“What Equipment Do You Need To Record A Song?” plus 1 more

What Equipment Do You Need To Record A Song?

Posted: 16 Sep 2020 02:00 AM PDT

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?

1. A Computer or Laptop

You don’t need a massive recording studio anymore. In fact, many of the things that you can do in these studios now come in the form of software on a desktop computer or laptop. Chances are pretty good you already have a computer or laptop at home, but if you don’t, make sure you opt for one with decent processing power. It doesn’t have to be a top-of-the-line gaming rig — it just needs to be able to handle the paces you’ll put it through.

2. An Audio Interface Device

This is what will connect the rest of your recording equipment to your computer so you can record your harmonies, melodies and sick beats. Look for a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and audio interface combo so you’ve got some tools to alter and manipulate your channels on hand as the audio moves from your mic or instrument into the computer.

3. Microphones and Mic Stand

Whether you’re playing guitar, rocking the drums or singing your heart out, you need a microphone to capture all of those notes. While you can find USB microphones that capture decent audio, your best bet is going to be a standard mic that you plug into your audio interface. Read the reviews to help you find the perfect mic for your type of performance, and don’t forget a mic stand to hold it.

4. Headphones

A good set of headphones can be an absolute blessing for everything from monitoring to editing your projects. Invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. You may also want to pick up a headphone extension cable, because the cables on the device themselves are almost always too short. Stick with wired headphones for this. Bluetooth might be more convenient, but they suffer from signal lag, so you may find yourself a few beats behind.

5. Studio Monitors

Headphones are fantastic, but to get the best idea of what’s going on with your song, you’ll want to hear it on a set of studio monitor speakers. They don’t have to be the most expensive speakers on the market, but it’s worth investing in something that generates good-quality sound so you’re not spending all your time trying to fix problems that aren’t actually there.

6. Soundproofing

There is nothing worse than rocking out on the drums in a room with no audio suppression. You hit the cymbals and you might as well be hitting yourself in the eardrum — especially if there’s tile on the floors! Invest in some soundproofing and experiment with the best placement to make the most out of your home studio space.

7. Pop Filter

Say the word “pop.” Do you feel that puff of air that comes out when you form the P sound? Your microphone will catch that and it will sound awful. Now, you can write all your songs without using any P or B words, or you can invest in a pop filter to catch that puff before it hits the mic. They’re not expensive and you can totally get by without one, but it’s absolutely worth it to pick one up for your home studio.

Rock (And Record) On

There are a lot of other items that you can purchase to give you an edge in the home recording game, but they’re not strictly necessary when you’re just starting out. You can also record musical ideas on your phone if you need to, but the best way to get your songs out into the world is to invest in a basic recording setup.

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Learn To Play The Guitar With These Simple Tips

Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:02 PM PDT

Who hasn’t watched a great guitar player and dreamed of being them? is there anyone who doesn’t want to learn guitar? If you are a beginner, or someone who just want to become a better player, then these tips are perfect for you. So keep reading and then hit a practice session soon.

Practicing

One of the most important factors in learning to play guitar is practicing. One major part of learning how to play guitar is finger memory (motor skills). Your fingers must learn what to do without the help of your brain. The only way to achieve is that is by practicing.

Playing the guitar is notoriously hard on the fingers. You may experience cramping or blisters, particularly if you play for long periods of time in the beginning. While it may sound silly, it is important to “work out” your fingers to strengthen them. You will notice a world of difference!

Many beginner guitarists become discouraged by the pain, and muscle cramping that often accompanies the first few weeks of learning. Use your first few minutes of practice each day concentrating on finger exercises. This will help you to build up callouses on your fingers, and strength in your finger muscles to keep them from cramping.

Stay Motivated

It is not easy to learn to play the guitar. Therefore, it is very important to stay motivated. One way to stay motivated is by setting short-term goals which won’t to take that long to achieve. Finding a guitar buddy with whom to practice is also a good motivational tool. Staying motivated is key to not giving up.

Push yourself to learn new things

Many people focus on one thing. They practice the same song until they have it down perfectly. Playing that song for your friends might be impressive once, but you need to branch out. Don’t give too much focus to a single song. Keep learning and practicing new things.

If you are a beginning guitar player, be sure to learn the different types of strums. Start strumming slowly, with a simple up-and-down strum, and once you have that down, you can move on to more difficult strum patterns. Learn the basics, such as country rhythms, and rock rhythms. You can learn many types of music with these simple strums.

Experiment with different styles and different ways of playing the guitar. Learn how to use a pick and how to strum with your fingers. Play a simple song in a different key. Try open, regular and special tunings. Trying new things will make playing the guitar more interesting and help keep you motivated to practice.

Go online to find tablature of songs. Tabs are particularly helpful for beginners who can’t read music. Tablature helps you learn to place your fingers properly when playing each chord and shows you exactly when you need to make chord changes.

Make use of video sharing instructional videos. There is plenty of free information out there that will help you learn to play the guitar, and many of those resources can be found on video sharing sites. Watching videos can be a great way for you to see fingering in action.

Learn a new chord each week. Chords are part of your overall guitar education, and with two or three chords, you’ll be able to start playing some of the songs you know and love. Start slow, and make sure that you can clearly hear every string in the chord when you play it.

As you know, learning to play guitar is such an enjoyable thing to do. There is so much to learn that you will never know everything that you need to know. But that is just fine, since learning new guitar skills is so enjoyable. So take what you have learned, share with a friend and get a jam session going today.

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