EgoAssassin.com - Music. Satire. Controversy.

Making your own music is not as hard as you think it is. Especially if you’re the type of person who enjoys creating songs in your head or hear pop songs on the radio and know that you could write a better tune in your sleep.

Several years ago, the recording industry was a lot more exclusive and secretive when it came to recording techniques and modern software (mainly because of cost). But just like with the video and internet revolution, things have changed globally and the playing field has been leveled again. These days, you can download a simple music production program with the click of a button, then compose/record your own music, and transfer the tunes to a CD or online mp3 file for your friends to enjoy. This can literally be done in record time. No more taking several months to push out a full-length record, and how about making a record within weeks or even days? The overall quality and originality of the music is up to you, but here are a few tips to get you started for an affordable price:

There are 3 high-quality and trusted programs that I either use or have used in the past. All of these come highly recommended and have slight differences, mainly when it comes to interface style, filter types, and recording options. I would highly recommend visiting each site and viewing any tutorial videos available to see which ones fit better for your knowledge level. Recording music is easily learn able and trust me you can do it! Believe it or not, you do not need to know how to read or write music, or even play a musical instrument. You can actually choose several “loops” or “samples” that are already available to you, and formulate a song by simply using your mouse. And I know you are very comfortable with using the mouse, right?

Ok, so if you are serious about making your own music or simply want to get started one day, check out the following programs and download the FREE trial versions available in some cases.

1. Steinberg Sequel for beginners $99 MSRP (free Trial Version Available)

2. Digidisign Protools $200-400 Professional

3. FL Studio $99-360 MSRP Depending on bundle (free Trial Version Available)

Note: I don’t record on MAC right now, but I hear that Garage Band is great as a starter program too.

Checklist for DIY Recording:

1. Get good microphones& a variety for what you are trying to record. This meaning that even though you can get away with using one mic for everything, it is probably not a great idea. There are different mics that work better for different recording purposes, for example vocals vs. horns vs. drums, etc.
2. Make sure you have backup Cords, connections, and various interface connectors. Get as many backup connectors as possible for your mics, USB connectors, power outlets, etc. because with recording it is just like anything else, whatever can happen, will happen without a doubt.
3. Don’t start using a full copy of any music production software unless you have a computer or notebook that can handle the space/memory required for it. You will be surprised how much memory and space is spent with the several filters, sound effects, tracks, and additional plug-ins that all work together just to make a song come together. Check the manuals for required specs, but I recommend being safe and using a computer that has at the very least 2GB of RAM and is not junked up with tons of other programs that you plan to run at the same time.
4. Always back up your music in as MANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE. I personally like to use at least 2 outside, removable drives that are intended to store and backup my songs just in case something goes hay wire on my main PC.
5. Get inspired to make some unique music and don’t just start throwin a bunch of existing samples together. This may be fine when figuring out the programs, but I find that it is much better to really focus on the goal or the style you are looking to achieve before investing time into the rigorous editing process.
6. Learn the interface qurks before you start recording, editing, and especially MIXING. There are always at least a few short comings with music programs that can make you start from scratch and will have you wishing that you took the time to really learn the product.
7. Learn how to mix sound levels for the final cut of your songs. This is learnable, but it changes from program to program, song to song, and artist to artist…so needless to say, it is quite a skill to achieve really good mixing and production that really stands out above the rest.
8. Don’t over think a song…if in doubt, just do the oppostite of what you think is expected in a song. Using the pop formula for a song format that has “worked” before, is not necessarily going to work for your songs.