Today I want to expose a few home recording myths floating around out there. The problem with myths is that they can seem logical or “common knowledge” when really they are a distraction from actually recording, making music, and getting experience in the studio. Maybe you’ve heard some of these myths before or maybe you’re new to all this, either way this post should help. So let’s dive in…
Myth #1 – “The preamps in your audio interface are junk. You need to buy an external mic pre.”
I see this one paraded around all the time on the internet. It seems that no matter what audio interface you have, someone is criticizing the built in mic pres and making claims that if you want to make good recordings then an additional mic pre is a must. There are two problems with this myth: First, it creates an attitude of discontentment in your equipment, leading you to put too much responsibility on the shoulders of more gear when really it should fall on you and your skills. Second, it doesn’t really give a concrete answer to your “problem” since which mic pre to get is also debatable; leading the home recording newbie into a spiral of confusion and self doubt.
The reality is this: the mic preamps built in to your audio interface are more than likely clean, clear, with plenty of headroom to capture an accurate recording. Recording technology is so widely available these days that it does not take much money to create a quality signal path like it did 40 years ago. Sure an external preamp (a tube pre for example) will have a unique “sound” to it, but it won’t simply be “better” than what you have. Just different. And that’s not what you need right now. You need quality components (which you have) that will get the job done so you can focus on making good decisions with mic placement, the tone of your instrument, arrangement, and creativity in songwriting and performing.
Myth #2 – “Home recording = demos. Serious recording takes thousands of dollars and a studio.”
I come across a lot of nay-sayers on the web who think the whole “home recording” industry is a sham and really the most you can do at home with this affordable gear is just make a great demo, but not a pro recording. I think this is just ignorant snobbery. First of all, I’ve already written a post on 3 top major label bands who have recorded great albums (one of them Grammy award winning) at home. Check it out and listen for yourself. Second this myth shows blind belief in the root of Myth #1, that more gear and money spent equals better recordings, which is just not true.
I’ve said it a million times before, but a good recording is only as good as the song, the arrangement, the musician, and the creativity put into it. Sure if those elements aren’t there, or one or two of them are really weak, then you may just end up with an OK demo. But the gear is not the limiting factor…YOU are! A great example of this is famous singer/songwriter Ari Hest. 
Being a major label musician Ari has spent plenty of time in nice studios with great gear making great recordings. But during some downtime before his latest album was to be released on Columbia records, he decided to toy around with some recordings in his New York apartment.
He picked up a $100 M-Audio interface and a $100 microphone and used Garageband on his laptop to record what later become The Green Room Sessions, an amazing self recorded, produced, and mixed EP which Columbia picked up and released immediately. He pretty much embodies the mindset of “I am what limits my music, not gear”. If you haven’t picked up the EP, you can click through to the iTunes store to get it!
No Excuses…
Don’t let these recording myths hold you back. Just tune out all the noise and instead spend your time making music. You’ll only learn more, get better at it, and have fun. And ultimately isn’t that what making music is all about? Having fun?
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Click here for Part 2 of this post!
Comments
[...] Part 1 of this post I exposed 2 of the most prevalent myths relating to home recording floating around out [...]
[...] Revolution, I write a lot about focusing on the music and improving your skill at production instead of fussing over buying new gear or using what the "pros" are using in their studios. At the end of the day, what matters with a [...]
Hi,
Great article! I do have a question though. As far as the Ari Hest Green Sessions go, did he do his own mastering as well or did Columbia Records take over at that point? What type of gear was used in the mastering process and can “Major release” mastering of this sort be done on a similar budget that you are such a strong advocate of?
Hi Alrod, thanks for commenting! He did NOT do his own mastering. He wrote, recorded, and mixed the EP himself on his laptop. The mastering engineer said it was in great shape when he got it, just had to mostly adjust some EQ balance. It was major label mastering so I’m guessing your usual top of the line analog gear.
There are plenty of quality mastering houses out there who will be more than happy to take your money and master your project…do I recommend it? Probably, yes. The beauty of mastering is having a new set of ears in on your project. It won’t work “magic” on your mix, but it will usually balance it and bring out the best in your mix so that the whole album (or EP) will sit well together and will play nice on many speaker setups. Hope that helps!
Thanks Graham!
I admit I was one of those people who kept searching for the next great piece of gear that I just knew was going to take my recordings to the next level. I am finding out now that it is the “little” things that make the big difference. A great example is room treatment. I always wondered why my recordings sounded boxy and nothing like what I hear on the radio.
I did some research and decided to go with corning 703 (the foam stuff just didn’t cut it for me), and oh my goodness! I couldn’t believe my ears! The new detail, depth, width, etc. was amazing. I was actually getting ready to dump $3K on a new set of monitors and in my case all it took was $300 to make my existing equipment sound great. All my recordings now translate well regardless of what I plat them through.
I had literally spent thousands trying to fix what boiled down to bad room acoustics. I have since been able to sell off a lot of equipment and focus on more on playing music. Your site is so refreshing and “real”. It helps reinforce that great recordings aren’t all about the best equipment. It’s about keeping it simple, mastering the equipment that you do own, and spending the majority of the time focusing on the music. I look forward to future articles. Keep up the good work!
Alrod – Great story! So glad your recordings are sounding better. And thanks for your kind words about the site. It keeps me going!
[...] Home Recording Myths – There are just too many myths floating out there on internet forums. Don't buy the hype. [...]
[...] really just up to you to get creative. But one of my favorite things to talk about is when artists make great music with Apple's Garageband (a free DAW that ships with every mac computer). One such artist is Ben [...]
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[...] Recording Myths – Part 2 In Part 1 of this post I exposed 2 of the most prevalent myths relating to home recording floating around out [...]
Fantastic read and you are ABSOLUTELY right about the myths! I find gear limitations and not “top of the line” equipment very inspiring. As a musician I’m getting more creative with less gear! I think it’s opening doors than closing! And of course it’s WAY more fun.
I’ve just found out about your website. You are doing great job! I’m gonna check all your articles for sure! Keep up!
superb article. its sooo true what you have said. i faced the myth many times. i am a newbie. learned a lot from your videos and articles. got many answers.. actually all, and still learning from ur videos and articles. it helped me a llllotttttttt..:D
plz keep posting. will look forward.
Typo: myth#2 second paragraph. “Week” should be “weak”.
Thanks! Fixed.
The thing is that nowadays you can get gear with _at least_ the same quality with much affordable price. That makes things affordable and that there is also quality in personal studio. In old days equipment costs so much that it was not affordable for individuals to get even quality soundcard. Modern big studio has just more gear and more expensive gear
but would you hear a difference in that final mix? I guess the biggest difference is the teamwork behind that who is sitting behind the desk when they had even that 80s equipment which you have now…
Do you really remember how much costs 16bit 44kHz stereo, 96dB SNR soundcard on 1994 (CardPlus for example)? Now you can get one with 24bit/96kHz which has digital in/out too, and for less than 80 USD which is better than that oldie. Or just add 80 USD more and you get an audiointerface with 10 in + 10outs, all with 24 bit and 96kHz. It was a dream if you were in 90s becouse it was not affordable back then!
How much costed a synthesizer? Keyboard controller? Did you got it for 100 USD ? Go ahead, now e-bay is full of second hand synths for less than 200 USD/piece which costed more than 10 times more back then. Mixer was with the price of the car, now its not. did you had computer harddisks with
atleast ONE gigabyte capacity on 1994? Now you have 128GB disks and as solid state devices for less than 200 USD.
And of course – CD writers, dont forget their availability and prices.
So bottom line – in now every person can have that equipment which was in old days in a big studio which dont cost so much anymore. everyone can have that one-mans-orchestra. Devices quality and their affordability have become so much better that difference compared to big studio are only in a big debats.
[...] up the basic gear you need, learn the craft, fight the myths, and just get to making music. You’ll be glad you [...]
I recorded my first album (that you may listen on http://www.eulersnumber.com) at my home with a pc and a tc el. konnekt 8 firewire audio card and it sounds better that most of big names major recordings (imo). Besides this, I also recorded a demo (demo because of the limited time I had to spend with it) of my band: digital drum on BFD and the other instruments miked by an AT2020, listen to them at http://www.redfunky.it and tell me what you think!