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Session Prep Checklist

A before, day-of and after checklist for artists and musicians going into a studio or remote session. Print it or keep it on your phone.

Word (.docx) PDF

Use it for any paid or traded session, in a studio or remote, where you want to walk out with everything you paid for.

How to use it

5 steps, the day you finish.

  1. 1

    Download it a few days before the session, not the morning of.

  2. 2

    Work through the Before section and fill in the blanks as you confirm each thing.

  3. 3

    Bring the checklist with you and tick off the Day of section as you go.

  4. 4

    Use the After section before you leave the studio or close the call. It is easier to ask for a missing file then than a week later.

  5. 5

    Keep the finished checklist with the session files.

Preview

What is on the page.

Session Prep Checklist

Session date:

Studio or platform:

Engineer or producer:

Song(s) to work on:

Before the session

Agree the basics

  • Date confirmed:
  • Start time: End time:
  • Length booked: hours
  • Rate: $ per hour or $ flat
  • What the rate includes (engineer, mix, files):
  • Engineer’s name and rate if separate:
  • Deposit paid: $ on
  • Cancellation window: hours or days before
  • Overtime rate if we run long: $ per hour

Get your material ready

  • Reference tracks picked (2 or 3 songs that sound the way you want):
  • Lyrics finished and saved as text, with a printed copy
  • Lyrics sent to the engineer or producer ahead of time
  • BPM: Key:
  • Beat or instrumental files ready in the right format (WAV, not a phone recording)
  • Beat trackout, if you have it
  • Any rough demo or voice memo to show the idea
  • Files named clearly (song title, version, BPM)

Know what you are leaving with

  • What I get at the end:
  • Format (WAV, sample rate, bit depth):
  • Rough mix included: yes / no
  • Session file or trackout included: yes / no
  • When I get the files:

Take care of yourself

  • Sleep the night before
  • Water, no dairy or heavy food right before vocals
  • Rest your voice the day before if you are singing

Day of the session

  • Arrive or log on minutes early
  • Warm up (voice or instrument) before you walk in
  • All files on a drive or in a shared folder, plus a backup copy
  • Charger, headphones, water
  • Play the reference tracks for the engineer first
  • Confirm the BPM and key match the beat before you start recording
  • Record a scratch pass all the way through before punching in
  • Take session notes as you go:

Take or section: Note:

Take or section: Note:

Take or section: Note:

Take or section: Note:

  • Ask what the engineer needs from you before you leave
  • Settle the bill and get a receipt

After the session

Check the files before you leave or close the call

  • List of files received:
  • Files named clearly (song, part, take, version)
  • Every track consolidated from bar 1 so they line up when dropped into any session
  • Sample rate and bit depth match what was agreed:
  • Dry vocals and processed vocals both included, if agreed
  • Rough mix or bounce included
  • Session file included, if agreed

Back it up

  • Copied to a second drive
  • Copied to cloud storage
  • Shared with anyone else on the song

Settle up

  • Balance paid: $ on
  • Anything still owed to me:
  • Anything I still owe:
  • Next session or follow-up booked for:

This template is a starting point, not legal advice. For anything you cannot afford to lose, have a lawyer read it.

Tables scroll sideways on a phone. The download is the full page.

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