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These are basic rules of thumb regarding the recording process. Every session is different and the needed equipment may vary with each. Experimentation is key, and you’ll learn as you go.
Prerequisites
- Knowledge of music. If you do all the work yourself, you’ll be acting as musician, sound engineer, arranger and producer, so some skills are involved.
- A music studio software program. Do online research for the one that best suits your budget and skill level.
- A good sound system and some basic studio equipment. The amount of equipment you’ll require depends upon the extent of your production.
Assess your production needs
Before you invest in equipment, you should assess the kind of production you plan to achieve. Musical instruments can be recorded as follows:
- Electronically. Sampled sounds make it possible to play virtually any instrument, be it cello, guitar, drums, etc., from a musical keyboard.
- Using the actual musicians. Good players can achieve a “soulful” feel that’s often lacking with electronic instrumentation. But if, for example, you wish to record a whole band at once, it will naturally require more studio equipment.
- A combination of electronic and real instrumentation. This is often the most efficient method of doing your own recording. Each instrument is recorded separately, which gives you more control over each individual track.
Recording basics
- Each instrument is assigned its own separate track. Electronic (MIDI) instruments are recorded as digital data and real instruments are recorded as actual sound files.
- A typical session may consist of recording part of the music electronically, then adding one or two real instruments, followed by vocals.
- Start with drums, then add bass and build the arrangement (i.e. piano, strings, horns) accordingly.
- Unless the instrument can be plugged in directly (i.e. guitar), you’ll need a microphone to record the real players. Musician headphones for track playback are required whenever there’s an open mike.
- If you use a vocal background chorus, you may want to “stack” the singers on several tracks to give it a bigger sound. The lead vocal should usually (not always) be recorded last.
- Upon completion of the recording, it’s time to blend the elements together and mix the music. Do this on the mixer contained within your software. You can control the volume of each track, as well as balance, equalization, pan and effects.
- When you’re happy with the sound of the recording, mix it as a single stereo sound file.
- The last stage of recording your song is mastering the mix. It adds the final professional touch to the audio, making sure the level is set properly, the tone is balanced, and the dynamics are controlled. It involves such elements as EQ and compression, and can get somewhat complicated. Many music software programs have built-in plug-ins for mastering, and there are various degrees of separate programs available. You can also get the audio mastered professionally.
- Major recordings should always be mastered. With less professional undertakings this step can be skipped if one lacks the knowledge of mastering and can’t afford the extra programs or to have the song mastered professionally. A bad mastering job can spoil the sound quality, and it’s better to go with a good un-mastered final mix.
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