How to record a song in a studio: your first session

What happens in a studio session

A studio session is the time you book with a producer or engineer to record, produce or work on a song. It can be used for different things, so it helps to know the goal before you book.

• Vocal recording: tracking the lead vocal, backing vocals and layers over an instrumental that already exists.
• Production: building the instrumental around your voice or an idea, with the producer next to you.
• Finishing a song: taking a half-done demo and completing the arrangement.
• Writing: working on melodies, lyrics and structure together.
• Listening and review: hearing a mix calmly and deciding on changes.

How to choose a recording studio in Lisbon or Almada

There is no single right studio for everyone. A large studio with a live room for bands is ideal for recording drums and acoustic instruments live. A producer's home studio is often the better option for electronic music, pop and hip-hop, where most of the work is vocals and production on the computer.

The most useful test is to listen to what the studio or producer has already made. If the released work sounds like what you want, that is a good sign. Also ask who will be in the session: just an engineer recording you, or someone producing and giving feedback on the song. If you do not speak Portuguese, check that the session can run in English.

In the Lisbon area, it is worth looking south of the river too. Almada sits on the other side of the Tagus, and the ferry between Cais do Sodré and Cacilhas is a practical way to get there without a car. Always confirm the exact address and how to get there before the day of the session.

How to prepare to record a song in a studio

Studio time goes much further when the homework is done. Before the day, try to have this sorted:

• The song rehearsed from start to finish, with the structure decided.
• The final lyrics, printed or on your phone, with no lines left to write.
• Two or three reference tracks, with a note on what you like about each.
• The instrumental, if it already exists, sent ahead of time.
• A clear idea of the goal: recording vocals, producing, finishing the song or all of these.
• A rested voice: sleep well, drink water and avoid shouting the day before.

Which files to bring and which files to leave with

If you already have recorded parts or an instrumental, send uncompressed WAV files, not MP3s. If you have several tracks, export each one separately from the same point in the song so they line up in the session. Also give the tempo (BPM) and key, if you know them.

At the end, agree which files you receive. The usual set is a bounce to listen to at home and, if the song is going to be mixed somewhere else, the recorded tracks as separate files. Keep everything in more than one place, for example on your computer and in a cloud folder.

After recording: mixing and mastering

Recording is only one part of the process. In mixing, the tracks are balanced against each other: levels, EQ, compression, effects and stereo space, until the song sounds clear and finished. In mastering, the final mix is prepared for release so it sounds consistent on different sound systems and on streaming platforms.

You can do the mixing and mastering with the same person who recorded you, which helps keep the vision for the song, or send them to someone else. Either way, agree in advance how many revisions are included and which final versions you will receive, for example the main version, the instrumental and a clean version without explicit lyrics.

Studio session or remote work?

Not everything needs to happen in person. Many songs are produced through shared files and messages, with only the vocal recording done in the studio. Being in the same room helps when you want to build the song together, try ideas on the spot or have someone guide your performance. Remote work suits mixing, mastering and production from a demo that is already clear. If you are only in Lisbon for a short stay, you can record vocals in a session while you are here and finish the rest remotely.

Sessions at the onyr1x studio in Almada

onyr1x is a music producer in Almada, across the river from Lisbon. He makes cinematic hyperpop and art-pop, K-pop-leaning production and music for game universes.

He hosts sessions at his home studio in Almada and also works remotely, by email and shared files, in English and Portuguese. He offers custom production, with instrumentals built around your voice, finishes half-done songs, develops toplines and demos, and does mixing and mastering. He replies to every enquiry personally, and each project is quoted on request.