How to Get Started As a Session-Demo Singer

By Charlene Ava

Making a career out of being a demo singer can be fun and very rewarding. It can also open the right doors for you to make a career doing your own music if you are a singer-songwriter or you’re in a band. I’ve had many people write to me and ask me how to get started.

Getting demo singing jobs are not easy at first, it is not like applying for a job from a newspaper. You have to build it like a business from the ground up. The one thing that it really takes to make it is talent.

As long as you have the talent, you can do it. Then the first thing you really need to do is have a reel that showcases your voice. Read more »

Home Recording Equipment for Your Starter Studio

By Jake Weston and Ken Theriot

I’m going to suggest a few pieces of home recording equipment for you to start a studio at home. But unlike a lot of other articles out there doing the same thing, I’m going to get you going (more than 90 percent of you any way) for well under $10.

I’m taking it as a given if you’re reading this (that’s the 90 percent part) that you have a computer with a sound card and an internet connection. The only thing I’ll assume you need is a microphone of some kind. But you might be surprised at my recommendations on that score. Read more »

Condenser Microphones Vs Dynamic Microphones

by Saphia

There are three major different types of condenser microphone used for music recording (at major label studios, indie studios, & home studios alike) and they are as follows:

(1) Dynamic microphones.

(2) Large diaphragm condenser microphones. Read more »

Recording Studio Setup – Top 5 Tips For Garage Bands

by John B Murray

Recording studio setup is the icing on the cake when you have a band. Starting your own band is a real thrill. However, an even greater thrill is when you have finally written enough songs to record your own music and are able to send it out to prospective music industry executives.

You want the sound quality to be perfect, so you can really showcase the music and what your band is about to industry A&R representatives. It is they who will ultimately pass on your golden ticket to a recording deal. Your bands demo has to be perfect but what if you do not have the money to record in a fancy studio, though? Not to worry, you can create your own recording studio setup, at home, and receive just as great a result. Read more »

How to Record Electric Guitar

By Fred Grazier

Recording in the home studio is done more and more these days. The electric guitar is well suited to being captured within the restrictions of this environment. Guitar amplifiers are naturally quite loud, so compared to recording violin, less soundproofing is required, not to mention the possibility of using the vast array of Amp Simulators. With Amp Simulators, a good DI or a hardware amp simulator is all you need!

So all you have in your home studio beside your instruments and amp is an MBOX, a few microphone leads, a dynamic and condenser microphone, computer, monitors and a stand! Not much, but more than enough to capture a great guitar recording. As two inputs are enough in most cases, some interesting techniques can help you get the sound you’ve always wanted.

One of the first things to do is make sure you have a great sounding instrument that is properly setup, has relatively new strings and of course, is in tune. An out of tune guitar is one of the remaining things that you can’t “Fix” in pro tools! Read more »