5 Tips on Singing Breathing for New Vocalists

“Sing from your diaphragm. Sing from your diaphragm!” Have you ever heard this before? Ugh! What does that even mean? It seems to be a common direction when people talk about proper singing technique (although the person who used to tell me this is a horrible singer). I have had three voice teachers over my time of study (all with legitimate music degrees in vocal performance), and not... [Read more]

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Beginner’s Music Production Setup

As a beginner songwriter, artist or music producer, it’s  a good idea to have some kind of recording setup in your home. It’s a great way to get creative ideas out, hear what you sound like, experiment with your style, and cut your teeth in the production of your own music. It may be awhile before you’re ready to cut some tracks in a professional studio (for some of you, you might... [Read more]

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Choosing Studio Headphones and Speakers

Part 5 of 5 in Music Production for Beginners Even in a simple home recording setup, you’re going to need a decent quality pair of studio headphones and general speakers. You’ll need to be able to hear your mix “close up” through the headphones, and you’ll want to hear the “overall” mix on speakers, to get a general feel of what it sounds like in the real... [Read more]

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MIDI Keyboards, Instruments, and Other Controllers

Part 3 of 5 in Music Production for Beginners MIDI (music instrument digital interface) is a computer music language, that transfers the “notes” of what is played on a controller (keyboard, drum machine, guitar). Typically when we digitally record instruments or vocals on a computer, those sounds are converted into waveforms. Most any recording software will let you copy, cut, paste, and... [Read more]

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Best Music Production Software for Beginners

Part 4 of 5 in Music Production for Beginners There is a lot of recording and music production software out there, and sometimes it’s hard to decide which one to go with. If you’re a beginner with music production, it’s best to choose software that’s easy to learn and provides a lot of features bundled into one package. What I look for in a software package is one that supports... [Read more]

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Choosing USB Microphones and Audio Transfer Devices

Part 2 of 5 in Music Production for Beginners If you’re using a home computer for recording and producing music, it’s a good idea to choose USB devices or at least use USB transfer cables. Most home computers have audio inputs, but typically they have a 1/8″ audio cable input (like those for a standard pair of ear buds). This can lead to severe compression and noise contamination in your audio. The... [Read more]

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What is the Best Computer for Music?

Part 1 of 5 in Music Production for Beginners Home computers are amazing, because you can have a basic home studio with a very simple setup, for not a lot of money. You’d be surprised what self-producing artists are able to accomplish with a humble setup, but it’s good to have reasonable expectations. So what makes a computer best optimized for producing music? Let’s explore: Basic... [Read more]

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