Mostly I’ve worked alongside a producer who manages the session from a musical point of view, commenting on any problem areas and making sure that we have enough takes to cover everything to a reasonably consistent standard. Having many years’ experience as a singer, on choral recordings in particular this has generally been something of a joint effort between the producer and myself.
On frequent occasions, typically where I already know the choir and their director, I’ve combined the roles of engineer and producer. My considerable experience with the subsequent editing process means that I’m well placed to spot any ‘sore thumbs’ and assess when we have sufficient material for a successful edit. Naturally in this situation there will be particularly close collaboration between the myself and the musical director.
Whether working with a producer, or fulfilling that role myself, my aim is always to achieve a relaxed and positive atmosphere on sessions. The last thing musicians need is additional stress from the recording team!
