Creativity is the cornerstone of great music. It’s how you
leave your signature in a song and how a song remains impactful years after
listening. As musicians, we love to create. We love to pour our heart and soul
into our music. But how do we share our music with others once we’ve created
it? How do we get past the hurdles of going to a studio and getting our song
out there?
Today I’m going to share how you can record your own music, get your song on iTunes, and promote your music.
How can I record my own music?
One of the greatest struggles we face as musicians is
figuring out how to get a good quality recording without breaking the bank. The
way most professional musicians do it is by going to a studio, spending days or
weeks recording, then having their song mixed and finally sent off to a
mastering engineer. This process is expensive, time consuming, and sometimes
unnecessary. Now, don’t get me wrong. There is something to be said for getting
a professional recording, but are you going to get the return necessary to
justify the investment? Most likely not. If you are just starting out as a
musician, your goal should be to get good quality recordings that you can share
with your fans. As you grow, it will be easier to justify going into a studio
to get a song ready for radio play and mass distribution.
So how do you record your own music? Well, you need a few
things.
- 1. Recording Interface ($50 – $300)
- 2. Microphone ($50 - $200)
- 3. Computer ($400 - $1000)
- 4. Recording Software ($0 - $200)
- 5. XLR Microphone Cable ($20)
Most of you probably already have number three. And it can
be pretty much any computer. It doesn’t have to be a high end apple computer or
anything like that. Just a decent computer will work. The first two, you may
not have. These are essential when recording your own music. So if you already
have a computer, you can get started home recording for less than $200. You
would easily pay that much for a couple hours of studio time. Now, obviously
you could spend way more than at on each item, but we are going to be realistic
and assume you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on your first
recordings.
How do you know what kind of interface or what kind of
microphone to buy? Well, this is really personally preference. I would
recommend trying to find a package deal. Sometimes you can find a recording
package that will include a microphone, interface, and recording software all
in one for under $200. This is probably the best route. You’ll want to make
sure you are getting a USB interface as many computers do not support FireWire.
As far as a microphone goes, I recommend an SM57 dynamic microphone or the MXL
990/991 condenser bundle. Both are great deals that will go a long way. Make
sure if you get a condenser microphone though, that your interface has phantom
power (It’ll say in the description of the product page.)
Now that you’ve got your recording interface and microphone,
what kind of software do you need? Again, this is personally preference.
Presonus has software called Studio One and they have a free version that is
very good. You can do pretty much everything you need in it without having to
pay a dime. This is a good way to go if you don’t want to spend any money. If
you’re willing to spend a little, you could check out the paid versions of
Studio One, as well as Logic, Sonar, Cubase, etc. There are many out there and
it’s just a matter of picking one and learning it. Most are fairly user
friendly and you will get the hang of them in no time.
Now you’ve got your hardware and software picked out and it’s
time to record. All you’ll need to do is hook everything up. Your recording
software will plug in via USB to your computer, and then you will plug your
microphone in via the XLR cable. Once you are all plugged in, boot up your
recording software and you’ll be ready to record. It’s important to note that
most interfaces also have an option to plug instruments in directly such as
guitars, keyboards, bass, and things like that. The instruments you will want
to use a microphone for will be acoustic guitar and vocals primarily.
Once you are hooked up, you can start recording. Once your
done recording the software will usually allow you to bounce your song down to
a wav or mp3 file and you’ll be ready to move on to the sharing stage.
Note: If you are wanting to do a lot of electronic
music that uses virtual instruments, you’re probably going to want to invest in
a midi controller. These can cost anywhere from $50 to $300 and you’ll need an
interface with a midi input, as well as a midi cable.
How do I get my song on iTunes and other retailers?
There are multiple services you can use to do this: CD Baby,
Tune Core, Reverb Nation, Distro Kid, etc. I’ve used Distro Kid and it seems to
be the best option for me. With Distro Kid, it’s only $20 and you’ll be able to
get your song(s) on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Spotify. You’ll simply
want to shop around and see which service works best for you. Some companies
also offer services to build your website, mass produce cities, etc. You’ll
usually need to upload to wav files that you bounced down in your software to
the websites, so keep those files somewhere safe. Also, always keep a backup!
There are also plenty of free sites to sell your music or
give it away on. There are sites such as Band Camp, Noise Trade, and other
services. These are great and usually look very professional. In my experience
however, it’s important to go where the consumer is going. It’s difficult to
try to change someone’s buying habits. So when people are used to buying on
iTunes, you are probably going to want to have your music available there.
How do I promote my
music?
Once your music is online and available to download, you’re
going to want to promote it. There are two main ways to do this, but they both
fall under the same category: networking.
Networking is extremely important in any industry. You want to figure out
how to create relationships with those who buy from you and connect with others
in your industry.
One great way to do
this is social media. If you don’t have a Twitter or Facebook page, set one up.
It’s free and easy and provides a platform for you to engage with your audience
and promote your music. Remember when using social media to create
relationships and not just spam your product. You want people to feel like they
are a part of your music and not just a customer. You don’t have to spend
insane amounts of time on social media, but make sure you update them often.
Having an internet presence is important in this day and age.
Another great way to network and gain fans is by simply
playing shows! This is so important as it bypasses so many barriers that the
internet puts in our way as musicians. How many times do you see people talk
about their product online or post a link, only to ignore it and skim right by?
This happens all the time. And it happens because there isn’t anything engaging
about a link on the web. However, when you play a show to a live audience, you
have an opportunity to connect in a way you never could online. Use this
opportunity to sell or give away CD’s as well. I don’t recommend download
cards, as it depends on the person still being in the mood to download your
music when they get home. If you have CD’s, you capture them in the moment and
it makes it feel more personal.
Now you know how you can successfully record your own music,
distribute it online, and get started gaining new fans and promoting your
music. All of this is a learning process and you won’t have it figured out in a
week. The important thing is just to start. Over time you will get better and
learn how to become more successful as a musician.
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