Us
Section titled “How to Find Us”Flightcore Studiosul. Adama Mickiewicza 9/U101-517 Warsaw (Żoliborz)600 meters from Gdański Station — you can get here by metro, bus, or train.
Parking
Section titled “Parking”We don’t have our own parking. There’s a paid parking zone nearby — you’ll usually find a spot without problems.
Be On Time
Section titled “Be On Time”If your session starts at 2:00 PM, be there at 1:55 PM. Being late may mean a shorter session — it’s not always possible to extend. We bill for actual working time.
At the Studio
Section titled “At the Studio”First Minutes
Section titled “First Minutes”- Enter — you’ll get arrival details in the instructions after booking
- Say hi — the engineer is already waiting for you
- Leave your things — there’s a place for jacket and backpack
- Have a drink — we have water, coffee, tea (free)
Before Recording
Section titled “Before Recording”The engineer:
- Will show you the studio and recording booth
- Will set up the microphone for you
- Will check levels and headphone sound
- Will answer all questions
This is a good time to say:
- What your references are
- What you expect from the session
- If you have any concerns
Bringing Someone Along
Section titled “Bringing Someone Along”It’s worth bringing someone you know who supports you — a buddy, a friend, someone who knows your vibe.
Such a person can:
- Advise whether a phrase was performed well
- Help you relax if stress kicks in
- Give objective feedback
During Recording
Section titled “During Recording”What It Looks Like
Section titled “What It Looks Like”- You enter the booth — put on headphones
- You hear the backing track — engineer plays it once or twice without recording (time to tune in)
- You record a take — engineer records everything
- You listen back — together you choose the best parts
- You repeat — until you’re both satisfied
Practical Tips
Section titled “Practical Tips”Breathe normally — the microphone will catch your breath, but that’s normal. The engineer will cut it out later.
Don’t be afraid to try — this is a studio, not a stage. You can record 20 versions and choose the best one.
Speak up if something’s off — too quiet in headphones? Too much Auto-Tune? Say so. It’s your session.
Take breaks — your voice gets tired. 5 minutes break every 30-45 minutes is standard.
Experiment — maybe change the flow? Add something spontaneous? Try a new approach?
Ask the Engineer
Section titled “Ask the Engineer”Don’t be afraid to ask:
- How to position the microphone?
- Where to breathe?
- Are we recording this all at once, or cutting line by line?
How Long Does Recording One Song Take?
Section titled “How Long Does Recording One Song Take?”| Song Type | Typical Time |
|---|---|
| Simple vocal (1 verse, chorus) | 1-2h |
| Standard song (3 verses, choruses, bridge) | 2-3h |
| Complex song (layers, harmonies, ad-libs) | 3-5h |
These are approximate times — depends on your experience and material complexity.
After the Session
Section titled “After the Session”What You Get
Section titled “What You Get”Right after the recording session:
- Demo/premix of the track
- Vocal tracks (stems) — dry and wet
- Project session (optional)
After ordering mixing: finished mix (WAV + MP3) After ordering mastering: final master
Live versions are additionally charged.
When Will You Get the Files
Section titled “When Will You Get the Files”- Recording only — immediately, via Nextcloud
- Mix — 7-10 business days
- Mastering — 3-5 days after mix
The Nextcloud link never expires — you have access to files even a year later.
Payment
Section titled “Payment”You can pay before or after the session:
- Card online (when booking)
- Cash (on site)
- Bank transfer
Common Concerns
Section titled “Common Concerns””I’ll Sound Bad”
Section titled “”I’ll Sound Bad””You won’t. Studio microphones + engineer + processing = professional sound. Even if you’re not Beyoncé.
”I Can’t Sing/Rap”
Section titled “”I Can’t Sing/Rap””Most of our clients are amateurs. The engineer will help you bring out your best.
”I’ll Forget the Lyrics”
Section titled “”I’ll Forget the Lyrics””You have lyrics in front of you on a stand or screen. No one requires you to know them by heart.
”I’ll Waste Time/Money”
Section titled “”I’ll Waste Time/Money””Every take is learning. Even if you don’t leave with a finished song, you’ll leave with experience.
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”After your first session you can:
- Order mix/mastering — professional processing of your recording
- Book another session — record more material
- Ask for feedback — the engineer will tell you what to work on