From about the time I entered the sixth grade, I’ve been writing music. I will never forget a conversation I had with my older sister, when she made an offhand comment encouraging me to release an album of my original songs. This gentle encouragement somehow grew in my twelve-year-old brain into an absolute obsession that is still continuing today. I love writing and recording music.
Maybe you’re in the same boat as me! If you have some songs written, but have no idea where to start with the process of putting them online, I think you and I can relate a lot to each other.
When I first started pursuing my goal of recording an album, I was so overwhelmed. Part of me wanted to just record the whole thing through a tape recorder and somehow copy that and give it to everyone I knew. I had absolutely no control over how loud each instrument was and the results were quite poor.
I even recorded a bunch of ringtones for my mom's cell phone, but the quality was still awful.
There are so many sources of information online and there is no real comprehensive source. I also found myself completely confused by the technicality of many of the articles I read online.
You might feel like recording your album or song is completely out of reach, don't lose hope!
I’m going to let you in on a little secret: Recording music is a lot easier and cheaper than you think it is.
Step one: Gear
This bit is where things get the trickiest because a lot depends on the type of music you’d like to record. Basically I’ll break this down into two options.
In the box - In this method, your audio will come from virtual instruments on your computer. If you are interested in hip-hop beats, Electronic Dance Music, or anything with a lot of synths, this might be the best option for you!
Out of the box - In this method, you’ll be recording your real instruments onto the computer. This is a great way to record folk, rock, or just yourself singing with a guitar, piano, or ukulele.
Of course, you can pursue any combination of both of these methods. I've just found that most producers and musicians tend to lean towards one or the other.
I have some friendly advice for you. The idea that one piece of equipment is the absolute best is like saying one person is the absolute best. It's silly. Indeed, some equipment may work better than others, some may sound better than others but other factors make a big difference. Finding the balance between quality and price, as well as how fun things are to use is far more important. Don’t focus on finding the best piece of gear, focus on finding what will work best for YOU!
Gear you’ll need for in the box:
Midi Controllers
A MIDI controller allows you to control instruments on your computer. Think of it like a typing keyboard, only for music.
If you have a keyboard with MIDI already, that will work!
If not there are many easy to use midi controllers at a range of prices.
Virtual instruments There are loads of free and paid virtual instruments available. A simple google search for VSTs will turn up many results. Check YouTube videos to hear what they sound like and find the instruments you want the most!
Don't be afraid of free instruments, they’re often available as advertisements for expensive instruments from the same company. This means they won’t give you a lower quality experience.
Gear you’ll need for Out of the Box:
Audio Interface: This is how you get the sound from the real world into your computer. It seems like an unnecessary step, but trust me, it’ll be worth it in the end!
To pick an interface, you’ll need to decide what you’ll be recording. To record a singer, you’ll only need one channel. If you’re planning on recording a singer and a guitar at the same time you’ll need two channels.
There are loads of great options for audio interfaces. I personally use Focusrite Scarlett. They usually have great packages that come with free software and other services as well!
Microphones:
Learning the difference between types of microphones and what they do is very important! It might seem overwhelming, but to start off you really just need to understand the difference between two types of microphones:
Dynamic microphones- the microphone you heard people talk into at every public event you attended. Like that but probably better. These microphones are designed to record sounds from up close.
Condenser microphones- Little sound vacuums! These guys require something called Phantom power, which usually is available on your interface. These microphones are more sensitive, like your phone or camera microphone, they are designed to pick up all the sound from around them.
If you’re just starting out, a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM57 might be your best option! These microphones work well for everything from vocals to guitars to snare drums. If you spend a minute looking up “how to record ____'' on google, you’ll find that many instruments sound best when recorded with an SM57. At only 100 dollars, this mic is very cheap and it’s incredible that an industry standard microphone is so easily available
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Condenser mics work best on things like Drum overheads, Pianos, and Guitars. Vocal mics are usually condenser mics as well.
A Dark Secret
If things have gotten a bit pricey for you, or you just want to record music to show your grandma for fun, I’ve got another option for ya.
You can record on your computer without professional grade microphones. It might be a little more work, and it might take a few extra adjustments, but it IS possible! I've done it, I promise!
My mom bought me this microphone for Christmas when I was 14 years old. I had already purchased a lot of other equipment at that point, so it was sort of a moot point. Until I went to college.
I had no room for all the audio equipment I had amassed over the years in my tiny closet of a dorm room. So, I brought my tiny USB mic. I have recorded entire songs with this microphone. It isn’t the most amazing sound quality, but it works! It honestly sounds great for guitar, ukulele, vocals, kalimba, and even violin!
Pro tip, stick an actual sock (hopefully a clean one) on the end of the mic to cut the wind noise if you talk or sing into it.
The point is, when you’re just starting out, you don’t need to feel like you have to buy a full interface, microphones and cables to see if you enjoy recording music. You can record your songs for nearly free!
Now go make some music!
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