Online music sessions, with remote session musicians, would have been unthinkable ten years ago. Now, it is commonplace. For those of you unfamiliar with the online music process, this article is for you and should clarify it for you.
Looking for a session musician in the Nashville area? Kip Allen is a trusted name, and has been a trusted name, since 2008. Call Kip and discuss your next project with him, whether you need a songwriter, session drummer, music producer, or tour musician.
What is an online music session?
In the old days, and we’re talking about ten years or so ago, session musicians would come together, in a studio, and work on a recording. The reasons for using session musicians are many. Perhaps the music producer has determined that a flute player would be perfect on one song, but there is no flute player in the band. Perhaps background singers are needed, or a session drummer who specializes in a particular genre of music.
Whatever the reason, those session musicians would arrive at the studio, lay down the specific track for the record, perhaps jam with the entire musical group to work on the cohesion, and when the session musician is no longer needed, they go home having done their part for the final product.
Fast-forward to the 2010s, and the incredible advancements in computer software, and it is entirely possible, today, for session musicians to play their part on the computer, in real-time, from the comfort of their homes. It is also possible for a number of musicians to play, in sync, on the computer, a computer jam session, thus saving all of that travel time and making it much more convenient for all concerned.
Is online as good as a studio session?
There are, of course, differing opinions on this matter. Some old-school musicians swear by the face-to-face, in-person approach to recording. They are just more comfortable with the method they grew up with, and that is all well and good. There are others, though, who swear by the remote method of recording and, in truth, the difference in quality, between the two methods, is indistinguishable. To the trained ear of most music producers, one method is just as good as the other.
The cost of online music sessions
Hiring session musicians will cost the same whether you are talking about live studio sessions or online music sessions. There will be travel costs saved with the online music sessions, and in many cases you will save the cost of renting a music studio for a recording session, so the online music sessions method is less-expensive overall.
Which is best for you and your particular situation? It is impossible to answer that question in this article. It all depends on individual preferences and what you are comfortable with. Our hunch is as long as there is music recording there will be recording studios, but the New Wave of recording artists, and musicians, are quite fond of the remote approach. And so be it! Both are correct in their likes and dislikes.
A final word about Kip Allen
For fourteen years, Kip Allen, Drum Workshop Artist, has been a trusted name in the Nashville music community, and that’s saying quite a bit. If you next recording session needs the best drummer money can hire, call Kip Allen.
