Let’s move onto the subject of having a home recording studio that is your’s, and at your complete disposal. Musicians, Artists, and Songwriters often play the “avoidance game” when trying to accomplish setting one up, but this need not be the case. You might very well regard the concept of “proper” home recording as a daunting task. I am a firm believer that following the KISS method (i.e. “Keep It Simple, St#*id”) is the best route to take when choosing a home recording studio.

When I think about software programs for laptop recording, and how convenient many can be, I also think about “frozen screens, pops, hisses, and cracks” that can occur. This does not mean you shouldn’t use them, when appropriate. HOWEVER, I also think it is wiser to own a home recording studio that is self-contained and separate from your computer.

**Barnes & Noble has the ONLY book that will show you how to launch a successful music career, REGARDLESS of your age.

When you think about it, all you really want to do is record GREAT songs that sound as professional and ready for pressing as possible. The ideal situation would be to invest in a multi-track home recording studio that is EASY TO USE, and most importantly, will burn a CD of your session right within the actual recording console (without the need for a computer’s separate CD burner). Doing this will prevent you from having to “reinvent the wheel” by pursuing months and months of (time-consuming, technical, and frustrating) learning that would equate in time and stress to a music engineering degree when ALL you want to do is record your OWN great songs, right now. Best of all, so many new digital recording studios come complete with drums and samples to enhance your recordings and create a more full-bodied sound.

The bottom line is that, however you decide to record, make sure that you follow the rule of “simplicity.” Don’t complicate the recording process and don’t procrastinate over silly (perceived) technical issues that you yourself create and that ultimately waste more time and prevent you from completing the recording of your songs…It’s ALL about the music!!

More to come.

(C) 2010 – Paul Alexander for: www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.

Home Recording: Thy daunting task before thee

It was miserable for me, really. Actually, it was misery mixed with painful hope. I had something “good” for a musical recording I was working on, but I did not have something “great.” Well, maybe some will disagree, but after 10 hours playing doctor at the mixing board and 100,000 variations of percussion (okay, I’m exaggerating by 50,000 or so), I have to say that I did accomplish something: I went from the realm of “good” to “better.” Here is my point:

Whether you’ve come to this conclusion already on your own, but tend to forget or lose sight of it, I’m here to remind you that the very best thing that you can do is “take a break” from it and listen to it the next day when you are a whole new musician with a different blend of musical creativity in your head.

**Barnes & Noble has the ONE and only book that will show you how to launch a successful music career, regardless of your age.

Yes, I’ve been close to disgusted and unusually hard on myself (which really isn’t all that unusual). However, I did actually “have to” utilize “a slant on the strategy” I wrote about in this previous article as a method of slowing down an analog track that could not be slowed down anymore within its current mode. It took hours. This was one variation on a prior lesson I wrote about that I hoped I would NEVER have to do again. One thing is certain though: it works; so should you. The only way to make it happen and turn that “good” into “great” is to take the time and “spend the time,” finishing your soon-to-be polished recordings in an ergonomically comfortable environment designed for the “short attention span.” Dale Carnegie would even agree, despite the arduous or frustrating circumstances you might be working under. The very greatest of accomplishments have been completed during the worst of times and circumstances. By the way, I am not saying you have a short attention span , but many creative people do, and I have my own moments.

Again, thank you for these continued comments. It is really my hope that musicians and music-related websites leave genuine comments from their actual “craft” of making music and writing songs. I am grateful you have taken the time to read.

More to come.

© 2010 – Paul Alexander for www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.

I have just finished recording an instrumental; a very cool instrumental. Actually, an incredible instrumental, at least by my ears, and there’s a reason that the song turned out so successfully. Yes, the fact that I happened to be brewing with creativity at the time of recording is, in fact, a key variable, though had little to do with the ergonomic comfort of my studio I “recreated” before getting serious about finishing up new and existing jobs “on a time line.” I reorganized my home recording studio and office, using some principles of Feng Shui. Let’s talk about you doing the same, but not in the way you might typically do, once in a blue moon. Here are some quick home recording studio tips and suggestions.

In keeping with the concept creating an ergonomic recording studio, we are a going to follow a quotations written by Henry David Thoreau: “Simplify, Simplify.” Get the equipment that saves you the very most room (and money) when home recording, but make sure it can do the same as the highest calibar digital home recording studio, including burning a CD of your FINISHED musical masterpiece. The simpler the set-up of your home recording studio, the better, especially if you’re on a budget.

**Barnes & Noble has the ONLY book that will show you how to launch a successful music career, REGARDLESS of your age.

Seeing that we are near at the new moon of June 2010, I want you to start thinking about “ergonomics.” The literal definition of “Ergonomics” is: human engineering. The specific (self) instruction of applying ergonomics, as it pertains to your home recording studio or recording studio and office/workspace, goes like this: You need to take your mixing board, musical instruments, laptop computer (which you’d better own), all music files you have (preferably organized neatly with lyrics and contact information on your desktop and backed up on memory sticks you take VERY good care of), get them organized in a comfortable way within the room that you work in. What is the point of having your computer stationed on an (ergonomic?) computer desk, complete with your mixer, effects processors, and instruments/microphones in place, if you have ignored the fact that the CD burner is on the opposite side of the room (though connected by a trusty chord, that you must get out of your chair to travel to it when you need to use it)? Why ignore that one variable? There are countless other little inconveniences that add up to a HUGE inconvenience on your body if your studio is only set up ergomically at 90%. We want to strive for COMPLETELY (self-human-engineered) approaches to complete body comfort and efficiency of movement (aka “freedom”) as you go to work, undisturbed, on all your projects. A lack of ergonomics in any home recording studio will DEFINITELY break your concentration with regularity, make you get up out of your chair (and your chair had better be COMFORTABLE and GOOD FOR YOUR POSTURE), only to break your focus and waste valuable time.

More to come.

(C) 2010 – Paul Alexander for www.MusiciansCompanion.net – All Rights Reserved.