Keeping it Simple - Perspectives on Home Recording 

 I routinely have conversations with customers who are interested in home recording.   Indeed, after dedicating oneself to the discipline of learning an instrument and a few pieces/songs, the impulse to record is quite natural, even if it is just out of curiosity.  Now, I do not regard myself as a recording artist per se, nor am I a seasoned engineer or producer.  Even so, I have learned a thing or two over the years when it comes to recording!  With any luck, some of the tips below will help folks get better results while saving some time, money, and frustration.

There are many pitfalls for those who are new to the recording process; but, in my experience, the allure of building the home studio (along with all the concomitant gear acquisition) is perhaps the most devastating.  I say this to the horror of many of my colleagues in the music industry, for whom recording equipment represents a major market.  Yet, the reality is this: most people do not have the time, wherewithal, or real desire to do what it takes to assemble a studio and then learn how to use it properly!  Becoming a proficient recording engineer requires the same amount of dedication as learning an instrument.  Bearing this in mind, any amateur home recording engineer must ultimately weigh whether they’d like to dedicate their precious time to playing their instrument or learning how to record it.  (Incidentally, there is little debate in my case, as I much prefer working on my songs and guitar skills to beating my head against the wall with computers and software arcana—computers do have the general tendency to bring out the “HULK SMASH!” in me!)   

Despite my remarks above and my own reluctance to delve deep into home recording, I do maintain that exploring the process and developing some basic skills can offer myriad rewards beyond the most obvious—that being the ability to record and share your music with others.  First off, listening back to your performance is the most productive (albeit painful!) method of self critique, as the recording doesn’t lie or embellish when it comes to mistakes.  Though perhaps an extreme example, the renowned guitarist, Christopher Parkening, is reputed to have diligently recorded every practice session, as doing so enabled him to specifically target and then correct his shortcomings.   From a creative standpoint, being able to make basic recordings with your computer, phone, or a phrase recorder/looper, is a powerful skill when it comes to arranging or practicing a part.  Perhaps most importantly, developing some home recording skills pays major dividends for anyone who intends to ultimately record in a professional studio, where time is money!  In such a scenario, one can accomplish a great deal of pre-production (i.e., rough draft work), thereby effectively flushing out their vision of what they hope to achieve in the professional studio.  Not only does this practice help chart the course for a recording project, but it reduces stress in what can be an intimidating environment—when you are more relaxed and prepared, your recording performance will most assuredly be more fluid and you will get good results more readily.  

Whether you dream of taking the plunge by setting up a state-of-the-art home studio or you simply want to share your latest attempt at the Free Bird solo with friends and family at next year’s ugly Christmas sweater party, I strongly recommend beginning with very basic plug-n-play gear to test the waters.  This is mostly as I find that basic rigs are more than sufficient when it comes to satisfying the home recording demands of the average person.  (Moreover, those who opt for a basic home recording rig are effectively insulated from the costs and frustrations of abandoning the effort, should it prove to be too much of a drain or distraction.)  By sticking to a simple USB microphone (e.g., Audio Technica AT2020USB,), or a basic interface that allows you to transfer a typical guitar or mic signal directly into the computer (e.g., FocusRite Scarlett, Roland Go: Mixer Pro, etc.), your chances of getting overwhelmed by hardware are minimal.   There is still the matter of learning software, some of which has a massive learning curve (this is particularly true of Pro Tools), but many readily accessible and inexpensive programs like GarageBand, Logic, and Audacity (freeware) are designed such that novice users can get up and running pretty quickly.   

 In the end, most folks I talk to are glad that they chose to embark on home recording, even if it is in a very limited capacity.  And, apart from all of the practical reasons for home recording, let’s not forget that it can simply be fun to learn a new skill!  Yet, just like any other skill or discipline, the learning is a process, and you must therefore be patient with yourself as you work to progress.   Fortunately, there are a lot of simple ways to get started, and there is a wealth of support within the music industry for both hardware and software.  Should you get stymied for any reason, just remember this key bit of advice for anyone struggling in the studio: take a deep breath, then keep calm and carry on!    - L. Petsch  May, 2019