in your home studio is that if you ’ re working with anyone who owns vintage gear , they can run it through their equipment and add some of the colour after the fact .
Additional exciting units you might want to collect over time are some compressors and equalizers to treat the sound before it ever hits your computer . My favorite is the Universal Audio 1176 ; I never record a vocal without going through it first .
DON ’ T FORGET CLIENT COMFORT Outside of the recording gear , what else will occupy the space ? Planning out your studio for who will be in the area is an essential task . Take the time to consider who , namely the audiences , will occupy the space . Are you a composer who will just be submitting files online ? Are you a producer who will have artists sitting on your couch every day ? What does a day in your studio look like ? When I was primarily focused on vocal production , my room was designed to focus on sight lines between the vocalist in the booth and my listening position in front of the monitors . As my focus shifted from strictly recording vocalists and opened up to more songwriting and production sessions , I realized that my studio also needed to change . Now , I have a much more open-format studio that is designed more like a living room than a perfect mix position , allowing me to be more open with the artists and create with them rather than having them stare at the back of my head all day .
Not only is it essential to consider the workflow specific to your needs , but if you ’ re someone who is going to have clients attending , what does client comfort look like ? Clients are humans that have needs ! Do you have a lounge space for them to eat ? Do you have enough seating ? Do you have a dedicated bathroom for your clients , or will they share your bathroom that you get ready in every morning ? Is there a mini fridge in the studio space for your clients to store drinks and snacks , or will they use your fridge with your leftovers from dinner ? If you aren ’ t able to have separation , you will have to consider your daily habits and how they will affect spaces that will be client-facing . Simultaneously , you have to find balance in your home situation so that it doesn ’ t feel like you ’ re just “ crashing at work .” It is a very delicate balance but is easily attainable with some creative boundaries and routines . I like to offer my clients some luxuries when they attend sessions like tea , coffee , bottled water , sparkling water , etc . Just because it is a home
BEATCHILD IN HIS HOME STUDIO
studio doesn ’ t mean your clients can ’ t feel like they ’ re being taken care of in a professional work environment .
I , for one , am incredibly excited about the future of home studios . The commute is way better and it allows each creator a much more personalized creative space to help them realize their unique visions . Large-format commercial studios will always need to exist unless you can fit an 80-piece orchestra in your garage . Still , I know that the home studio is here to stay , and is now a dominant force in the entertainment industry .
Dajaun Martineau is a Canadian gold-certified producer , songwriter , multi-instrumentalist , and mixer with multiple Juno-nominated projects who is now based in Los Angeles .
WAYNE COCHRANE
Wayne Cochrane is a freelance producer , engineer , and mixer who has worked on music by Arkells , JJ Wilde , Metric , Lights , City and Colour , Cancer Bats , Protest The Hero , Moneen , Ron Sexsmith , and more .
PS : What is the smartest purchase you ’ ve made for your home recording needs ? How has it made a difference for you ?
Wayne Cochrane : There are actually three items that have made a significant difference in my home recording workflow and at the same time improved the quality of the work coming out of my “ studio away from the studio .” The first is an amplifier load box for getting great guitar sounds at a fraction of the volume . You can soak up the power and have the ability to push the tubes and get the tones you want . Plus , a lot of these products also have amp simulators built in , so you get great variety at a reasonable price . The second is a weighted keyboard . A keyboard that feels right , combined with a great sim pack , saves a lot of timing / tone headaches when you get to the mix stage . Lastly , a mic shield . Your average home will always have nasty drywall mid-range honk and high-mid to high flutter problems . You need to manage these issues so you don ’ t run into problems later when you use more compression in the mix .
PS : Thinking of things you ’ ve learned over the years of recording and / or mixing music at home , what is one often-overlooked tip you ’ d like to share with others ?
WAYNE COCHRANE
Cochrane : I think balancing the relaxed vibe of recording at home with the professional setup of a pro studio is a must . It should still feel like you ’ re in a cool studio without the pressure of a big commercial facility . If you can , spend a little on making your room look inviting and inspiring for your artist . If it looks and feels good , the performance will sound good !
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