How to Make a Good Album at Home

One of the highest dreams a songwriter can have is to record an album. But up until recently, this involved booking a studio, hiring a drummer, and an outrageous budget. Thanks to modern technology, however, it's now possible to record a good quality album of your music in the comfort of your own home. Let's take a look at how to record just a single song, then you can use the same techniques will all the songs in your new album.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer (any operating system will do)
• Recording software
• Analogue to digital interface
• Microphone and cable
• Instruments and amplifiers

1. Install digital interface and recording software and read their owner's manuals. It is important to be familiar with your system before you start to seriously record any music.
2. Record any drums and bass parts first. These tracks will serve as the basis for all further tracks you record. Pay attention to make sure the rhythms are exactly right--once you start to record other instruments, it will be very difficult to redo any problems with these tracks.
3. Record any other instruments, starting with rhythm-oriented (like background guitars or synthesizers) and ending with vocals. Place each instrument in a separate track in your recording software, and be sure there are no flaws in the tracks before moving on. If it's easier, break up the songs into sections and record them separately rather than trying to record straight through.
4. Add effects and equalization. Make sure each instrument has its own "niche" in the song; i.e. the guitars should have plenty of high frequency definition, but they should not buzz so that other instruments are hard to hear. Add effects like reverb and chorus to the instruments to fill out the song, but be careful not to add too much. If you do the instruments will tend to bleed together and the song will lack definition.
5. Mix the song so that every instrument can be heard clearly. Each instrument should be given a priority and their volume levels raised or lowered accordingly. Pan (stereo left-right placement of the tracks) should be used throughout to give the tracks their own places in the song. With the exception of the bass guitar and bass drum, which should be set at dead center, no two instruments should be panned to the exact same place.
6. Sit back and listen to the song with your headphones on and then through stereo speakers. If you hear any problems, remix. Go listen in the car, as well, or on your home stereo system. Ask a friend to listen and tell you how it sounds. Keep remixing until everything sounds just right.
7. Export the song as a stereo .wav file.
8. If you want the best quality you can find, send your newly created album (the whole thing, not just the individual song we've been working on) to a mastering facility, where they will adjust levels and add final effects to polish off your CD.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also hire someone to mix your album. This will give a better finished product and will allow a mastering studio much more freedom to improve your recordings.
• Go slow throughout the recording process. Making an album is hard work, and the amount of work you put in to it will show in the final CD.
• Remember, a song will only be as good as the musicians playing the music. Practice hard before you record and make sure you or your musicians can play each song perfectly.
• Instrument set-up and tuning will play a major role in how your music sounds when its recorded. Spend some time with your instruments before you start.