Frobisher's manifesto for the self recording musician.

frobisher

A baker's dozen of my own thoughts and lessons:

1/ No matter how good or expensive it is, your gear will not make you a better musician/songwriter/engineer/producer (this may or may not apply to electronic music. You decide).
2/ Forums like this will take time away from making music. Oh yes they will.
3/ Music gets better the more you work on it. Working and working and then reworking stuff is what pro's do and amateurs don't.
4/ More people make money from teaching people how to record on over priced courses than there are people who know how to record well.
5/ Don't be fooled by vintage being better. Some gear is better just because it is, not because it's old.
6/ Great gear costs a lot of money.
7/ Good gear doesn't have to cost a lot of money.
8/ You don't need great gear to make great music.
9/ If you're not great on an instrument get someone else to do it and don't trust MIDI.
10/ Don't trust stock samples to sound great in 10 years.
11/ Buying €500 worth of recording equipment because 1 day in the studio costs the same is very, very bad maths.
12/ Write in your home studio then record and/or mix with the pro's.

And finally:
13/ Despite what you think, you probably already have enough gear to make all the music that is in your head/heart/loin. So get off the internet and do it.

Frobisher has spoken. You may now hold the conch.

gagomes

lol, funny guy. Although, I kinda agree to everything. I think this could be named the 13 commandments of home-studio music production!

No6

There's nothing worse than GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) alright!! and if it sounds **** on 500 gear it will probably still sound **** on 500,000 gear!!

PaulBrewer

F.M.F.T.S.R.M

She's catchy ok!

Ian C

What are lessons 4 and 5? :pac:

frobisher

Ian C wrote: »

What are lessons 4 and 5? :pac:

Cut and paste error now fixed! And they're not lessons. Heaven forbid!

PaulBrewer

4 and 5 were very important!

eoin5

I'd change number 9 a bit:

9/ If you're not great on an instrument get better at it or get someone else to do it and don't trust MIDI.

I've been learning to play drums and its helped my music making big time, plus its great fun

frobisher

PaulBrewer wrote: »

4 and 5 were very important!

They certainly are!

TelePaul

frobisher wrote: »

1/ No matter how good or expensive it is, your gear will not make you a better musician/songwriter/engineer/producer (this may or may not apply to electronic music. You decide).

Hmmm. Don't agree.

frobisher wrote: »

2/ Forums like this will take time away from making music. Oh yes they will.

Agree.

frobisher wrote: »

3/ Music gets better the more you work on it. Working and working and then reworking stuff is what pro's do and amateurs don't.

Hmmm. Don't agree.

frobisher wrote: »

4/ More people make money from teaching people how to record on over priced courses than there are people who know how to record well.

Agree.

frobisher wrote: »

5/ Don't be fooled by vintage being better. Some gear is better just because it is, not because it's old.

Agree.

frobisher wrote: »

6/ Great gear costs a lot of money.

Agree.

frobisher wrote: »

7/ Good gear doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

Agree.

frobisher wrote: »

8/ You don't need great gear to make great music.

Agree, though it sure does help!

frobisher wrote: »

9/ If you're not great on an instrument get someone else to do it and don't trust MIDI.

Hmmm. Don't agree.

frobisher wrote: »

10/ Don't trust stock samples to sound great in 10 years.

Hmmm...

frobisher wrote: »

11/ Buying €500 worth of recording equipment because 1 day in the studio costs the same is very, very bad maths.

Hmmm. Don't agree.

frobisher wrote: »

12/ Write in your home studio then record and/or mix with the pro's.

Hmmm. Don't agree.

frobisher wrote: »

And finally:
13/ Despite what you think, you probably already have enough gear to make all the music that is in your head/heart/loin. So get off the internet and do it.

Fair point.

TelePaul

1) Establish objectives and spend in accordance with these objectives.

2) Buy 'Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies' by Jeff Strong and read it.

3) Create a dedicated space for recording - it doesn't have to be big, but keep it clean and make it your own.

4) Join an internet forum. Sooner or later (probably sooner) you're going to need help.

5) Avail of freeware - there's alot of good stuff out there.

6) Ignore MIDI at your peril.

7) If you're going to attempt the recording of acoustic drums, learn the Recorderman technique.

8) Understand that Pro Tools is a means to an end.

9) Plan your sessions - Tune your instruments, replace old strings, work on performance delivery.

10) Don't fix it in the mix, fix it in the tracking.

11) Listen to commercial recordings with a view to production.

12) Don't do favours for friends - a little recording know-how may be seen as industry expertise by the uninitiated.

13) Understand the difference between mixing and mastering.

14) Have fun!

PaulBrewer

1. Stop messin and get into a proper studio and do it right ...

2 For fecks sake will ya stop messin' and get into a proper studio and do it right ...?

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

1. Stop messin and get into a proper studio and do it right ...

2 For fecks sake will ya stop messin' and get into a proper studio and do it right ...?

Ah here! Home Recording is where it's at. Listen to Springsteen's 'Nebraska'.

PaulBrewer

No thanks!

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

No thanks!

That's so lame. We need a mod who can relate to the needs and wants of the typical project studio owner.

frobisher

You trying to steal my thunder!? Please refer to point 12 in Frobisher's Manifesto For The Self recording Musician.

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

That's so lame. We need a mod who can relate to the needs and wants of the typical project studio owner.

I need posters with a bit of a sense of humour!

I had my first 4 track in the early 80s (Tascam 144) and have been a dedicated Home Recordist more or less every since - including a stint of about 5 years when home recording was my main income


I've been there done that and think I understand it's Plusses and Minuses. I also deal with Home Recorders every day in my day Job.

PaulBrewer

frobisher wrote: »

You trying to steal my thunder!? Please refer to point 12 in Frobisher's Manifesto For The Self recording Musician.

Oh, right ....

I stopped at 5 ...

TelePaul

frobisher wrote: »

You trying to steal my thunder!? Please refer to point 12 in Frobisher's Manifesto For The Self recording Musician.

I didn't agree with it there either!

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

I didn't agree with it there either!

On a serious note, have you ever worked in a 'Big' Studio TP?

dav nagle

PaulBrewer wrote: »

1. Stop messin and get into a proper studio and do it right ...

2 For fecks sake will ya stop messin' and get into a proper studio and do it right ...?

Dav rant:



Going to an expensive studio may not be the right place for a young artist to capture his/her art. A large studio can be daunting and expensive and fueled with pressure. A well fitted out home studio might be a more affordable and comfortable suggestion for an artist who is still experimenting with his/her sound no?

In a few years the artist might truly have captured some great songs and then may need a large studio production and amazing equipment to bring his/her work to fruition , fair enough. Allot of money is then required to fuel that project. You need session players etc.. etc..

But going to a large studio seems to be a very daunting prospect.

Expensive: The costs will not be cheap
Pressure: Your paying big money to capture a performance


Home studio:
Relaxed there's the kettle
Can I make you some food?


To compare recording to imagery if I may:
The final thing is that if I look at a poor quality photo I still see the image and the anguish or suffering in that picture. The image can still make me angry, happy or sad.

The same image at a higher resolution has better quality but the image is still the heart wrencher not the quality.

So just like music a good song is a good song either way.

PaulBrewer

Oh Poet! Loosen up will ya?

dav nagle wrote: »

Dav rant:



Going to an expensive studio may not be the right place for a young artist to capture his/her art. A large studio can be daunting and expensive and fueled with pressure. A well fitted out home studio might be a more affordable and comfortable suggestion for an artist who is still experimenting with his/her sound no?

In a few years the artist might truly have captured some great songs and then may need a large studio production and amazing equipment to bring his/her work to fruition , fair enough. Allot of money is then required to fuel that project. You need session players etc.. etc..

But going to a large studio seems to be a very daunting prospect.

Expensive: The costs will not be cheap
Pressure: Your paying big money to capture a performance


Home studio:
Relaxed there's the kettle
Can I make you some food?


To compare recording to imagery if I may:
The final thing is that if I look at a poor quality photo I still see the image and the anguish or suffering in that picture. The image can still make me angry, happy or sad.

The same image at a higher resolution has better quality but the image is still the heart wrencher not the quality.

So just like music a good song is a good song either way.

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

On a serious note, have you ever worked in a 'Big' Studio TP?

I'm 22. I've never worked full stop. Why?

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

I'm 22. I've never worked full stop. Why?

I'm 45 and never worked!
Come down to Clara one of the days we're doing something and let me introduce you to the magic of good shizit!

dav nagle

Songwriters:

Home studios are an affordable starting point and an affordable place for songwriters to record.

They may not have all the gear but they have enough to do a good job.

The chances are you will record a good song or two for a fraction of the cost.

They tend to be run by people who are ambitious and want the best quality product for the songwriter that is within their means.

The people that run them like a challenge and want to people to say ''that could have been recorded in a big studio and who would know otherwise''.

dav nagle

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Oh Poet! Loosen up will ya?

Hey I am probably the most loosened up poster on boards with all my corny poems no? Write me a poem and show some love!

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

I'm 45 and never worked!
Come down to Clara one of the days we're doing something and let me introduce you to the magic of good shizit!

Ah very gracious offer man but I'd be overwhlemed! It'd be like stepping onto the bridge of The Enterprise or something, and I'd just try to convince you that everyhting should like Neil Youngs 'Ragged Glory'

PaulBrewer

TelePaul wrote: »

Ah very gracious offer man but I'd be overwhlemed! It'd be like stepping onto the bridge of The Enterprise or something, and I'd just try to convince you that everyhting should like Neil Youngs 'Ragged Glory'

Once you visit the 4th Dimension it's hard to return ...

TelePaul

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Once you visit the 4th Dimension it's hard to return ...

Remind me to post a pic later of what I'm recording on this weather...

PaulBrewer

dav nagle wrote: »

Hey I am probably the most loosened up poster on boards with all my corny poems no? Write me a poem and show some love!

There once was a fellow called Dav,
Who dressed like a bit of a Chav,
He wore sunglasses at night, didn't give a Shyte,
and wrote poems on Boards all night ....

dav nagle

PaulBrewer wrote: »

There once was a fellow called Dav,
Who dressed like a bit of a Chav,
He wore sunglasses at night, didn't give a Shyte,
and wrote poems on Boards all night ....

I love you Paul!

That was the first poem I have ever received off you and hopefully not the last! Lol

i57dwun4yb1pt8

thats my policy - to get as close to a big studio sound in a tiny room at home

I play test tracks to people all the time - and so far none have them ( this year ) have realised its a tiny 8 by 8 padded cube upstairs in a semi D .

when i started it was obviously sounding home brewed - but now I have upgraded the gear and the room - and have managed to improve my drums recording and production - only a pro would tell it was home brew

now - im still very much a newbie and still dont know what im at alot of the time - but its working for me - gear has become very good these days - its just taking the time and keep experimenting to improve.

- the normal test listeners so far have all been none the wiser.!!

and I take care to try and make a BIG sound
( call it over-compensating for size ;-)

notknocking the pros - i love recording in a proper place - but the illusion creation at home is very satisfying .

PaulBrewer

dav nagle wrote: »

I love you Paul!

That was the first poem I have ever received off you and hopefully not the last! Lol

No, it's the last ok .....

dav nagle

PaulBrewer wrote: »

No, it's the last ok .....

Back on topic!

Bands need a big professional studio like yours Paul no doubt but songwriters maybe not as much starting off:(

dav nagle

DaDumTish wrote: »

thats my policy - to get as close to a big studio sound in a tiny room at home

I play test tracks to people all the time - and so far none have them ( this year ) have realised its a tiny 8 by 8 padded cube upstairs in a semi D .

when i started it was obviously sounding home brewed - but now I have upgraded the gear and the room - and have managed to improve my drums recording and production - only a pro would tell it was home brew

now - im still very much a newbie and still dont know what im at alot of the time - but its working for me - gear has become very good these days - its just taking the time and keep experimenting to improve.

- the normal test listeners so far have all been none the wiser.!!

and I take care to try and make a BIG sound
( call it over-compensating for size ;-)

notknocking the pros - i love recording in a proper place - but the illusion creation at home is very satisfying .

Yes the pro's deserve respect for their overheads and commitment to recording with the best gear money can buy. The small home studios can still do a very good job all the same.

serfboard

DaDumTish wrote: »

and I take care to try and make a BIG sound

Would you care to share the software you use and how you go about making a BIG sound? Ta.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

well, im no expert - but alot of the big sound comes from having a well recorded drum kit - so thats my main approach .

so I record 8 channells of drum mics in a dead room - if you cant hear the room then no ones the wiser as to where it was recorded .

I then eq , compress etc to taste , and use a considered reverb approach
to make the drums sound as big an powerful as possible.

I also record layered guitars and generally pan them wide left and right
and a nice punchy bass in the center. this is using the POD xt and some miced up amp stuff.

im using reaper to record , and hardware wise i now use a tc powercore compact for reverbs and some compressors
and a studio connect 48 as my studio interface .
my main pre is an A designs pacifica / and a DAV bg1 .

i was using a mackie onyx firwire desk - which sounded great - but I wanted to go the next level in sound .

i am also trialing the stillwell audio plugins which sound really nice .
the vibe eq is really good .

hopefully i can start getting a bit more subtle in my approach though instead of going for a huge 80's production vibe ;-)

frobisher

I don't know if this is worth pointing out but considering that this thread has spawned several reply threads (why not do them here so we can compare in one thread!?) I think I'll say it; I LOVE self recording. My manifesto is based on getting the best sounding end results through the mire of hype and lessons we must all go through. It's also a bit of fun.

Agree or disagree as you may but see the whole picture it paints rather than just individual items on their own. Trust me, it speaks the truth. :cool:

dav nagle

So the way I see it if you are a songwriter and you want to have someone engineer so you can sit back and relax and concentrate on singing/playing then a professional home studio is an extremely attractive and affordable route. I have recorded a goof few songwriters and often they record around 5 songs. One song always turns out brilliant. The cost for that and the other 4 songs including mixing works out to the equivalent or slightly above one day in a large studio. So for songwriters who want to record new material at a high quality and at a high standard but at the same time demoing their songs, professionally speaking, they still get excellent value for their money. I believe that bands should go to the pro's because the costs are split 4 or 5 ways, so in that case they get more bang for their buck.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i agree , bands are better of demoing on a cheap device , a 4 track or sometghing - then going to a pro studio to record ,

songwriters / producers really need a good home studio to be fully productive
but - the downside is the tweaking and technolgy can get in the way of creativity some times.



one thing i will say is :

1/ treat your room acoustically for mixing before you even buy a one mic / speaker
a well treated room is worth its weight in gold
you can get away with cheaper monitors in a good treated room
but any monitor sounds like arse in bad room


2/ Do not record drums live at home unless you are willing to spend
alot of money and alot of time getting it right
it can be done - but its not for the faint hearted - seriously .
if you do do it - and you have a bad room - deaden it completely .
close mic the kit and and add life artificially

if you have a good room for drums - dont mix it it !

use midi drums / samples if you arent willing to commit - bad drum recordings kill a song dead .

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i dont agree if you are bad at an instrument , get someone good -
I reckon work on the instrument until you get better.

i started as a drummer - but due to having the urge to record ,
ve become capable enough on guitar , bass, and now keys -
to create my own music ( good or bad as it may be )
so ive gone from drummer to - cough * musician* ;-)

starting off as a drummer is a great way to begin ,
cos its the fcuking hardest part of recording , and trying to find a capable drummer ;-)

i maintain if you play drums well,
then any other instrument is a doddle to pick up .

dav nagle

DaDumTish wrote: »

use midi drums / samples if you arent willing to commit - bad drum recordings kill a song dead .

Yeah a friend of mine did the drums on his EP in a home studio and they really didn't stand out at all. Sad because the rest of the EP sounded perfect. Drums recorded in a bad environment really can make a demo/ep sound cheapish.

FlipperThePriest

PaulBrewer wrote: »

There once was a fellow called Dav,
Who dressed like a bit of a Chav,
He wore sunglasses at night, didn't give a Shyte,
and wrote poems on Boards all night ....

Poem fail! In a limerick the last line is suppose to rhyme with 1 and 2

PaulBrewer

zippy84 wrote: »

Poem fail! In a limerick the last line is suppose to rhyme with 1 and 2

Aye! But what da feck rhymes with Dav ...???:D

PaulBrewer

frobisher wrote: »

I LOVE self

mmmm

FlipperThePriest

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Aye! But what da feck rhymes with Dav ...???:D

Yeah true, I was just getting you back for correcting my 'bad' grammer a month or so back!:D

how about - last line: "wrote poems in the form of dot wav!!"

dav nagle

zippy84 wrote: »

Yeah true, I was just getting you back for correcting my 'bad' grammer a month or so back!:D

how about - last line: "wrote poems in the form of dot wav!!"

.WAV I like it !

PaulBrewer

zippy84 wrote: »

how about - last line: "wrote poems in the form of dot wav!!"

Ah! Brilliant ...

FlipperThePriest

Well thats about the height of my creativity for the day!! :rolleyes:

TelePaul

frobisher wrote: »

I LOVE self

Pics???

I agree, merge those threads.

henessjon

so Im not rich cant afford the big studios

so I will keep homerecording till you think Im good enough song writer and will pay for the studio

:-)


:pac::pac::pac:


dont hold your breath