A little tirade: Recording.
Recording, in my view, is serious business. Especially for the engineer (me) and the producer (me again). Much of it is skill, with a little magic thrown in. Mic placement is everything, specifically on the drums. I'm a big fan of the Glyn Johns technique, and once you get the mics in that "magic" zone, they need to stay put. Even with judicious use of the measuring tape and blue tape to identify stand placement, the last thing you use are your ears. This takes a little time but it's worth it in the end result.
Also, the producer (me) has to have the trust of the artist (loose term) to get good sounds. The producer will also suggest changes to the arrangement of a song in order to get a great track. This could be changes to the form, tempo, breaks, beginnings and endings.
Make sure you are tuned, and continually check your tuning. While pitch correction is possible, I don't have the time or inclination to do the work for you. Do the fecking work. Be prepared to record.
Here are some final thoughts:
1. Listen to your producer. He knows what he is doing.
2. Listen to your engineer. He knows what he is doing.
3. Check your ego and preciousness at the door.
4. This is work. Party after the work is done.
5. The producer decides when the work is done.
6. Don't be a poosey.
7. Don't be a baby.
8. Don't be a Xerox machine. I wanna hear what you do, not what some other artist has already done.
9. Play the parts like you own them.
10. Don't suck.
