Episode 27 - So You Wanna Make a Record? (Part 2: Production) Tracking the Band in the Studio

In Part 2 of this series on how records actually get made, we move from preparation into the studio itself. This episode focuses on production, the stage where the microphones are up, the band is playing, and the red light finally turns on.

We talk about how sessions actually unfold in the real world—starting with tracking the band live, capturing the groove between drums, bass, and guitar, and building the record from that core foundation. From there we dive into punch-ins, scheduling sessions, focusing on one instrument at a time, and why I like having the whole band present even when we’re retracking parts so everyone can learn how the recording process works.

Along the way we cover the moment bands realize the record is really happening, the difference between recording musicians and recording songs, and the hidden job of the producer during a session—managing energy, personalities, and the atmosphere in the room so the best performances can happen.

Think of this episode like two musicians talking after a show about what really happens in a recording studio.

This is Part 2 of a series on making a record. In the next episode we’ll move into post-production, where editing, mixing, and mastering shape the final sound of the record.