Any aspiring independent singer/songwriters out there? - June 25, 2008
For those of you who choose to (or, are faced with the reality that you have to) work on your projects without the benefit of a large budget and are curious about the production of 'Down Canal on the Lehigh', this is for you:
The songs were recorded live (at the locations listed with the song tiltles) using a Fostex X-15 (DC operated) 4-track cassette recorder. The mic was an AudioTechnica condenser type (pencil style) routed into two channels of the recorder. I transferred the taped songs to my computer (using a Layla digital interface into Cakewalk Pro Audio 7 software- I now use Cakewalk's Sonar XL), then burned the CDs and printed the labels and inserts at home.
My intent was that the listener would 'experience' the songs- hearing them sung in similar situations in which they (the songs) might have been heard during the time periods during which they were written. Recording during the thunderstorms proved to be an interesting challenge!!!
Over the last 10-15 years I've met a number of self-funded artists who have abandoned projects because they couldn't afford studio sessions, believing that the public would not pay for a 'home-grown' effort. If your heart is in the project the music will reflect that no matter how simple the production has to be. Just make sure that you can hear the lyrics (the voice) clearly. If you have something to say that connects to people they'll thank you for sharing that memory/experience through a recording that they can keep!
The songs were recorded live (at the locations listed with the song tiltles) using a Fostex X-15 (DC operated) 4-track cassette recorder. The mic was an AudioTechnica condenser type (pencil style) routed into two channels of the recorder. I transferred the taped songs to my computer (using a Layla digital interface into Cakewalk Pro Audio 7 software- I now use Cakewalk's Sonar XL), then burned the CDs and printed the labels and inserts at home.
My intent was that the listener would 'experience' the songs- hearing them sung in similar situations in which they (the songs) might have been heard during the time periods during which they were written. Recording during the thunderstorms proved to be an interesting challenge!!!
Over the last 10-15 years I've met a number of self-funded artists who have abandoned projects because they couldn't afford studio sessions, believing that the public would not pay for a 'home-grown' effort. If your heart is in the project the music will reflect that no matter how simple the production has to be. Just make sure that you can hear the lyrics (the voice) clearly. If you have something to say that connects to people they'll thank you for sharing that memory/experience through a recording that they can keep!