What to bring to a recording session

Get your beat, lyrics and references ready so you can spend your Las Vegas studio time recording vocals.

Jordan McDuffie · Las Vegas

Start with the right beat

Have the beat downloaded before the session. If your producer sent a WAV, bring that file. A stereo beat is enough to record vocals over. If you have several versions, play them all the way through and label the one you want to use. A filename like SongName_Beat_Final.wav is easier to find in the room than three files called “final.”

Make a map of the song

Put your lyrics somewhere you can open without an internet connection. Mark where the hook returns, where you want a double, and which words need an ad-lib. If the second verse starts after an extra four bars, make a note of that too. A scratch vocal on your phone can communicate the timing faster than a written explanation.

Pick one reference and one priority

Bring a song that helps explain what you hear in your head. Point to a particular moment, like the delay on the last word of a hook. Then decide what would make the session a win for you. Getting one strong lead vocal and its doubles is a clearer target than trying to finish an unspecified number of songs.

Before you book

Recording with Jordan at Studio77 in Las Vegas starts at $75 per hour for the room and engineer together. The two-hour minimum starts at $150. Send your preferred date, time and session length. Once availability and pricing are confirmed, full payment secures the booking.