When it comes to creating your own music, the recording process is pivotal to creating a professional product you can present to your fans. Here, we want to eliminate the questions regarding your recording process.
Recording
First and foremost, you need to record your vocals and instruments on a recording software.
Many Mac users use Logic or Pro Tools, but products like Ableton and Magix are also available for various prices. New Mac purchasers also receive GarageBand with their machine, which is an extension of Logic (similar in structure, but not as many options — especially when it comes to mixing and mastering). Whichever operating system you have (Windows or Mac), you have options as a musician.
When you record your vocals especially, you might have to do a bit of pitch correction. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re a horrible singer. Every singer (and I mean every singer) has good takes and bad takes. Programs like Logic come with a form of pitch correction (called FlexPitch); however, a more reliable and quality product is Melodyne. It’s also much easier to use! Again, this is all a part of the process. You will be taking multiple takes of the same thing, most likely, in order to get it the way you want it to sound. Once you finish, you might notice that it doesn’t sound like songs on the radio. Don’t worry, you have an entire process that must be completed before it gets to that point.
Mixing
The mixing process handles the issues with volumes of instruments, lead and background vocals, equalization,
adding effects to sounds and recordings, and creating the unique sound for your track. This process can be very taxing, but once you understand what you’re doing, it becomes very fun. You’re creating the sound your audience is going to hear on the radio or in their rooms. This is where the magic happens!
A bit of advice: save more than one copy of your track. Especially if this is your first go at it, or first few. You might get to a point where you hate what you’ve come up with and want to start from scratch. Saving two copies post-recording allows youthat luxury. Otherwise, you might have to re-record vocals or have a situation where you’ve permanently removed something in a sound that you didn’t want to. Also, don’t be afraid to invest in a mixing and mastering class. You will learn invaluable information that will save you thousands of dollars down the road (also, there is a lot to the skill — much more than this blog space will allow. Trust us, if you’re serious about recording a quality product, a class like this will be invaluable. Many are online for your convenience!).
Mastering
The mastering process is the final creative step before your song goes out for distribution (iTunes, CD Baby, etc.). This is where you address any final corrections like pops or tics in the recording. It’s also where you select the order of your songs and address the final sound in the mix. Once you finish, “bounce” your song(s) to .mp3, .wav, or whatever your distributor requires.
We hope this has been a help for you. Good luck, and we’d love to hear your music!