A blog about cost effective ways to record a song.
We’ve already written about how to record a song cheaply and even how to record a song at home. But what about the whole budget thing? That’s why I decided to write this post. It’s based on my band’s experience recording in eight different cities over the past four years.
[*Note: This post is really long, so if you want to jump to the pricing info, click here.*]
Let me start by saying that my band plays indie electronic music. We use a lot of digital instruments and software and we don’t have any brass or woodwind players that need tracking in isolation booths. If your music consists of more acoustic instruments, you might need to spend more time and money on tracking; but if you’re doing electronic music (even with some live instruments), this post should be quite helpful for you.
The process of finding an affordable studio to record a song is pretty similar from city-to-city: ask a friend or two for recommendations, ask around online (especially on Facebook) in relevant groups, browse Craigslist and Google “recording studio + [your city]”, email studios that look interesting, ask friends for advice on which studios seem like good
For more than a decade now, I’ve been traveling around the country to work with artists on their recordings. I started as an artist in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, so I know how hard it is for a band or artist to get into a studio and make their songs happen.
The days of getting signed to a label are over for most of us, but the dream of making music lives on. And it can be done with the right information.
In this book I will show you step-by-step how to record your song in any city.
In these days of easily accessible recording equipment and global distribution, it’s easy to make a song. But making a good song is still as tough as ever. One thing that can make the difference between a good song and a bad one is budget.
When you have a zero budget, you can’t afford to travel to the best studio or pay for the services of the most in-demand producer. What you can do, though, is take advantage of the strengths of your environment and compensate for its weaknesses. In this series, I’ll share some thoughts on how to make the most of limited resources in different cities.
In the past, recording a song meant going into a studio and either paying by the hour or renting out their space for weeks on end. However, now with technology being so advanced, you can record a song in your own home. Although not everyone has the equipment to do so, there are many other ways to still be able to record your music without breaking the bank.
If you have a computer with some free time then you can use Garageband or Audacity to create your first demo. These programs are free, easy-to-use, and come with a variety of different sounds that already exist in their libraries. Some of these sounds even sound similar to professional recordings done by big name studios.
If you do not have access to a computer but still want to be able to produce quality music then you can always get together with friends and share resources. If one person has a full drum set then try getting together with someone else who has microphones and an interface (a small box that allows you connect instruments into your computer).
I began making music when I was a teenager. I was always interested in the recording process, but didn’t know where to begin. Eventually, I found a few people willing to teach me and I started recording my own songs. After years of learning, experimenting and performing, I decided to write this blog as a way to help out other people who are just getting started. It’s really easy now to record on your own. The trick is figuring out how to do it well. This blog can help you find the best equipment for your budget and give you tips on how to get the most out of your recordings.
I’ll be updating this blog weekly with new information about recording at home, posting videos about how to use different equipment, and sharing stories about recording my own music. Thanks for reading!
As a band people know we have pride in our music and the quality of our recordings. That’s why we have put together this short guide to help you to get started recording your first album.
A lot has changed in the music industry over the past few years, but one thing that has remained the same is that no matter what type of music you make, if you want it to sound good you need to record it in a professional studio.
If you are just starting out, don’t be tempted to cut corners. It won’t save you much money and could end up costing you a lot more later on.
If you’re going into a studio with limited resources and can only afford an hour or two of studio time then make sure you pick the right one. If you spend your time running around trying to find the best deal for a cheap recording then your music will suffer as a result.