Making Music at Home: 4 Tips to Kickstart Your Musical Career

Despite many gloomy reports on the state of the music industry, it is still booming, even for smaller independent names. MIDiA Research on independent music and self-releasing artists found that the indie’s share in the music market was up to 43.1%, which is worth $9.8 billion. Perhaps you may hope to make your mark in the music scene one day, but you don’t have access to the best recording studios or high-end instruments. You can still make your music from the comfort of your home, and it can sound just as good as any other chart-topping hit. Here’s how to get started:

Set up a ‘studio’ in your house
You may not have access to a full-on recording studio, but you can set one up in your home. A dedicated area for making music can help you focus on your task and make your mixes sound better. You can use your basement, a spare room, or a garage — it all depends on the space you’ll need for the equipment you want to use.
Treating the room for acoustics is also essential, as too much reverb will affect your mix’s sound. Put up foam panels or fabric wall hangings, place cushions or comforters on furniture, and put a carpet on the floor to absorb your sound.
Find a good DAW
An integral part of your recording process would be your DAW (digital audio workstation). This is the software you will use to record, edit, and mix your audio files. You can do this by recording live instruments or playing digital tracks to add to your track.
One of the best DAWs is the Ableton Live 11, which was a trailblazer as it influenced many other apps and software. It’s made for a fast and efficient workflow and has a lot of built-in devices for you to work with. A great DAWs will give you a seamless interface to make your production process much easier and more efficient.

Invest in the right tools
Even though you can't buy talent, you can always enhance your skills with the right equipment and production. Out of all the microphones reviewed on Shout4Music, the Shure SM58 is considered the industry standard when it comes to mics for live vocal performances. It’s iconic for a reason — despite its affordable price it produces a good quality sound, offering users great clarity and a warm, natural midrange. You need a good mic to support your sound and ensure you are providing the best quality audio.A good MIDI controller keyboard can also aid the production process, triggering sounds from other devices through Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) data. If you don’t know how to play a lot of instruments or don’t have access to much, a MIDI keyboard is an excellent tool to have with you.

Keep studying
Even with the right gear and the best space, that doesn’t automatically mean you’re producing hit song after hit song. A lack of music know-how and understanding might impact your chances of getting your songs out to the world. Studying music theory, composing, and arranging can help you figure out how to make music that sounds good. It’s not enough to sing or play your instruments well; creating melodies and figuring out how to make your instruments sound harmonious is integral to making your music enjoyable. Knowing the ins and outs of melody can also help you evoke emotions in your listeners and, as outlined in our post Meditation Music: The Universal Value of Music, it can help make music be a more therapeutic experience.
The music-making process can be a challenging journey, but with the right tools and mindset, you can start making your way in the industry, even from home. For more on music and concepts, check out our posts on Staimusic.

Article contributed by Rena Jamison.