Advice for beginner

[Arwe]

Hi, I'm a long-time low key musician/songwriter who has never done any professional quality recording, but I'm interested in starting. My first love is music, but a stable career won out when decision time came and so music really has been a relaxing hobby. However, my career is relatively stable and I'm now seriously interested in making some professional quality recordings and creating an album. I haven't yet made a decision to do it at home rather than in a studio, as I'm not really at that point in the decision tree.

I'm trying to get some BASIC information and need to start somewhere. First off, are pre-programmed styles that come loaded in arranger keyboards usable in recordings destined for sale, or would such use constitute copyright infringement? Secondly, are there websites or newsgroups, in addition to this one, designed to help a person just starting out?

Thanks for any help.

 

[scottboyher]

If you buy the keyboard the sounds are yours. Depends on the keyboard and the player whether they are good enough for sale. This site is the best place on the Web to get info!

 

[tk421 studio]

I would start with a Mackie 1202 or 1402 and a keyboard/workstation with the most outputs that you can afford. I have a Kurzwiel K2vxs and love it but I wish that I had bought the 2500 for the extra 4 outputs!
My thoughts-
Jason

 

[Kenny G]

I would start with a Mackie 1202 or 1402 and a keyboard/workstation with the most outputs that you can afford. I have a Kurzwiel K2vxs and love it but I wish that I had bought the 2500 for the extra 4 outputs!
My thoughts-
Jason

How would you use the extra 4 outputs?

 

[tk421 studio]

Better E.Q. on tracks.
1. Make the kick on a mono track alone.
2. Maybe the bassline on a mono track alone.
3 & 4. String type sounds on one set of stereo tracks.
5 & 6. Samples on one set of Stereo tracks, maybe the rest of your drum kit.
7 & 8. Whetever other sounds (out of 1000) that you may want on these two tracks! maybe organ, piano, whatever!

Seperate E.Q. always sounds much better.

 

[Arwe]

Thanks for the information and suggestions. I'm thinking that I might end up in a professional studio and wonder what resources anyone might recommend regarding legal considerations, what to expect regarding fees, etc.
Thanks .

 

[muzakal]

What kind of legal considerations? The word "legal" pops up, and sounds like you'll need to do some homework on royalties, contracts, and the like. There are some great books out there that will keep you square for a number of scenarios regarding songwriting/production/performance protection.

Fees can be a roller coaster. Depends on where you are, what kind of gear they have under the hood, and most importantly, if they've done any "credible" work. Any ma and pa recording outfit can charge $25-$100 an hour, but once they've got credits, suddenly their rates are a bit higher.

Here's a gem for you. Have absolutely EVERYTHING prepared before you go into the studio. Production (if you've got the equipment to make it happen, otherwise, you're going to drop a load of cash sequencing everything at the studio. Hours. And hours = lotsa money.) is the most expensive part of it all. If you can have everything already produced, and chart out all of your vocals before you go in there, you can make it an in/out situation. Lay your production, and your vocals, and get out. Unless you've got a healthy budget.

Preparation equals a great session.

If you decide to go to "Ricky's Rediculous Recording Studios" (fill in the name of the place that has no credits) be sure to listen to what they've done in your genre of music. I've seen horror stories of people going into record and getting absolutely raped out of a quality product because the outfit didn't know what/how to make it happen. They always say they can do "everything from country to R&B" but, it's just not true in most cases. Have a good listen to some of their work, and if you get a chance, talk to folks who've recorded there and ask them how their experience was.

Okay - I'm done.

my 2 pentz, and worth hardly that.

-muzakal

 

[Arwe]

Thanks very much for your answer, Muzakal; it was the kind of information I was getting at. Yes, by "legal considerations" I was vaguely referring to contracts, royalties, etc. as you mentioned. Do you know any specific book titles that I could look for?

Arwe