IOTM Blog
Posted: Dec 10, 2024
Category: Recording
mixing keys to success recording mastering engineer collaboration boombox
**Guest post written by Ryan Donaldson of Boombox.io.
"Audio quality is the cornerstone of music production, shaping the way listeners experience music across diverse platforms. Behind every flawless track lies the expertise of mastering engineers and mixing engineers, whose roles are critical in ensuring that music resonates perfectly, whether played on studio monitors or smartphone speakers. This article explores the meticulous steps taken to refine audio and achieve professional-grade sound, highlighting the tools and techniques used to perfect every track."
View Full ArticlePosted: Feb 7, 2024
Category: Recording
diy keys to success music equipment microphones headphones be prepared home recording condenser mic effects upaya sound
**Guest post written by Nick Braren, owner and operator of Upaya Sound. This was originally an excerpt from his new book COMPLETE CREATIVE CONTROL – The Art Of Recording Music Unveiled.
"Recording vocals should be a fairly simple undertaking, as we are only using one mic, with one sound source – what can possibly go wrong? The problems arise mostly on the performance side, and as a producer, I see it as my job to provide the setting for the best vocal performance possible."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 29, 2023
Category: Recording
recording home recording budget mixing gear be patient be prepared stress production upaya sound diy keys to success
**Guest post written by Nick Braren, owner and operator of Upaya Sound. This was originally an excerpt from his new book COMPLETE CREATIVE CONTROL – The Art Of Recording Music Unveiled.
"Before you learn the foolproof process of what works, I want to first tell you about what things you should avoid. Knowing the mistakes of music production that others (me included) have made will further streamline your thought processes and stop you from wasting time, energy, money and gear. By knowing what not to do, it will become much clearer what to do instead."
View Full ArticlePosted: Oct 11, 2022
Category: Recording
recording budget recording collaboration keys to success ask peers environment fatigue take a break mental health
**Guest post written by Hovey Otis.
"As a musician, there are few things more frustrating than feeling fatigued during a recording session. You're in the studio, you've been working hard all day, and suddenly your creative spark just seems to disappear. It's normal to feel exhaustion setting in from time to time, but there are ways to overcome it and get back on track. Here are some tips for dealing with fatigue during a recording session."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 7, 2022
Category: Recording
overdubs live recording fan engagement built-in crowds drums drum timing vocal tuning song production pros
**Guest post written by Brad Johnson, a musician and producer from Southern California. When he isn’t spending time with his wife and kids at the beach, he is helping songwriters and musicians at Song Production Pros.
"Have you ever listened to a modern live recording and wondered how the performers were so dialed in?...Perhaps you've tried doing a live recording of your own band and were horrified by the results...What is it that separates your live recordings from the pros? Is it that they are that much better? Well, not exactly...Let's dive in!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 14, 2021
Category: Recording
songwriting sampling producer setting goals studio time recording arrangement midi reference tracks home studio ideas
**Guest post by Martin Kristiansen, founder of HomeStudioIdeas.com.
"Getting stuck on unfinished tracks is probably one of the most common issues for producers. I think we all can agree that starting a new track is so much easier than putting the finishing touches on an existing project. Today I want to share 7 tips that you can use to achieve some closure on your music-making. Let’s dive right in!"
View Full ArticlePosted: Jul 13, 2020
Category: Recording
recording budget recording diy recording home recording soundproof acoustics noise deboband
**Guest post written by Danny Mekonnen, a hardcore drummer and founder of deBObaND.
"A soundproof room is absolutely crucial for home recording as you do not want outside noises ruining your recording while also making sure your recording does not ruin the day for people outside...If you want to have a recording session in your home, here is how to soundproof a room for home recording..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 22, 2020
Category: Recording
make money budget influences producer gear recording control soundfly diy recording online tutorials musician with a day job
**Guest post by Caleb J. Murphy, a songwriter-producer based in Austin, TX, and the founder of Musician With A Day Job, a blog to help part-time musicians succeed.
"Anyone can be their own producer. Don’t believe me? Read on and I’ll show you the whys and hows of producing music yourself..."
View Full ArticlePosted: May 18, 2020
Category: Recording
diy music business mixing studio time recording home recording headphones rest audio reputation
**Guest post by James Longman of AudioReputation, a technology writer & blogger by profession.
"A very common question we have been trying to answer is – can I use my headphones to record and mix music? Well, unfortunately the answer isn’t “definitely yes” because of some reasons, but if you have some decent mixing skills and you can trust your ears, then the answer goes pretty close to “yes”..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Nov 12, 2018
Category: Recording
recording dozmia studio time guitar tone amplifier guitar pickups
**Guest post written by Nicholas Rubright, founder and editor at Dozmia, and lead guitarist for the band Days Gone By.
"After spending some time in the studio to record my band’s first EP, that [satisfaction with my line 6 amp] all changed. I set out to get the best tone possible for this EP. Here are some things I learned about guitar tone while in the studio."
View Full ArticlePosted: Mar 19, 2018
Category: Recording
condenser mic guitarfella home recording mastering software online tutorials preamp recording recording budget
**Guest post written by Cassie Steele, content editor for GuitarFella.com.
"While many successful indie artists are still tied to big labels for distribution purposes, many are seeking alternatives in terms of recording and producing. We are living in the age of the home recording studio with especially indie artists producing top-quality tracks with inexpensive gear. While creating a home recording space to produce your dream indie album can be time and energy consuming the end result will be well worth it, especially if you want to achieve the best sound possible without sacrificing your artistic integrity."
Posted: May 30, 2017
Category: Recording
demo diy diy recording layering midi portable setup recording soundcheck stage time touring
**Guest post written by Ben Jacklin.
"For any touring outfit, life on the road can be fun, but can also mean a lot of fast food, cramming in the back of vans and plenty of spare time. For musicians, this can present an opportunity to write, practice and even record songs whilst making your way from one show to another. We’ve put together some top tips for putting together your next demo whilst you’re touring, the perfect way to fill the hours from one city to another and at a time when many bands and artists can be at their most creative."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jan 30, 2017
Category: Recording
arrangement custom tracks landr mastering mixing recording recording budget session musicians studio rates
**Guest post by Dane Myers, CEO of Custom Tracks, a virtual recording studio that offers low-cost session musicians and studios to artists around the world.
"Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned studio vet returning to make your next production, figuring out what a new album costs can be tricky. Here are some things to make the picture a bit clearer..."
View Full ArticlePosted: Sep 26, 2016
Category: Recording
clay mills diy recording gear major artists publisher recording songtown songwriting
**Guest post written by Clay Mills, hit songwriter, producer, performer, and founder of SongTown.com.
"People often ask me if they have to do full-production demos to present songs to publishers or major artists? I do a fair amount of full demos, but I also have had about half of my major cuts from pitching home demos done on a very basic set-up on my mac laptop..." View Full Article
Posted: Jun 13, 2016
Category: Recording
black lodge recording diy diy recording drums microphones mixing soundfly
**Guest Post by Mahea Lee of Soundfly.
"For many musicians, the idea of recording a demo can seem a bit daunting, especially when taking a do-it-yourself approach. Fortunately for those of us who need a bit of guidance, Black Lodge Recording’s Vishal Nayak has helped the Soundfly team create a brand new course, full of tips for efficient, effective, and stress-free demo production."
View Full ArticlePosted: Jun 2, 2014
Category: Recording
bobby owsinski mastering mixing overdubs preproduction recording studio time tracking
**Guest post written by Bobby Owsinski, producer/engineer and best selling author, as featured in his blog The Big Picture Music Production Blog.
"A fairly large project usually has numerous rentals of both long and short term. The trickiest long term rental is always the studio, since if you don’t complete what’s needed on time, then you’ll have to move somewhere else if the studio has booked time after your booking has run out. This can be a royal pain, since it means tearing everything down and setting up again, losing some time and momentum, and your sound, in the process. Here are 5 types of studio time that musicians should be aware of..." View Full Article