frenchdogblue
New member
Hi,
I could really use some guidance on what direction I should take with my home studio (invest more into it, or save the to money to hire professionals). Sorry for a bit of an essay...
I am a songwriter, and sing + play guitar. My end objective with this is to get decent sounding demos which I can put on Youtube and Spotify. I see mixing and recording myself as a means to an end to bring my ideas to life. Style of music is basically indie rock. I enjoy the music I've recorded and attempted to mix so far, but I don't think it sounds anywhere near professional (I also am not clearly able to articulate why). I also find it quite hard to listen to it and separate myself from just having gone through the song writing process with those sounds (I arrange in Logic)
I am aware my skills mixing and recording are the main limiting factor, but also I want to know if I can get 'quick wins' through upgrading my equipment vs hiring out studio space and people to mix/master.
A few things:
- Appreciate standards are subjective and you don't know my skill level. My skills are currently not high when it comes to mixing or recording, but I do understand (I think) most of the fundamentals (i.e. what an EQ, compression does, that mic placement etc is important). I've been playing guitar nearly all my life so not too naive musically. My standards are probably quite low - I don't mind a low-fi indie sound, but I can also tell when something sounds completely home-made
- I live in a one-bed flat in London with my girlfriend, and my 'studio' is a small desk in the bedroom. Audio treatment of the room is NOT currently an option. I have therefore bought an Aston Halo Reflection Filter for vocals (purchased yesterday), and I record guitar direct into the interface (hope to have dedicated room in 1yr).
- Also don't have space for studio monitors or a bass. Currently using pitch shift and bass amp sim, and can borrow a friend's bass to record.
- For drums (on demos at least) I intend to use a friend who has a top of the range Roland electronic drum kit, and send him logic files.
- My budget left this year is £600-700, probably £1-2k next year (all in, including any studio time etc)
- I work long hours - need a solution that allows minimal messing around with gear, maximises time for creative process, and allows me to get good sounding recordings as quickly as is possible
My current set-up:
- MacBook Pro 2017
- Logic Pro
- AKG K701 Headphones
- Focusrite 2i2
- Rode NTK mic (recently purchased, arriving tomo)
- Aston Halo Reflection Filter (recently purchased, arriving tomo)
- Audio Technica AT2020 (been my mic for last 5 years)
- Arturia MicroFreak synth (I have no idea how to use it, intend to learn and also set it up for MIDI control)
- Guild Starfire V electric and Auden Chester acoustic
I'd be very interested in the path people think I should take with home studio vs studio time and paying people to help.
In terms of investing more in home studio I'm interested in a few things. Goal with all of these is what's the best way to a more professional sound:
- Should I get an Apollo Twin and UAD plug-ins -> the idea of tracking with them quite appeals to me as it feels like could enhance creative process. Very expensive though.
- If not Apollo, another upgrade on audio interface? Clarret, SSL, Audient iD22?
- Should I get a pre-amp - friend can sell me a golden age 73 for £150
- Should I get a DI box?
- Should I buy other plug-ins beyond stock Logic plug-ins ?
- Should I invest in pedals instead of using an Apollo Twin and tracking plugins live?
- Anything else that's important that I've not mentioned?
Also interested if anyone has perspectives on renting studio space, and paying people to mix and master music
I could really use some guidance on what direction I should take with my home studio (invest more into it, or save the to money to hire professionals). Sorry for a bit of an essay...
I am a songwriter, and sing + play guitar. My end objective with this is to get decent sounding demos which I can put on Youtube and Spotify. I see mixing and recording myself as a means to an end to bring my ideas to life. Style of music is basically indie rock. I enjoy the music I've recorded and attempted to mix so far, but I don't think it sounds anywhere near professional (I also am not clearly able to articulate why). I also find it quite hard to listen to it and separate myself from just having gone through the song writing process with those sounds (I arrange in Logic)
I am aware my skills mixing and recording are the main limiting factor, but also I want to know if I can get 'quick wins' through upgrading my equipment vs hiring out studio space and people to mix/master.
A few things:
- Appreciate standards are subjective and you don't know my skill level. My skills are currently not high when it comes to mixing or recording, but I do understand (I think) most of the fundamentals (i.e. what an EQ, compression does, that mic placement etc is important). I've been playing guitar nearly all my life so not too naive musically. My standards are probably quite low - I don't mind a low-fi indie sound, but I can also tell when something sounds completely home-made
- I live in a one-bed flat in London with my girlfriend, and my 'studio' is a small desk in the bedroom. Audio treatment of the room is NOT currently an option. I have therefore bought an Aston Halo Reflection Filter for vocals (purchased yesterday), and I record guitar direct into the interface (hope to have dedicated room in 1yr).
- Also don't have space for studio monitors or a bass. Currently using pitch shift and bass amp sim, and can borrow a friend's bass to record.
- For drums (on demos at least) I intend to use a friend who has a top of the range Roland electronic drum kit, and send him logic files.
- My budget left this year is £600-700, probably £1-2k next year (all in, including any studio time etc)
- I work long hours - need a solution that allows minimal messing around with gear, maximises time for creative process, and allows me to get good sounding recordings as quickly as is possible
My current set-up:
- MacBook Pro 2017
- Logic Pro
- AKG K701 Headphones
- Focusrite 2i2
- Rode NTK mic (recently purchased, arriving tomo)
- Aston Halo Reflection Filter (recently purchased, arriving tomo)
- Audio Technica AT2020 (been my mic for last 5 years)
- Arturia MicroFreak synth (I have no idea how to use it, intend to learn and also set it up for MIDI control)
- Guild Starfire V electric and Auden Chester acoustic
I'd be very interested in the path people think I should take with home studio vs studio time and paying people to help.
In terms of investing more in home studio I'm interested in a few things. Goal with all of these is what's the best way to a more professional sound:
- Should I get an Apollo Twin and UAD plug-ins -> the idea of tracking with them quite appeals to me as it feels like could enhance creative process. Very expensive though.
- If not Apollo, another upgrade on audio interface? Clarret, SSL, Audient iD22?
- Should I get a pre-amp - friend can sell me a golden age 73 for £150
- Should I get a DI box?
- Should I buy other plug-ins beyond stock Logic plug-ins ?
- Should I invest in pedals instead of using an Apollo Twin and tracking plugins live?
- Anything else that's important that I've not mentioned?
Also interested if anyone has perspectives on renting studio space, and paying people to mix and master music