The ever-improving sound quality of internal laptop microphones, various connectivity options, and just the convenience of recording quality sounding demos at home have led to a boom in music recording software programs. Producers are making beats on the train during their morning commute, and guitarists are getting a wide-range of pedal effects just from buying a guitar-to-USB cable and plugging it into their computers. Producer Tony Berg understands the appeal of home recording and the industry veteran thinks it’s a great way to go for artists. Berg told USA Today: “And it’s that spontaneous act of recording that you could never duplicate. If it sounds good, and it grooves, and it complements the song, then nothing else matters.”
But don’t just dismiss the benefits of using a professional studio. There are some factors to consider when examining what you’re paying for when you go to those big pro studios. First, a decent studio has thousands of dollars worth of perfected acoustics. Aside from the actual song and the people playing and singing the song, acoustics are the single most important factor in recording music. And most people who aren’t studio professionals don’t know the first thing about mastering acoustics. Also, a producer and the studio environment will help recording artists sharpen their material and recording habits. Now granted, some people are self-motivated and über-focused, but most need some direction. And sitting at home, with its myriad of distractions, and having no definite schedule to keep, an artist can develop a bad work ethic. In a studio, you’re going to make sure you’re ready to go when you get there because time is money — literally.
–todd williams
