Things You Need to Know Before Recording Instruments

The global pandemic forces millions of people from all over the globe to stay at home. This leads to some unforeseen circumstances as people struggle to gain a sense of normalcy, during these unprecedented times. One surprising effect of people staying home, is the rise in music gear sales. People are buying everything from guitars to music creation software, most likely as a means to help pass the time as we wait for the pandemic to run its course.

Tips For Recording Instruments

If you’re one of these people looking to take your musical journey even further, then I’ve got just the thing for you. You’ll be glad to know that recording music at home isn’t as hard as it seems. And while I’ve already given you tips on how to record vocals, this is only one step of the equation for recording your own full-blown songs. I’ve prepared some tips to help you record the non-vocal parts of your potential project. Here are a few things you need to know before recording instruments at home!

Minimise Noise

This first tip is a no-brainer, I know! But important, nevertheless. Noise or unwanted sounds could very well ruin a near-perfect take. This is why it’s in your best interest to reduce the amount of noise within your recording space. Now, you can go about this in a number of ways. Professionally soundproofing the room is the best way to go, albeit rather pricey. However, you don’t have to break the bank just to get rid of unwanted noise.

Pick The Right Room

In fact, let’s think about which room of your place is best to use anyway. Try to pick a room that’s far from the road or street, to minimise the risk of cars or pedestrians passing by and making noise that could disrupt your recording. I’m telling you this from experience. I’ve had my share of kids screaming outside during play getting me to redo my play.

Use Effects

Effects play a huge part when it comes to recording instruments. They add a whole new layer to the sound you’re creating, as different effects and pedals change how an instrument usually sounds. This is especially true for instruments such as the electric guitar and bass guitar.

Compressor Pedals

However, what some people don’t know is that some effects also boost the quality of your recording. Adding compressor pedals to your pedal chain helps give your guitar beefier tones and more sustain that will surely improve how they sound on the recording.

Equalization Pedals

Using an equalization pedal also helps you fine-tune your sound. It’s a common means of increasing the audio clarity of your instrument. So, don’t be afraid to play around with effects when recording.

Choose The Right Microphone

Lastly, you can’t disregard the type of mic you use when recording instruments. The mic is the most important part of the process, as it captures the sounds coming from the instruments that you’ll be using.

There are two types of microphones: dynamic and condenser.

Condenser mics are known to be more sensitive to sound, making them perfect for recording vocals. However, the same can’t be said for recording instruments as they tend to be louder than normal vocals.

For instruments, you’ll want to use a dynamic microphone. Dynamic mics are less sensitive, making them a great option when it comes to recording instruments such as drums and electric guitars. You won’t be needing a microphone to record keyboard. Most keyboards are equipped with a line out, USB or MIDI connector which directly connects your instrument to your recording device.

Enjoy The Process

Recording at home is now the first step for many musicians as they strive to reach an audience. It opens the door to you sharing your music online. If you’re recording at home, or thinking about it, I hope the above tips help you. Mostly, I wish you musical joy during the process!