I had a friend tell me once that a monitor was better than a regular speaker for my home entertainment system. While I can easily see how this misconception can be reached, it is not that simple of an answer. They are both useful for your home studio. Also, both have different characteristics for…
All microphones have hissing and buzzing noises, but sometimes we might not even notice it until we turn on the microphone. While this can be very frustrating, here are some ways to look for cause and finally fix your buzzing mic. How to fix a buzzing condenser mic? First, run some diagnostics. Check the…
When you’re recording vocals, the level of decibels (dB) you record at is important. If you record the vocals at a level that is too quiet, they will not be understood over the other tracks on the mix, such as the instrumentals or the backbeat. If you mix them too loudly, they will…
Audio recording involves a lot of experimentation to get it right. Vocals are arguably the most critical part of the track. In the past, it was easier for an artist to pick up any mic, press record, and voila! A perfect vocal! Sadly that is not the case anymore, goalposts have shifted in the…
Whenever you’ve seen pictures of a professional recording studio you are probably used to seeing what appears to be a small shield type object placed in front of microphones. This is what is known in the industry as a ‘pop filter’. So when you come to record a guitar using a microphone you may…
I recently wrote an extensive article on home studio essential which explained the minimum pieces of equipment you require to start recording music at home. I recommended equipment that I personally have accumulated over the years but if you were to buy all that equipment in one go it would cost you a lot…
If you go into a large hall, an amphitheater or even a forest and shout or sing, the sound that you hear will bounce of the high number of surfaces and you will hear ‘reverberation’. As these sounds gradually get absorbed by these surfaces the sound decays and gradually fades away. This is a natural…
If you aren’t a drummer but want to make full tracks on your own in your home studio, how do you start writing and recording drums?! Many songwriters, myself included, start their journey writing on an acoustic guitar or piano. But when you start wanting to record tracks you realize that knowledge will only…
Contents The inspiration stage What are the different musical elements of a song? What are the different sections of a song? Song structure Where to start when writing a song? How to write the vocal melody How to write backing vocals How to write lyrics How to write in different time signatures Tips on…
Distortion is common in many different genres of music. Especially in genres such as rock or metal where it is present on almost every track. But recording distorted guitars in the home studio is not always straightforward. So in this ‘in-depth’ article, I am going to try and explain some tips and tricks…