How to Record Music - Do You Still Make These 6 Mistakes?
So you decided to set up a music recording studio at home? Cool, isn't it!
But if your like 99% of us out here, you'll just about have blown your whole budget, before you even start to learn how to record music. Trouble is, when you get started on your first couple of recording sessions, you'll realize you've either missed something critical, or, just as likely, overspent on non-essentials.
One very-well funded home recording studio project I heard of recently did a great job of selecting top of the range gear and software (Pro-tools, with Neve pre-amp etc) then put it all in a cramped hut in the back yard! They also completely forgot about headphones…
So here are 5 key items you must include in your budget before you consider your initial set up plan "complete". (Of course, it'll never be complete - you'll always want to add this, change that, etc…)…
The idea of multitrack recording is to record each sound source independently from the other tracks. Then the recording engineer has maximum control over the mix.
The easiest way to do this is to have the artist(s) and recording engineer use headphones. And your click track doesn't get anywhere near the final mix.
Headphones needn't cost the earth (but they can!), and you'll probably need a couple of sets, depending on who you're recording sources are.
Most home recording studio owners can afford to match the commercial studio standards such as Sony's MDR-7506 (about $100)
Spare Microphone Stands
Obvious, perhaps? Well, yes - with the benefit of hindsight…
One of my mistakes. Then I bought cheap and nasty stands that I regretted for years.
There's always some new placement you'll want to try, sometimes needing multiple stands. And stands break from time to time, (why is it always mid-way through a session with your best artists?), or you can't find the right adaptor.
Take advantage of bulk-pack offers of mic stands — you can find 6 for $100. Make sure they're easily collapsible so they don't take much storage space.
Drum Key
Someone (I think it was my son, who plays bass and drums, so he would say that) told me drummers are "special". Yes, but they can be a special pain too. (Oops - sorry to any drummers out there!)
You've probably had a drummer arrive whose drums just sound dead dull, or awful along with the bass.
The quickest way to fix this (other than change the kit) is to retune the drum set.
Too many experienced drummers don't realize the difference a re-tune can make.
Most acoustic instruments are affected by a range of environmental factors - temperature, humidity, transport, as well as the acoustics of the performance space. Drums are no different. Probably worse.
So always make sure you have a drum key nearby for your drummer to use to re-tune.
External Hard Drive - for Backup
Along with all computer kit, prices and sizes of external hard-drives have dropped dramatically.
I used to work in a factory that made hard drives. I remember when 2Mb was about the storage limit and the drive was the size of a small washing machine! (Yes, I know I'm an antique!)
Now, I can carry Gb's in my hand, and you'd hardly notice. Weighs and costs very little too.
Since computer drives do fail, you must backup each recording session. Buy an external hard drive and keep it exclusively this purpose, and you'll never regret it.
…Or how to get rid of "plosives" and "sibilance"(!!) No, they're not a new terrorist organization!
These are the terms used describe what you get when you record yourself saying words like "popcorn" and "sea shell" into a condenser mic without a filter in place.
- Plosives = explosive "pop" sound
- Sanibel = high pitched hissing ("ess-ing") noise
What you need to use is an acoustically transparent mask to break up the air carrying those noises before they reach your microphone. This mask is called a pop filter and make possible flawless recording.
The Room Acoustics
Unless you expect to move in the near future, make sure your budget for the room is appropriate for:
- the type of recording you plan to do, and
- the quality of equipment and software you will use
You need to consider:
- size and shape
- construction materials
- acoustic treatment
But this is a large topic we'll come to another time.
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