WOW Jack,

I read this board every day, but I’m seldom motivated to write. You have asked the key question for every player. How do you apply the creative process in recording a song and how much time do you spend to do it?
I start very much like Bud does. I play the song over and over again. This not only helps for me to be comfortable with the song, but also offers opportunities to consider chord substitutions that might enrich the song and leads to how the styles might evolve.

The first step is to find an Intro that sets the mood. I look for a solo voice in the intro that will continue through the opening verse of the song. The intro doesn’t have to be the one that is with the main style of the song. And, the solo voice can easily be changed to match the opening voice of the song.

I then plan how the right hand voices will change through the song and place them in sequence in the Panel Memory. Then the styles are added to each PM. If the song allows, I find it interesting to change to a different style in the bridge of the song. I try to pay attention to the voices in the style so they aren't in conflict with the lead voices. At times it helps to eliminate a voice or adjust the levels so that the evolution of the song is interesting, but not confused.

At this point I’m ready to record. I seldom get it on the first try. Since I’m looking for a recording without any errors, It may take 3 or 4 to get a clean sequence. I then put it to bed and listen again the next morning. While using headphones I adjust the levels again and pan the lead as well as the style voices to make a nice mix. It’s important to set the recording aside again. Another listening frequently reveals a change that can make a big difference.

It’s hard to judge just how long this takes, but I do know that a 15 song CD project takes about two months to complete.

Frank