How to prepare for your next studio session

Guest post by Gideon Waxman. This article originally appeared on Soundfly’s Flypaper

As I prepare to head into the recording studio later this month, I figured now would be a great time to share some insights on how I’ve been able to manage my time and resources efficiently, in order to get to this point.

Whether you’re about to lay down your first single or you’re a band confidently sailing into your third full-length album, it’s just as important to make certain practical and mental preparations before entering any recording studio session. Otherwise, you run the risk of wasting your time, or that of the engineer(s), your money, and all the energy and efforts that got you here.

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Top 8 audio production blogs for aspiring producers

Guest post by Dre DiMura. This article originally appeared on Soundfly’s Flypaper

The internet is ripe with resources (free and paid) for amateur producers, mixers, beat makers and songwriters alike. In fact, there’s no end to the ways you can improve your skills with content and recommendations that address your every need. But in all that vastness, where do you begin?

Sorting through hundreds if not thousands of blogs is exhausting, and can even be detrimental to your process, as you try to delineate between different methods, techniques, and opinions for achieving the same sonic ends. The good news is, we’ve done the research for you!

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Ready to Record? Equipment That Musicians Need for More Successful Recording Sessions

At some point, a musician wants to be heard. You want other people to hear the music that you have made. A poor recording setup can completely ruin your message.

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How To Organize A Music Room For Reviewing Your Audio Recordings

When you review your audio files, you check for various qualities, including content, likability, and sound. The space you choose to listen to the recordings should be clutter-free, soundproof, comfortable seating, and free of distractions. The goal is to form an impression from your audios, look for tips to enhance the recordings, and find what works perfectly. Below are some tips to use when organizing your music room to review your audio recordings.

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How To Use Acoustics To Your Advantage

Acoustics can make or break a performance. Whether it’s live or in a studio, you may hear different audio distortions and echoes without the right setup. Luckily, though, you can use your studio to your advantage — no matter the type of space or the size you have to work with. 

Typically, smaller rooms are better for recording music. Big, open areas tend to lead to distortion in the recording. Sounds have too many places to bounce off of and cause echos, reverb and noise. You can still make bigger rooms work, but ideally, you can find a smaller space to record in.

To avoid all the annoying feedback, you’ll need acoustic treatment. This process involves getting panels to make your recordings as optimal as possible. That way, when you get to the mixing process, you won’t have to agonize over all the unwanted sounds and distortion.

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Tips For Transforming An Unused Space Into A Music Studio

If you’re a musician, having your own place to practice and record is incredibly important. Unfortunately, renting out time in a recording studio can cost anywhere from $50-$500 per hour. Most independent artists and bands just don’t have that kind of cash. 

But, if you’re willing to utilize your resources and put in a little elbow grease, you can completely transform an unused space in or around your home, or even in your community into a music studio for you or your band. 

You’ve heard of the term ‘garage band’ before — and may even be one, but there are other unique places to consider using, including empty churches, a storage shed, an unused business, or even a school practice room. 

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How To Build A Music Studio

Making music and getting it out into the world is easier than ever, thanks to the power of the internet. Unfortunately, most modern homes don’t come with built-in studios. They also aren’t designed with acoustics in mind, unless you count parents trying to muffle the noise of small children running at full speed during all hours. 

If you want to make music in the comfort of your own home, you really need a music studio. What will it take to turn your spare room into a studio you can be proud of?

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What Equipment Do You Need To Record A Song?

In days gone by, recording music required a lot of specialized equipment or — if you were very lucky or very talented — a record label and a recording studio. Today, with advancing technology and the internet at our fingertips, you can record studio-quality songs at home with just a few items. What sort of equipment do you need to record a song at home?

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So, You’re A Muso? Here Are 4 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Studio Headphones

If you are serious about music, that is, you consider yourself somewhat a professional when it comes to mixing or recording music, it’s probably a good time to invest in a set of studio headphones if you haven’t done so already.

We would even say if you just want to enjoy music at a casual level, studio headphones are a great choice because of their amazing sound production!

Here are 4 reasons why you should get on the studio headphone bandwagon.

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How To Soundproof A Room For Drumming!

Having a drum set at home is such a thrill, opening up hours upon hours of fun time for you and possibly your band mates. However, that also means that the noise levels will go up, causing disturbance to your family or even your neighbors. If you are keen to reduce the amount of sound that will escape from your studio, have a look at this areas where you can make some changes to reduce noise.

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Low-Budget Musician: How To Use Your Phone To Create And Share Music

Making music can be incredibly expensive. With many musicians shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars to have their songs professionally recorded and produced, most musicians hope to find more cost-effective ways to make music. If you’re looking for more affordable methods to make music, consider using your phone. With the following tips, you can share and create music from your smartphone:

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How AI Is Changing The Music Industry

The music industry has often been an early adopter of new technology. Musicians are keen to experiment with equipment that can usher their creative vision into new directions. Still, there have always been those who have seen the use of gadgets as in some way cheating, or uncouth. From the backlash Bob Dylan received after using an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival, to the current industry reliance on Auto-Tune. Perhaps the discussion shouldn’t focus on the fact that musicians are using technology, but how they are using it in order to support their creative visions. 

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How To Get Your Music To Stand Out From The Crowd

Today, it seems like technology and the internet have drained all of the uniqueness of the music industry. All you need is a computer and a few sound clips to churn out song after song. They don’t even need to be good sound clips.

 

Anyone can create music. However, when everyone with a guitar and a YouTube channel fancies themselves a musician, it can be hard to set yourself apart. Here are a few tricks to help you stand out and succeed in this competitive industry.

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10 Unlikely Blogs Where Songwriters Should Seek Inspiration

Guest post by Sammy Hakim. This article originally appeared on Soundfly’s Flypaper

One of the questions I get asked most frequently as a professional songwriter is: “How do you stay inspired when writing every day?” And it’s a valid question — one with multiple answers!

Songwriters like me often draw from personal life and experience, or from the experiences of those around us; which is probably true of almost any writer in any literary format. But we may also get inspired by and invested in the characters in TV shows, films, and books as well. In fact, it is completely possible to get inspired by anything and everything in the world around you as a creative person. As long as you’re looking for it…

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