Recording your own music is not something that has to be hard to do. You can do it with just a few items and it can be done virtually anywhere. Here is all the information you need to know to start recording your own music, so you’ll be able to get the sound you want and create any type of music you want.
Where to start
The first thing you’ll need to figure out is where you want to record your music. You should have an area that you can specifically devote to this purpose, whether it is a large room or just a small area. It’s best if you have an entire room you can use, where you will be able limit most of the ambient noises and sounds, but there are other options. For instance, if you don’t have a whole extra room, you can do your best to soundproof the area. This will make it sound clearer in a recording and it will sound more professional as well. You can watch videos online to find easy ways to soundproof a room. In fact, you only have to do a small area and it can make a very large difference. Once you have your area set up, it’s time to start thinking about what equipment you want to use.
What you need
You will need to determine if your current computer will be able to do the job or if you’ll need a new one. It doesn’t have to be state of the art to work, but it does have to be able to run different programs, to accommodate different devices, and you should also have a hard drive that you can count on.
Some people also opt for a sound card, which usually doesn’t come standard in computers. These cards allows computer audio to sound better and helps process all the audio for the computer, so it won’t be bogging down your RAM or other components on your machine.
If you plan on making the music yourself, you should also look into instruments or devices that make musical sounds, like MIDI devices, such as a keyboard or a drum machine. MIDI devices, which are in some cases called controllers, allow for you to play sounds that are translated to a computer. In other words, the machines make no noise by themselves, but only produce sounds through the use of a computer.
Don’t forget about the microphone, which is another essential part, especially if you intend on adding vocals or speaking on your music. The microphone doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, but it does have to allow you to sound clear and be easy to use.
You’ll also need a good set of speakers, which are known as monitors, so you can hear everything when you are playing back the recording, to make sure it sounds like you want it to.
One more thing you need is software that can help you edit, enhance, and do other things with your audio recordings. Many types of software can be easily purchased and downloaded, and some will recognize some of the peripherals you’re using, so everything will be streamlined and easy to manipulate. If you don’t know anything about audio editing or music software, there are even a few types that are free or you can get a demo to see if you like it.
These are all the things you’ll need to start out. You can always purchase more things as you get more comfortable recording your own music. You may even find you don’t like using some of these things.
The most important aspect is that you know how to use each item properly and efficiently. To do this, it takes a little bit of research and practice. You will also have to research to see what products to buy, depending on what they excel at. A lot of people think that the most expensive items are the best, but that’s not always the case. On the flip side, some items you can’t take shortcuts with; in the case of speakers, you should splurge a little bit on them, to be sure that you can hear all the different sounds. The speakers that come standard with computers are not powerful enough to give you the sound quality you need to sound professional on your tracks.
What’s next
Now that you have your space and all the hardware and software you need for your home studio, it’s time to put everything together. Make your area look like you want it to, and have everything you need nearby. It is best if you can record and edit your music in the same area, so you can always stay in the same mindset. It’s a bit inconvenient to have to move around while you’re trying to complete a project.
Use all the items you have available to make music, record it, and save it to your computer each time. Then when you have time, listen to it and see if it sounds like you want it do. If it doesn’t, you can tweak some things or make changes through the software in order to make it sound smoother. It isn’t hard to do, and you will get better at these things the more you do them. Besides that, it will give you a sense of accomplishment as well.
The takeaway
When you want to record your own music, you don’t have to necessarily rent out time in a studio; you can actually do it from your home, especially if you have a proper space to do it. You will also need to purchase a few items to get started. This starts by doing research to find the best items for your needs, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Then it’s just a matter of doing the work and editing it, until you create something that makes you proud.