• Have all the music you intend to record well rehearsed before hand.
• Using a click is best for production, but it needs to be second nature or the music will sound stiff.
• Eat and sleep well before all sessions. A clear head and healthy body are key to performance.
• An outside ear really does help. Think about using a producer or co-producer.
• Call the studio before hand to find out which media you will need to buy and bring with you for backup and archives. All work should be backed up daily.
• If you are recording your own tracks, call the studio in advance so that compatible formats can be agreed upon.
• When bringing your own tracks in for mixing, make sure to crossfade then consolidate all takes to uniform lengths.
• If you are bringing your mixes in for mastering, call the studio before mixing to agree on compatible formats.

Set Up

• Meet with the studio before hand to discuss tracking. Know where everything will go, both in the recording rooms and on the tracks.
• If it wears out, Replace It! Drum heads, strings, old patch cords, batteries, etc. should be new for recording. Bring spares!
• Don't bring new or different gear that you have not used extensively. Knowing your gear allows you to be musical.
• Make your space in the studio comfortable. Do you like to sit? Stand? Candlelight? Make it work for you. Music is is emotion. Make sure you can be yourself.
• If you have unique effects or instruments, make sure to bring them with you.

Recording

• Get the sound you want while recording. If it doesn't sound right talk to the engineer or producer about changing it. Same goes for your headphone mix.
• The best take expresses the artistic quality of the song. Groove, excitement, mood. Don't get overwhelmed with technical perfection.
• Don't be afraid to let the best musician for the job play your track. It is very common for, say, the lead guitar player to play rhythm tracks, drums, or even sing a lead. What best for the song should always win out.
• Tune. Tune. Tune.
• While tracking, play the takes all the way through to preserve feeling and musicality. Minor mistakes can be punched in.
• Take a professional attitude into the studio. Work to serve the song. Don't bring friends. Don't drink too much. Come prepared to work.
• Stay up to date on your bill. If you do, you can take home rough mixes to rehearse with. If you aren't paid up, you can't take recorded material from the studio.
• Don't overdue it. Know when you are done for the day. Tired tracking makes tired tracks.
• When it's time to do vocals sleep well the night before and don't over eat the day of. Hot tea with lemon and honey is famous for a reason. No cold drinks.

Mixing

• If possible, do not mix on the same day of tracking. Some time between sessions adds perspective.
• Make decisions that serve the song. Every instrument can't be the loudest in the mix at all times. That's why it's called a Mix.
• Listen at different levels. Sometimes soft, sometimes loud. Most of the mixing should be done at moderate levels.
• Use well recorded, mixed, and mastered studio CDs to compare your mix to.
• Keep an open mind. Hit mixes are hit mixes for a reason. Yours can sound just as good. If you let it.
• Take mix copies with you at the end of each day to listen to on different systems. Car systems, home systems, and earbuds can tell a lot about how the mix transfers into the real world.