| Home recording has been growing more than ever | | | | 6. What is the best home recording software to buy? |
| since the advent of digital technology that is priced at | | | | Is Pro Tools necessary? |
| the consumer level but that, with the right application of | | | | 7. What are audio plugins? Should you use the native |
| passion and know-how, can yield professional results. | | | | plugins or should you purchase third-party software? |
| Recent artists who have put such technology to | | | | Better yet, what are some of the best free plugins, |
| excellent use are, to name only a handful, The Shins, | | | | and where are they to be found? |
| St. Vincent, Dan Wallace, Sufjan Stevens, and | | | | 8. What are your needs in terms of softsynths, |
| Deerhoof. | | | | sampled instruments, and sample libraries, and what is |
| It is not within the scope of this series of articles to | | | | your best option in terms of MIDI controllers? |
| detail the finer points of home recording (which would | | | | 9. What are some of the best rule-of-thumb practices |
| require volumes), but if you, like so many aspiring home | | | | for the stages of creating a recording?: Pre-production, |
| recordists, are trying to figure out where to begin in | | | | recording, mixing, and mastering. |
| terms of putting together your own home recording | | | | 10. What do you plan to do with your recordings in |
| studio, then these articles are for you! | | | | terms of duplication and distribution? |
| First, let's look at an overview of the various things that | | | | These are the major points I will be covering over the |
| you'll need to considered, step-by-step: | | | | next several weeks. |
| 1. Where in your home should you record? How do the | | | | Please note that these articles are geared towards |
| room dimensions affect the sound? How to best | | | | people who want to create high quality audio |
| acoustically treat the room? | | | | recordings in a home studio. Even if you are only |
| 2. What are the best microphone(s) for your voice, | | | | interested in making demos, the reality is that, these |
| instruments, and budget? | | | | days, a demo recording is expected to sound good. |
| 3. Cables: What kind will you need and do you really | | | | There is simply too much competition to rely on a |
| have to spend so much on them? | | | | merely passable recording to stand out from the |
| 4. Should you get an outboard preamp and | | | | crowd, regardless of how great the music is. |
| compressor, or are your interface's preamps good | | | | Therefore, it's best to treat your demo recording as if |
| enough? If so, how many channels/inputs do you | | | | it's the final product. This is also smart because it's |
| need? What sorts of inputs are needed (XLR, TRS, | | | | quite common these days for the demo to become |
| etc...) on your home recording equipment? | | | | the EP or album, whether because the artist decided |
| 5. Speaking of interfaces (assuming you are using a | | | | to self-release, or because the label decided to save |
| computer as opposed to a self-contained multi-track | | | | money and release essentially as-is (often with |
| unit), how many channels/inputs should your interface | | | | re-mixing and mastering). |
| have? What sorts of inputs will you need? Is a USB | | | | Keep an eye out for the next installment: Professional |
| unit ok, or should you go FireWire? Do you need a | | | | Home Recording Studio on a Budget, Part 2: The |
| mixing board? | | | | Home Recording Space. |