This is great, and so useful for anyone who is looking to get set up but doesn't know how to do it. I will say though, for me, having a condenser mic has made me enjoy making music so much more because it helps me to appreciate my singing voice.
I felt like the dynamic one I had (Shure SM7B) took all the nuance and color out of my tone. At this point though I can say that I was not as good of a singer then when I was recording with it, and I think Michael Jackson recorded some big hits using that exact mic, but I'm still in love with my condenser.
Condenser is also great and the first one I got was a condenser mic incidentally - it was like this basic Røde mic 👽
Also also ironically right now I’m using an SM7B for all my recordings and I really like the way it sounds with my voice! I think the compatibility might be different for different voices.
That being said, SM7B is so stupidly expensive that I definitely wouldn’t recommend it for someone who’s just trying out the whole music thing 🌝
You really did a good job in describing all parts of music recording. I started with a real basic Cakewalk (i guess similar to a basic Cubase or Ableton). The moment you can work with that you can evolve in more complex daw's. Im now with Sonar (still from Cakewalk) and i can add more VST's with real samples, so the results are sounding better and better. But i would have never started with such a complex daw in the beginning. I would have given up.
Yeah that’s definitely a good character development path 👽 my path was more like being thrown into cold water cause I think I more or less had a standard version of Ableton from the start and honestly I’m still learning to swim 🙃
Thank you! I hope this will be helpful to someone out there ✨
Thank you so much, Phil! I think it’s probably especially useful that I assembled my initial setup “blindfolded”, as in by instinct - so I hope I can convey the fact that feeling intimidated is ok 👽
Hahahaha I feel the struggle about buying something and then realizing it doesn't connect with what you have, and then trying to find the missing pieces to make everything work.
I'm a few months into this, and I'm still figuring it out. It's both frustrating and exciting whenever I manage something through randomly tinkering with stuff.
I bought stuff that works, but cheap for now, because I have a part time job now due to a burnout last year.
I love how detailed and honest these pieces you write really are. Makes me feel less alone. You've been at it for 7 years! Your work room is probably a wonder to behold! 🔥✨
I wish I had read this before I started though, but now it's also good, because I'm reviewing everything I did so far.
I still don't have an AI (audio interface). My settings are a mess, but I'll think of this once I get back from work today.
Thank you, again. Sorry I'm thinking and writing randomly as I'm going through this article. You're a sweetheart for posting this.😭❤️
Vera, you’re most welcome! I’m so touched by the fact this essay made you feel less alone in your pursuit of music! That’s the way it’s supposed to be - no gatekeeping, all mutual support 👽
The more good music there is out there the better and I hope you find your way to fully recording your songs soon 🌝
You can get some amazing things second-hand and cheap (if not too many people are after this kind of gear, hopefully) so cheap isn’t really a bad thing for music gear. Specifically there are brands that are known for being good and it’s always a good idea to read reviews on a particular piece of gear - cause sometimes they’re cheap AND good!
🥹I absolutely love your attitude. No gatekeeping and just focused on collaborating with others. You’re a gem, really! I won’t just read and move on from this. I’ll take it in and one day I’ll share a song too. You’re in my thoughts as a fellow creative.❤️May you grow, grow so much! I’m rooting for you!
Thank you so much, Leti! I had this thought that I wish someone had sat me down and told me all this back in the day so I hoped I could be that someone to anyone in need 👽
There are so many fears to conquer on the way to making music that taking away even one feels like a good thing to inspire more people to try ✨
I’m happy it felt comforting, I think a lot of sources talking about gear can be pretty intimidating for a complete beginner which is something I wanted to avoid 😅
Absolutely! You connect people through music and show them how to record their own — that’s so inspiring. Your presence is truly uplifting, and everything you’ve been doing keeps spreading good vibes wherever you go.
Nice discussion, I have been recently upgrading/revamping my basement studio after a while of not being serious about it.
One comment I would make is to not try to cheap out on a microphone, and at least spring for an SM57 or SM58, because you’ll never get rid of them (professional studios still use them alongside their Neumanns for certain applications). If you buy a $40 mic you’ll probably replace it with something better before long and never use it again.
That said, there are very few people who are actually being held back creatively by a lack of equipment, as nice and fun as it is to have. You could make a pretty impressive demo just with garage band and the mic on your phone if you really want to.
Yes, I completely agree with you - if at all possible I’d recommend getting a Shure SM57 or SM58. I’m also a big believer of getting something certifiably good for a decent price. But for this article I tried to keep in mind that I’m in a more or less privileged position with the kind of job I have. I’ve encountered many people who want to try making music but a 100 USD is a very significant spending for them. I agree that in that case it’s a split decision whether you need a, say 40 USD mic or should resort to a laptop microphone. But at the very least I wanted to give an overview of what’s possible in terms of the price range - of course from there it’s the best decision to study reviews and make sure it’s a decent product 🙃
Sounds like you have lots of fun stuff! Building a home studio is a daunting but joyful task.. you can make so much with so little. Buttons and knobs are just cool too 😅.
A good tip I’ve always found is to look to what you’re going to need next and plan for that to save on extra purchases.
Nice little article, as always you make music fun and approachable (the way it should be) 🤘
I found this a useful read, especially the bit about the midi-keys, I've a podcast project I've been working on with an old college pal, I'd love to knock up an original theme for.
On a constructive point, I'd make more use of subheadings to break up the text and make it easier to read. Personally, I find breaking it up into bite-sized chunks aids the flow of reading. It might sound counterintuitive, but give it a try.
You have me thinking about doing a similar piece now.
Oh good luck with your podcast jingle! Hope it works out with all the midi-key insight 👽
Yeah I was thinking about using subheadings, I usually do it with just bold caps but I’ve seen a lot of people use subheadings and I need to give it some thought ✨ thanks!
I’d say get some speakers, although this was late on for me, cos headphones are just fine for getting started.
I got personus eris 4.5, cos they were pretty cheap but I’d used them in college so I knew they were decent.
The best laptop for music production is MacBook, and pro if you can, Amazon and other places you can pay instalments if it’s too much, but they’ll serve you better in the long run.
UAD do the LUNA DAW for free which is great for getting started as you can do some great stuff with it, and I love the analog summing. I have logic but if I didn’t , that’s what I’d use.
Logic does everything GarageBand can do, with the really useful virtual drummer, bass player, keys player etc.
I’d also say that UAD spark or a similar plugin subscription (like waves, slate etc) is really fun to mess round with when you’re starting out, it’s got pro sounding plugins and lots of synth stuff. And they’re really cheap. The benefit is that you can trawl through it all, find things you like and just pick them up a few at a time as you go along, so you have them forever.
Yeah, speakers are optional at the beginning I think, and I definitely agree with MacBook Pro being probably the best laptop for music making unless you build like a super custom computer 👽
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Luna as well. And I use to have the Waves plugins haha so that’s a great advice as well 🙃
This is pretty legitimate discourse on getting started as an independent artist, especially in regards to anything related to music production. I would second that a DAW and MIDI controller are clutch for essentially anything music related (the prices vary depending on DAW and MIDI controller, but even in this economy, getting a basic set of these 2 things will likely run somewhere between $400-600), which is still expensive (but considering the longer approach which would require mics, cables, and a ton of other equipment - it's worth the price) - and considering most of these inevitably connect to a studio's DAW of choice makes just getting a DAW to start the more practical option) - there are other ways to record music - but unless you're the lucky victim of a some unknown inheritance - the likelihood of recreating this independently from scratch is usually a pipe dream (at best - simply because it goes in line with what Riri had mentioned about the Korg Poly - analog equipment and just hardware in general is much more expensive and cumbersome - compared to 2 tools that are essentially half the cost and fit in your backpack) -
-I would also add that regardless of how an artist is pursuing music/recording, having a DAW and MIDI capability beyond freeware can be a blessing - simply because it has other applications then just music - i.e - scoring/soundtracks/voice-work/most recording or AV mediums
- I also wanted to say that interestingly enough - Riri - the set up that you show and explain in your post is almost identical to those described in audio recording classes I took back in the day (I was surprised because the teacher listed essentially everything in this list - and most individuals in the class already had some variation/config. of this set-up) - part of the point I think he was trying to make was that everyone is at their own stage in their music journey and it is ultimately up to them how they want to produce/go about their art/work/etc.
I gotta say it’s fantastic that my advice coincided with what is being taught in legitimate music recording courses. My experience is really very self-taught and acquired in a sort of a vacuum, an echo chamber if you will. So part of me was doubting that my advice would be universally applicable or useful.
I take your experience as a little proof that I’m not teaching people something outlandish and reality-detached 👽
I think a good computer, probably a MacBook if I am honest, if the most key thing I have needed to invest in. It makes such a difference. But I totally get the not feeling like you can spend money on this thing bc you aren’t really doing this! And also I hate spending the money on computers when I could invest it in instruments, but then the question is which instrument to I want or need!
Well you have to start somewhere, especially if you want to record your music - then there’s no way around a laptop realistically.
I definitely know professional musicians that work on computers other than Mac but it has to be powerful if you’re to make music professionally for sure, a lot of people order their computers to custom specifications 🙃
One good thing about Macs is GarageBand, at the very least!
This is great, and so useful for anyone who is looking to get set up but doesn't know how to do it. I will say though, for me, having a condenser mic has made me enjoy making music so much more because it helps me to appreciate my singing voice.
I felt like the dynamic one I had (Shure SM7B) took all the nuance and color out of my tone. At this point though I can say that I was not as good of a singer then when I was recording with it, and I think Michael Jackson recorded some big hits using that exact mic, but I'm still in love with my condenser.
Condenser is also great and the first one I got was a condenser mic incidentally - it was like this basic Røde mic 👽
Also also ironically right now I’m using an SM7B for all my recordings and I really like the way it sounds with my voice! I think the compatibility might be different for different voices.
That being said, SM7B is so stupidly expensive that I definitely wouldn’t recommend it for someone who’s just trying out the whole music thing 🌝
Thank you so much for your comment, Caroline! I do hope this finds people who could actually benefit from the info 👽
You really did a good job in describing all parts of music recording. I started with a real basic Cakewalk (i guess similar to a basic Cubase or Ableton). The moment you can work with that you can evolve in more complex daw's. Im now with Sonar (still from Cakewalk) and i can add more VST's with real samples, so the results are sounding better and better. But i would have never started with such a complex daw in the beginning. I would have given up.
Yeah that’s definitely a good character development path 👽 my path was more like being thrown into cold water cause I think I more or less had a standard version of Ableton from the start and honestly I’m still learning to swim 🙃
Thank you! I hope this will be helpful to someone out there ✨
Brilliantly useful!
Thank you so much, Phil! I think it’s probably especially useful that I assembled my initial setup “blindfolded”, as in by instinct - so I hope I can convey the fact that feeling intimidated is ok 👽
Yes absolutely!
Hahahaha I feel the struggle about buying something and then realizing it doesn't connect with what you have, and then trying to find the missing pieces to make everything work.
I'm a few months into this, and I'm still figuring it out. It's both frustrating and exciting whenever I manage something through randomly tinkering with stuff.
I bought stuff that works, but cheap for now, because I have a part time job now due to a burnout last year.
I love how detailed and honest these pieces you write really are. Makes me feel less alone. You've been at it for 7 years! Your work room is probably a wonder to behold! 🔥✨
I wish I had read this before I started though, but now it's also good, because I'm reviewing everything I did so far.
I still don't have an AI (audio interface). My settings are a mess, but I'll think of this once I get back from work today.
Thank you, again. Sorry I'm thinking and writing randomly as I'm going through this article. You're a sweetheart for posting this.😭❤️
Vera, you’re most welcome! I’m so touched by the fact this essay made you feel less alone in your pursuit of music! That’s the way it’s supposed to be - no gatekeeping, all mutual support 👽
The more good music there is out there the better and I hope you find your way to fully recording your songs soon 🌝
You can get some amazing things second-hand and cheap (if not too many people are after this kind of gear, hopefully) so cheap isn’t really a bad thing for music gear. Specifically there are brands that are known for being good and it’s always a good idea to read reviews on a particular piece of gear - cause sometimes they’re cheap AND good!
🥹I absolutely love your attitude. No gatekeeping and just focused on collaborating with others. You’re a gem, really! I won’t just read and move on from this. I’ll take it in and one day I’ll share a song too. You’re in my thoughts as a fellow creative.❤️May you grow, grow so much! I’m rooting for you!
Very helpful article for anyone starting out and I just love the authentic voice taking us through the journey. Thank you for sharing this with us 💗
Thank you so much, Leti! I had this thought that I wish someone had sat me down and told me all this back in the day so I hoped I could be that someone to anyone in need 👽
There are so many fears to conquer on the way to making music that taking away even one feels like a good thing to inspire more people to try ✨
This is the most comforting descent into gear acquisition I’ve ever read.
Now I’ve got everything but talent—just waiting for it to ship like the rest of my setup.
⬖ Composed while dusting off my mic and tuning in to Frequency of Reason: https://bit.ly/4jTVv69
Hahah you shouldn’t be so harsh on yourself! 🌝
I’m happy it felt comforting, I think a lot of sources talking about gear can be pretty intimidating for a complete beginner which is something I wanted to avoid 😅
The world is ragged, but someone is sewing it whole again—someone like you.
Oh Shin, that is so incredibly sweet of you to say! 👽 I don’t know how I deserved this with a fear centered article haha 😅
Absolutely! You connect people through music and show them how to record their own — that’s so inspiring. Your presence is truly uplifting, and everything you’ve been doing keeps spreading good vibes wherever you go.
Oh I think I’m just gonna cry now 🥲
Hands you a tissue!
Nice discussion, I have been recently upgrading/revamping my basement studio after a while of not being serious about it.
One comment I would make is to not try to cheap out on a microphone, and at least spring for an SM57 or SM58, because you’ll never get rid of them (professional studios still use them alongside their Neumanns for certain applications). If you buy a $40 mic you’ll probably replace it with something better before long and never use it again.
That said, there are very few people who are actually being held back creatively by a lack of equipment, as nice and fun as it is to have. You could make a pretty impressive demo just with garage band and the mic on your phone if you really want to.
Yes, I completely agree with you - if at all possible I’d recommend getting a Shure SM57 or SM58. I’m also a big believer of getting something certifiably good for a decent price. But for this article I tried to keep in mind that I’m in a more or less privileged position with the kind of job I have. I’ve encountered many people who want to try making music but a 100 USD is a very significant spending for them. I agree that in that case it’s a split decision whether you need a, say 40 USD mic or should resort to a laptop microphone. But at the very least I wanted to give an overview of what’s possible in terms of the price range - of course from there it’s the best decision to study reviews and make sure it’s a decent product 🙃
Sounds like you have lots of fun stuff! Building a home studio is a daunting but joyful task.. you can make so much with so little. Buttons and knobs are just cool too 😅.
A good tip I’ve always found is to look to what you’re going to need next and plan for that to save on extra purchases.
Nice little article, as always you make music fun and approachable (the way it should be) 🤘
Aw thank you, that’s such an amazing compliment! I just hope that not everyone will have to go through the agony it took me to get where I am 👽
It should be fun and I hope I can show people that it’s ok to be afraid and unsure and still do it, that no one knows everything from day one 🙃
I found this a useful read, especially the bit about the midi-keys, I've a podcast project I've been working on with an old college pal, I'd love to knock up an original theme for.
On a constructive point, I'd make more use of subheadings to break up the text and make it easier to read. Personally, I find breaking it up into bite-sized chunks aids the flow of reading. It might sound counterintuitive, but give it a try.
You have me thinking about doing a similar piece now.
Oh good luck with your podcast jingle! Hope it works out with all the midi-key insight 👽
Yeah I was thinking about using subheadings, I usually do it with just bold caps but I’ve seen a lot of people use subheadings and I need to give it some thought ✨ thanks!
I’d say get some speakers, although this was late on for me, cos headphones are just fine for getting started.
I got personus eris 4.5, cos they were pretty cheap but I’d used them in college so I knew they were decent.
The best laptop for music production is MacBook, and pro if you can, Amazon and other places you can pay instalments if it’s too much, but they’ll serve you better in the long run.
UAD do the LUNA DAW for free which is great for getting started as you can do some great stuff with it, and I love the analog summing. I have logic but if I didn’t , that’s what I’d use.
Logic does everything GarageBand can do, with the really useful virtual drummer, bass player, keys player etc.
I’d also say that UAD spark or a similar plugin subscription (like waves, slate etc) is really fun to mess round with when you’re starting out, it’s got pro sounding plugins and lots of synth stuff. And they’re really cheap. The benefit is that you can trawl through it all, find things you like and just pick them up a few at a time as you go along, so you have them forever.
Yeah, speakers are optional at the beginning I think, and I definitely agree with MacBook Pro being probably the best laptop for music making unless you build like a super custom computer 👽
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Luna as well. And I use to have the Waves plugins haha so that’s a great advice as well 🙃
This is pretty legitimate discourse on getting started as an independent artist, especially in regards to anything related to music production. I would second that a DAW and MIDI controller are clutch for essentially anything music related (the prices vary depending on DAW and MIDI controller, but even in this economy, getting a basic set of these 2 things will likely run somewhere between $400-600), which is still expensive (but considering the longer approach which would require mics, cables, and a ton of other equipment - it's worth the price) - and considering most of these inevitably connect to a studio's DAW of choice makes just getting a DAW to start the more practical option) - there are other ways to record music - but unless you're the lucky victim of a some unknown inheritance - the likelihood of recreating this independently from scratch is usually a pipe dream (at best - simply because it goes in line with what Riri had mentioned about the Korg Poly - analog equipment and just hardware in general is much more expensive and cumbersome - compared to 2 tools that are essentially half the cost and fit in your backpack) -
-I would also add that regardless of how an artist is pursuing music/recording, having a DAW and MIDI capability beyond freeware can be a blessing - simply because it has other applications then just music - i.e - scoring/soundtracks/voice-work/most recording or AV mediums
- I also wanted to say that interestingly enough - Riri - the set up that you show and explain in your post is almost identical to those described in audio recording classes I took back in the day (I was surprised because the teacher listed essentially everything in this list - and most individuals in the class already had some variation/config. of this set-up) - part of the point I think he was trying to make was that everyone is at their own stage in their music journey and it is ultimately up to them how they want to produce/go about their art/work/etc.
I gotta say it’s fantastic that my advice coincided with what is being taught in legitimate music recording courses. My experience is really very self-taught and acquired in a sort of a vacuum, an echo chamber if you will. So part of me was doubting that my advice would be universally applicable or useful.
I take your experience as a little proof that I’m not teaching people something outlandish and reality-detached 👽
I think a good computer, probably a MacBook if I am honest, if the most key thing I have needed to invest in. It makes such a difference. But I totally get the not feeling like you can spend money on this thing bc you aren’t really doing this! And also I hate spending the money on computers when I could invest it in instruments, but then the question is which instrument to I want or need!
Well you have to start somewhere, especially if you want to record your music - then there’s no way around a laptop realistically.
I definitely know professional musicians that work on computers other than Mac but it has to be powerful if you’re to make music professionally for sure, a lot of people order their computers to custom specifications 🙃
One good thing about Macs is GarageBand, at the very least!
I’m just saying the 5 year old family computer that my kids messed up playing roblox wasn’t cutting it!
Oh I bet! Planned obsolescence sucks! Even without Roblox a 5-year old computer usually can’t work with the newer software as well as a new one.
So, basically GarageBand for the win right?