Where's that sound coming from?
By Rory Flynn, Jayplay writer
Tyler Anderson kicks back in his chair at the recording studio and closes his eyes. He concentrates his attention on the fresh track he and his band, The Volunteers, recently recorded after a week's worth of playing, producing, tweaking, criticizing, recording and re-recording. Anderson begins dissecting every note, beat and transition with a juror's ears. One moment his face beams with pleasure, the next it bears a scowl. He has been working hard for hours to finish the production of the first track on the band's debut album.
After hours of working, Anderson stands up, paces around the studio and decides to call it a night. Instead of walking out to his car, he crosses the room and lays down on his bed, winding down for the evening.
Like many modern-day recording artists, Anderson has created a home recording studio. With the help of his laptop computer and home software he can record, store and produce the band's self-described "post-folk" music from his own bedroom.
Home recording studios
In the past 10 years, the image of recording studios has changed dramatically. Advances in music recording technology have allowed recording artists to move the process from traditional, professional recording studios to their own
homes by using software on their home computers.
The most prominent, ProTools, gives birth to thousands of new home-based recording artists and producers daily, says David Franz, author of Producing in the Home Studio with ProTools. Franz, who owns a professional recording studio in Los Angeles, estimates there are now as many as one million people worldwide using home production software. He claims several major recording facilities have closed in L.A., as well as in other places around the country because musicians and producers have stopped recording and producing with professional studios and started doing it themselves with the aid of home production software.
Home studios in Lawrence
Anderson, Kansas City junior, is one of many local musicians who has taken advantage of the ability to record music in his home. He says he decided recording in his home made more sense financially, and he feels more creative in a comfortable environment.
"The ability to record at home has allowed our band to take our music to the next level," he says, adding that his band is planning their first tour next summer after they finish their album.
Before transforming his bedroom into a recording studio, his Connecticut high
school offered an audio production class that helped hone the skills he uses today in his home studio. Anderson says he doesn't have the money to buy professional microphones or all of the various instruments he desires, but with his home production software, he can be creative by using programs to make beats, play effects from various prerecorded instruments and sample parts of other tracks.
Layin' down a track
"I have been in professional studios where it is hard to record a single track in a full day, which gets pricey when you're paying a hefty hourly fee. At home I can mix a track anytime I want for free," Anderson says.
The process of recording and producing an audio track is based on layering. The Volunteers' multi-talented musicians often swap instruments and vocal segments of songs, so it is not feasible for the songs to be recorded out of Anderson's home studio as a collective performance. So each instrument is recorded separately. Anderson explains the band usually begins the process by recording a guitar rhythm. Next, Andrew Kissel, Montgomery, Ala. junior, records the keyboard segment of the track.The recorded rhythm guitar section is played out loud while Kissel plays the keyboard, which is connected directly to Anderson's laptop computer.
Next, vocals are added. Each singer will individually record his vocals while listening to the already recorded keys and guitar through headphones. The vocals are then pieced together in the production process. When harmonizing the vocals, Anderson will layer one voice over another. Sometimes he will even harmonize with himself by layering the same or re-recorded vocals. After vocals, Anderson records bass guitar and follows with drums.
After all the parts are brought together, the production and mastering skills come into play. Timing and sequencing should be perfect, so Anderson matches each recorded portion carefully over the other parts. Anderson says the production software he uses, Cakewalk Music Creator, allows production processes to be self-taught.
The track is nearly finished, and the band can add or change parts of the song if it wants. Anderson paid around $200 for his home recording and production equipment, excluding instruments and his laptop computer. In addition to Cakewalk Music Creator software he uses two microphones and a pre-amplifier to control the treble, bass and volume levels. Often the home producer tweaks various simulated knobs on the computer screen rather than on the real knobs of a professional studio's large soundboard for the production-controlling options.
11.17.05 Jayplay
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