Hey all, I'm hitting the studio next week to record a couple of tracks with my band. We can only afford a day in there (excluding mixing). Anyway, I've done this often before, but I always get anxious because I REALLY want to lay down the best tracks I can. So: anyone got any advice? How do y'all prepare? How do you keep the vibe and groove going when the red light is burning and the clock is ticking? On stage, I never get nervous but in the studio... phew. Any advice welcome!

It might sound pathetic, but make sure you've got everything written down - lyrics, chords, arrangements etc.

Even if you've played the songs hundreds of times before it's amazing how a sudden loss of memory can occur when you're paying for the time. It also gives the engineer something to look at so that he/she can work out what's going on.

Read a book called "The Inner Game of Music"
by BARRY GREEN, W. TIMOTHY GALLWEY I really think it will help you in the studio.

Maybe this also sounds pathetic, but go to bed early the night before, don't get drunk or high in the studio and don't eat junkfood.
The last thing you want is to get exhausted from lack of sleep and bad food while recording.
And take your time for the soundcheck so you'll have a good mix on your headphones (try not to have it too loud, because it will tire you down). For the little time you spend in the studio, try to make it your home so you feel more comfortable (might be just little things like incense, your favourite teddy bear or whatever ).
And most of all, try to have a good time! You know you can play all the parts so try just to have fun recording it for real. Oh and don't try to record too much in one day. Better to take more time for the mic'ing and soundchecking and just have one or two great tracks than to have 15 mediocre ones. Being in a hurry in the studio is something I like to avoid at all times.

Candles, dark lights, rugs, posters.

Vibe.

You want to look around while you're playing and see warm inviting things, not feel like you're in the doctor's office getting your rear examined.

Know your shit. Don't plan on going into the studio to "create the magic". Know the magic ahead of time.

Another thing is to spend years and years recording on your home studio recorder. If you can't pull that off right now, I strongly suggest you get yourself a cheapo home studio. It's nothing to me to walk into a studio now and feel completely comfortable enough to suck just as bad as I do at home, only because I've spent untold hours recording.

Kick that ass H-Town!

What more can I say except don't forget plenty of iced water. It's the little things that count. Have fun!