We all make music for one reason or another. Some of us pitch our songs to major labels. Some of us are accomplished artists working on our next classic. Some of us want to grab the ear of our band mates or labels. Some of us are happy to make music for ourselves, family or friends. Whatever the reason for its creation, we are faced with the question: how to create?
We’ve come a long way since John Lomax recorded Lead Belly using equipment mounted in the trunk of his car. The first bare-bones booths in Texas. Radio stations in the South. Larger and more sophisticated studios in Chicago and New York. And just like manifest destiny itself, westward to classic destinations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and up to Portland and Seattle—and that’s just in the States.
These days, anyone with a computer can record their own music. Increasingly user-friendly software like Pro Tools and Ableton Live make it a cinch to lay down tracks, make a quick mix and listen back to your original tunes in real time. In the grander scheme of things though, what has the combination of music and rapidly increasing technology created? How much music is out there? And on how many different levels and formats? But the real question is: what makes some recordings stand out from the rest?
The answer is in the quality. If all of the elements that go into a great recording aren’t captured correctly, how will it reach the ears of the intended listener? In other words, if a song is laid down in a forest of music, will it make a sound? How does a songwriter with a song in their head give birth to their musical vision? There are too many methods to mention. But some methods are better than most.
There is always the option of booking time in a local professional recording studio. They can hire a team to record and produce your track. But this is usually the most expensive route and the end result can be a gamble depending on the quality of personal at that locale.
An alternative to searching for a local recording studio is finding a recording studio online. One search on the Internet and you can have your songs recorded remotely for a lot less money—and almost certainly with experienced producers, engineers and musicians at the ready. There are a lot of online recording studios out there to choose from. But before we decide who to work with, we need to decide whether we want a demo or a master track.
If you go the demo route, and you’re looking for something a little better than a home recording, there are online demo studios that will make one for you. These are usually at reasonable rates. But, you get what you pay for; a demo. A demo will cost you a bit less money, but will lack quality in the details, suffer from subpar sound quality and result in a semi-finished product. Also, if you record a demo, you may eventually have to rerecord it and make a master track, so your cost will double, to say the least. These days, not too many major label A&R guys will take the time to listen to a low-fi demo, that’s for sure.
Then there are professional online studios that can record your song. These may be a bit more money than the online demo studios, but again, you get what you pay for; a master track. Professional online studios provide you with professional recording musicians, seasoned producers and skilled engineers that can lay down your track, mix it and master it at radio-ready quality. You will end up with a song that you’re absolutely proud of. In a sea of songs, your master track will shine above and beyond the rest. A master track will grab attention and you have more likelihood of making a deal or selling your song.
So, whether you go the demo route, or the master track route, which online studio should you choose? The first step is checking out their website. Get a feel for their operation by reading about them, why they started, who works there and what kind of relationships they have with their customers. Then, take a listen to samples of their work. A lot of sites will have a “before” and “after” of a track. Pay particular attention to the way they approached a song and what they did with it. Is that what you’re looking for in terms of your own song? Did their sound grab your ear? Did it make you go “Wow”. If so, it will almost certainly do the same for any other listener, be it an A&R guy, booking agent or even your parents.
Location, personnel and gear are important as well. Where is the studio actually located? Is it in some guy’s basement in Dayton, Ohio or is it in LA or New York City? If it’s in a bigger city, they almost certainly will have access to the best studio musicians, producers and engineers around. Do they have great gear or a modest setup? Can they provide all the services you need for your song to sound its best? Do they provide recording, mixing and mastering? These are all very important things to consider and will contribute to the overall sound of your track.
In the end, it comes down to doing it right. There are plenty of shortcuts to take, and in music, it is tempting to take them. But as artists, compromising is a hard thing to do. We all want our songs to sound their best. Whatever the reason for their creation, our music is our inspiration. They keep us going, on to our next song, and hopefully into the ears of the people that matter most.
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