Though I don’t like being marketed to as a moron, Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies is actually quite good. Despite the fact that it’s a little out of date (published in 2002), it does an exelent job of outlining all the general principals of digital audio home recording. Readers would only need to get up to speed on the latest technology standards, such as hard drive sizes and speeds, digital audio file format standards, etc. But the basics are solidly described, from setting up your home recording studio, to audio recording techniques, to editing and mixing your music. A great read for anyone starting out, or just trying to fill some knowledge gaps. Easily found for around $10 used.

Korg unveiled one of many, many incredible new digital music production toys displayed at the NAMM Show, the OASYS Open Architecture Synthesis Studio. Funky gadgets like this one almost make me want to convert from music editing software to a digital workstation.

Who is NAMM?

“[NAMM is] an international association representing nearly 9,000 retailers and manufacturers of musical instruments and products from 85 countries worldwide.”

There are a TON of articles already written on the subject of setting up a PC/Mac-based digital music home recording studio. Rather than play a false Jedi, I will humble myself to the recording Yodas of the world. (“Geek, am I, mmm.”)

“Computer-Based Recording 101,” by db Masters, is a recently-written article I happened to surf accross the other day. It provides an excellent summary of what you’ll want to consider when starting out:

> Your Hardware
> Your Sound Devices
> Your Music Software
> External Hardware/Gear
> Microphones and Direct Injection

I must’ve read hundreds of these as a newbie. I suppose they’re the hooks used to mold us into future customers of expensive music gear, sigh. (I probabably should’ve been recording something instead. An “armchair musician” isn’t a bad thing unless he’s typing instead of playing.)

So, do you have a “Digital Audio Workstation” (aka DAW) set up? If yes, ditch this post and immediately burn a lick or a beat to disc.

If not, welcome to a plethora of opportunity to dive in! The first question you’ll need to answer is, what do you want to serve as the central nervous system of your music creation process? Would you prefer a digital recording workstation (a “virtual recording studio in a box”), or a PC/Mac-based software engine?

All-in-one digital recording stations are great because they bypass the painful equipment integration process, and contain all the tools you needs to record, mix, and master your music. Music editing software, however, is completely scalable. You can add various plug-ins and software upgrades over time to keep up with the latest advances in audio recording technology.

If you envision a long term recording hobby in your future, Music editing software is your best route. If you just want to have some fun, or want to quickly demo your musical genius, a workstation may be best. (That being said, some music software is seriously worth considering no matter what your goals. Just look at Sony’s Acid or Apple’s Garage Band recording software. They’re amazingly simple and powerful.)

I chose the software route. I won’t lie, the learning curve was steep. But it was worth it.

What are your thoughts?

Sometimes, it’s fun to tinker with technology to see what makes it tick. Take something apart, reconstruct it, see what turns on and what explodes, etc. This is certainly the case with digital audio. There’s a whole galaxy of digital audio recording effects, techniques, and equipment, that creates an impalpable hurdle that can overwhelm the most determined musician and his music.

Fight through it. Find help. There are many online forums that specialize in digital audio home recording frequented by musicians who love to share both their music and their wisdom.

The Homerecording BBS was my chief point of advice, comfort, and commaradery during some dark times when I was a complete newbie.

Now, the MT Forums have taken that role. Please forgive the delay between posts as I struggle to understand this new medium. 😉

Thank God for music. Thank God for digital audio. And thank God for the simplification and proliferation of new media applications to the masses.

Seriously. Without the above, my most beloved and satisfying hobby would have produced nothing more than a few scratches in a notebook. As a musician without the ability to read music, without a record label deal, and without a national marketing budget, I wouldn’t have had much more than a few musical ideas to ponder and a few friends to torture them with.

Flip to the B-side of independent musicianship. Garages and basements aren’t just places where bands crank amps to 11. They’re also launchpads where music is written, recorded, produced, and marketed.

Thousands of bands and musicians are empowering themselves with technology. Thousands more are joining. I started last year. I’ll be sharing what I (and you!) learn about home recording, song writing, and marketing in the digital world.

Time to hit that power chord.