A large amount of time is spent working in the pre-production phase of songwriting and recording. This phase involves the writing and composition of songs. Before entering a recording studio, make sure the arrangements of the songs are exactly as you want them. The better you know the songs, the quicker you'll be able to translate them to a recordable medium. Choose the best selections from an artist's song bank to take into the studio.
Begin with the end product in mind. Know the type of end product you want from your music. Take time to understand the genre of music that will be recorded. For instance, if working in pop music, your songs will likely be short and concise with an emphasis on the lead vocal performance.
Make sure all of the musical equipment is in top working order before entering the recording studio. Put new drumheads on the drums and restring the guitars as needed. Make other adjustments to the instruments so they are easy to play and operate without creating unwanted noises.
Budget for more time than you think you'll need in the studio. You do not want to be forced to stop the recording before reaching your goal. If new at music production, ask an experienced music producer or recording engineer how much time they would expect you to spend in a studio to achieve your desired result.
Choose a recording studio or engineer that has experience working with musicians in similar genres to the artist with whom you are working. That will enable you to have a better chance of quickly attaining the sounds and tones you want on your album. Communication between the engineer, artist and producer will be much more fluent by choosing a studio or engineer that is familiar with your genre of music.