It is extremely important for all musicians and vocalists to be prepared when getting ready for upcoming studio sessions. With the right preparation the session should go smoothly and be a great experience for all involved. Failing to prepare can and usually does lead to more stress and work than would be otherwise required.

This article is written with vocalist in mind but some of the tips are equally valuable to drummers, guitarists, bassists and all recording musicians.

So where do you begin?

Make sure you know the material you are supposed to be recording. It might seem like a simple suggestion but knowing your song inside out and backwards is the first step to turning in a great studio performance. Know the structure by heart, how many verses and choruses are there? Can you hum the melody without the vocals?

The best way to ensure this is with tight rehearsals before the session, at home or with your band in the rehearsal room. If you can make a copy of the backing music for you to practice with away from the session then do it, you'll feel the benefits when you get into the studio.

An hour before you arrive to record your vocals make sure you fully warm up your voice. This article isn't intended as a singing guide, Google is your friend here. A fully warmed up voice has a much better tone and clarity, especially towards the natural top and bottom of your range and around the bridges.

Stay clear of fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and milk before your session, they tend to put a coating on the throat which makes for unwanted noises and an uncomfortable feeling whist recording. Avoid foods containing dairy, such as cheese and anything with high sugar content.

Lemon tea is said to be great for vocalists, some also swear by adding a drop of honey to hot water. Alcohol should really be avoided and excess smoking. We always recommend having bottled water with you for refreshment which is at room temperature. Anything that is too cold can affect the working of the vocal chords.

Having a couple of copies of your lyrics with you is a really good idea, both in case you forget the words and because your engineer may well not know the song you are recording.

When you are getting ready to start recording its essential to get your engineer to get your headphone monitoring set so you hear exactly what you need to hear to give your best performance. Don't have the volume too high or you risk over singing to compensate for the monitoring level, and likewise don't monitor too quietly or you'll hold back on your performance.

Everyone has their own way of working. Some vocalists can sing the song start to finish while others will sing it in sections, listening to each one before moving on. Make sure you listen carefully to your performance and remember that if you're not happy with something you'll need to say. Your engineer will most likely never critically listen to your track once its finished, you will be listening to it for the rest of your life so you need to get it right.

Make sure when your engineer is mixing your track that you keep quiet and let him work, talking to him about the track is generally fine but having a conversation whilst sat behind him about last night's football result is very off putting!