I desperately want to spend some time walking you through the recording process, capturing the best sound possible and making awesome mixes.
I absolutely love teaching people how to put their stuff together, tweaking mic placement and coaching the best ways to run gear together. I deeply enjoy shooting videos, making sure that we get the right angle to display exactly what you need. I’m fascinated by the gleam in a person’s eye when an idea really catches them, you know? I’ve shown so many people how to work with 3-band or 4-band EQ knobs on sound boards, and watching them grasp exactly what each knob does and how they can use it… that spark that fires through them, it’s incredible. And I want to share that with many more folks than I’m able to in-person, so a video series on running sound and doing studio or live recording would be ideal.
The bad news: I don’t have the time to record all of the videos you deserve.
The good news: I am not the only human on the planet.
I think you should start with Graham over at RecordingRevolution.
Graham Cochrane has been doing professional studio work for over 15 years and has a lot to share with you, particularly on his YouTube Channel.
He has a series on getting started in the home studio which is fantastic. He also has video series on how to record from scratch, how to mix from scratch, and many other super-helpful series.
If you only follow one guy for learning how to use the gear you’re starting with, follow Graham. He won’t lead you astray.
His website also offers a series of free downloadable PDF guides that walk you through a lot of things, if videos aren’t your forte. One of those guides is for starting a home studio under $600. Skip that one. You’re here.
For the actual processes of recording, mixing, and mastering, you can’t beat Graham’s series. Check it out.
For deeper understanding on managing your DAW, I am a huge fan of following the MusicTechHelpGuy.
Now, a word of warning: almost everything he does is based in Logic Pro X, a paid-for DAW for Apple.
That being said, a good life lesson for you if you haven’t learned it already is that what you learn in one area or on one system very often translates into skills that apply elsewhere. In the studio world, this is more literal than in other places. For example, a class on improv acting can help you become a better negotiator in the workplace. A ballet course can teach a football player how to balance in strange positions and keep light on their feet. Studios are even simpler: adjusting gain and setting up buses works in every DAW. Learn your skills in Logic for free on YouTube. Apply your skills to literally any DAW worth its salt.
One of the most impressive things to me is that whenever I run into an issue or have a question, I will google my problem (i.e. “how to crossfade in Logic Pro X” or “how to sync framerates of video and audio”) and usually, his videos are on the first page of my search results. He has consistently shown me how to fix a multitude of problems.
There are more great resources, and I’m sure I’ll link more as time goes on, but to get you started, check out their work. It’s all great, and it will not be a waste of your time.
Go do good work.
– Joe