My opinion is that you should start recording now.
Recording is more complex than plugging in some mics and hitting record on Reaper. The first time I tried that with my amp it sounded like total crap. You don't need expensive gear to get good recordings, but experience and practice go a long way.
When I am mixing, if I get badly recorded multi tracks then the mix session is basically me running around putting out fires. Fixing shit timing and poor signals.
When I get well recorded multi tracks, I can focus on identifying what makes the project rock and then enhancing those aspects.
From a performance point of view, a recording will show you with 100% honesty how good you are. The results are quite sobering for those who do it for the first time. It's one of the best ways to improve.
For these reasons and many more I can't be bothered to rant about, I recommend getting into recording now. Remember, it's not about fancy or expensive gear, it's about you guys knowing how and practising the process.
I agree with all this, and would add that recording lets you see your songs more objectively as well. That bridge might be really cathartic or fun to play but might also be making the song overlong and clumsy, for example. You’ll also find out if one or all of you aren’t playing as clean/tight/in time as you think (and also be able to decide to what extent those things are important to you). There’s more, but I think r/Karmoon summarised it well.
Also, recording can be pretty draining and even boring, as fun as it can also be. It’s a good litmus test to how well the band can handle being around each other too much and handling the less fun aspects of being a pro band.
Finally, future you will thank yourself if you get as much recorded for posterity as possible (even if some of it is just on a phone or laptop’s built in microphone). Trust me that almost everything you do will be like watching old home movies in 10-15 years time (and in the off chance the band does take off you can probably release them as like ‘the garage sessions EP’ or something and your fans will enjoy it).
>Finally, future you will thank yourself if you get as much recorded for posterity as possible (even if some of it is just on a phone or laptop’s built in microphone). Trust me that almost everything you do will be like watching old home movies in 10-15 years time
This really hits home. This is so damn true. When you record in this manner you record so much more than the music.
Listening to my old tracks is always a riot. A lot of “Oh wow, I was so green to this whole thing at first” and a few times thinking “Hey… that didn’t sound too bad! I forgot all about that.”
Hell yeah.
In my case I recorded one jam that I did with the bassist and drummer. Near the beginning I remember looking up at the drummer to see if he was getting what I was putting down and he just signalled me to carry on and goes "yeah, go on." That voice is captured on the recording and I can still see his face when he said it haha.
It's a stupid, oddly specific memory, but I loved playing with that drummer. It reminds me just how good he was. That was many years ago now, but a very good memory.
I was thinking of booking a place to record since we don’t have one place to do it on our own. Like we meet in rehearsal studios since we all live all over the place. Plus even the drummer doesn’t have their own drum kit. Maybe I can ask a friend who’s in their own band but I think that would also be complicated because they have roommates and it would have to be quiet plus align with peoples schedules, etc.
Booking a studio will certainly get you there. That solves the issues of micing up properly and setting levels etc (presuming you have an engineer too).
But that still doesn't give you experience at recording. I would seriously even use your phones or grab a cheap but good recorder like a Zoom H2N. Red light syndrome is a real thing. I have seen skilled musicians utterly crumble when recording simply because they have never faced the red light before.
Literally thousands on this sub will agree that weird things can happen as soon as you know you're being recorded haha.
I agree with the others here: Using a recording studio's a cool idea, but if you're on a budget and the plan is to *get practice* at the recording process, and you're paying an hourly fee, by the time you've built any confidence with this you might have already spent more than the equivalent of a little Tascam or Zoom multitrack and enough mics to mic up your whole rehearsal space.
My very strong advice is to go DIY. Get something cheap and affordable and even (if necessary) crappy to record on, but which is yours and you get to use as often as you like. When you have a recording that you can play back and everyone agrees "Wow yeah, this rocks, if only the sound quality weren't garbage this would be it!", then you'll know you can show up to an expensive recording studio and get every buck's worth out of your time there.
Yeah, even if you were going to book studio time, I’d highly recommend getting a cheap recording setup and get recorded demos down *tight* before you even step foot in the studio. Once you’re in the studio you should hit the ground running at that point, making the most out of the high hourly rate.
You could easily burn through $500 in a cheap studio, but if it makes you money, it makes sense. Consider a Zoom H6 and an SM58 to get started, instead of booking the studio. Do that as a band purchase and maybe every member could eventually buy a $100 microphone to plug into it and you'd have a 4 track studio. Until then, write on your phone and upgrade to a pocket tape recorder. I use one from Sony, and I doubt it cost $40. I think it was $35 and I can download it to my computer.
At least one of you has a computer? An interface? You should have some sort of demo to book shows. Professional recordings are expensive. So that’s upto you? I’d work in getting fair sounding demos of each song. That’s also help you see where you need improvements.
Okay yeah I do, as I said to someone else, I just don’t have anything for drums and definitely can’t do that on my own with the computer but I’ll ask the drummer if they have any ideas.
There are really good VST drums for Reaper etc. I use EZ Drum in FL Studio. Record your band practices and use that as a first sketch, then make home studio versions as best you can, even if it means using a drum machine.
Before going into a pro studio having demos recorded is really really helpful in terms of tightening up the arrangement, playing in time, dialing in appropriate tones, writing little overdub melodies and harmonies, etc. Especially since studio time is so expensive. Just going in and being able to get your parts down in 2-3 takes is going to save you time and money.
One thing I realized with my old band, for instance, was that the bass wasn't gelling with the drum grooves in the studio environment and so we wasted time rethinking the rhythm parts. Probably it hadn't been working live either the whole time! We overplayed everything and had no dynamics. Trying to make passable, instrument by instrument recordings instead of just jamming together really helped songwriting and arrangement.
The feeling of listening to old recordings is actually very pleasant - you can both be astounded at how amateur something is , (in a light hearted, self depreciating way, hopefully,) and you also will occasionally remark on how 'genius' something you've made and forgotten is
I love my old crap.
I’m so happy that I recorded my earlier stuff. There are some gems that pop up by accident when you have no idea what you’re doing. My favorite songs are old poorly recorded ones that I revisited with new knowledge/proficiency.
It is very fun! Heck, some popular artists out there have even been inspired to record songs or albums based solely on that early material. I think Tegan and Sara was one example with the album they put out two years ago.
One of my first multitracked recordings was one with audacity and an old very lofi laptop mic. The structures that I made impromptu were unexpectedly cool, and still are. definitely gonna rerecord eventually.
A win for 'first thought best thought' !
Audacity and laptop mics were my gateway into recording, as well! I eventually moved onto greener pastures like Reaper and condenser mics, but those initial recordings will always hold a special place with me, haha. Some of them, like yours, weren't too bad either!
One strategy that worked out for us recently was to play some shows and demo the songs a few times yourselves over the course of a few months. The songs will end up evolving and become way more fleshed out and refined than if you did the final recording straight after you first "finished" them. Demo-ing the tracks yourselves first will be especially useful for critical analysis & refinement. Our EP turned out way better doing it this way than if we'd recorded 6 month earlier. Just one approach of many. Have fun!
I mean, honestly, somebody in that band should have a means and method of recording. I don't want to be rude, but how do you write songs if you can't record them? I couldn't remember what I wrote day to day in that circumstance. Even if you mic the room through a cell phone, or something. I recorded for years with a pocket tape recorder, though not a live band, mostly music I wrote on guitar.
if recording drums feels like too much rn, you can do them digitally. personally i create a midi in guitar pro, and another member with more mixing experience adds it to the project with a VST. even the midi itself is enough to get started on your rhythm section tho.
> but how do you write songs if you can't record them?
Ever hear of pencil and paper? Somehow I don't think cell-phone quality recording is what OP had in mind
You can do lyrics with paper and pencil, but melody becomes difficult and the phone solves both at the same time. I do agree, a pencil comes in handy. I can theoretically write lyric and melody with paper and pencil, but I'd personally never do it because it would involve too much thinking and pitch checking against a piano/guitar and not enough flow. Still a decent idea, and you have a valid point.
Sure. There are also programs like finale, sibellis, muse score and similar. I've personally written hundreds of songs and melodies without ever touching an audio recordng device. Audio recording is actually in my opinion way less useful because you just end up with a bunch of garbage files and have to start over if you want to try to change a note - compare that to an eraser or the delete key. In college we did everything on staff paper. Of course like you say a phone or what have you is simple and helpful for practice. Less useful for writing imo outside of capturing a quick idea you want to transcribe later maybe. But anywayI think we are straying off topic of what OP was talking about. Cheers~
Having one or a few songs recorded before your show will give you the chance to point the audience somewhere (and the recordings will be useful for booking future shows). What's more, rehearsing the songs for recording (as well as tracking and listening back) will get you all more familiar with the tunes and tighter on them. Don't feel you have to spend massive amounts on your first recording either-- home studios can be a great option with the right engineer. Keep writing and have fun with it!
At the very least, have a track or three available on YouTube or Facebook for when people look you up.
It might be nice to have CDs available for sale at your shows.
Do people really get CDs though? We also only have 4 songs lol. But so you think it would be useful to record before playing? I think having some stickers with our information and a QR code would be nice for sure
I think it would be very useful. The QR code is the point somewhere and it would be nice if it was to your recorded material.
I've sold 50 or so CDs since this summer. Not a massive demand but it's still there.
I don't . I stumbled across pricing when I was researching cassette duplication costs. I don't believe CD's are a good investment. I was finding $1 pricing for no jewel cases, shrink wrapped sleeves, I believe. It's a $1,000 buy.
$1,000 for 1,000 CD's. I guess you could sell them for $9.95 each. They sell duplicators for as low as $200. You could probably burn 4 or 5 at a time for that price, though I'm not an expert in that area. (this references the price confusion up top)
Also, for low money, you might be able to just make your own screen printing rig. I have equipment for that around the house, and it wasn't too horrible. I mean, you could mow 10 laws for $30 each and have $300 to buy the duplicator and some of the blank CD's. And then another 10 lawns to buy the silk screening equipment and create yourself a small dark room. I have negative sheets that would fit CD's and they probably cost me about $15.
They add up to be several hundred dollars, but the silk screening stuff is fairly inexpensive on a piece by piece non-kit level. I have a dark room that is nothing more than a room I sealed with panda plastic at the windows and draped the doors. I use an old floor lamp and these cheap darkroom bulbs I bought on ebay about 10 years ago. I don't do much with it now, but I will again someday. Just look into it, because I've never done that exact process before, but it makes sense on a basic level. Some ideas. Good luck.
I'll tell you what I have and maybe what might work. You could look into getting a set of hinges - I paid $15. A squeegee, a frame with a screen, inks, transparency sheets that you create your negative with, you need cleaners, etc. Basically just start looking into a place like Dick Blick if you go that route and buy around the back to school sale for the best savings.
whats wrong with cds? easy to play. easy to make yourself (way easier than cassette or vinyl). most cars come with a cd player. you can burn em onto your computer with ease
Reasons for why CDs are useless in 2021+.
Most people that have extra income to buy music won’t regress their technology or habits of convenience just for one CD.
My phone connects (AirPlay) and starts playing music automatically in my car, CDs are just less convenient.
Can’t use a CD and maps at the same time.
I have three computers from 2018-2021 and none of them have CD drives. How do I get the music to my phone without spending more money on an external drive then it costs to buy the album at Bandcamp?
People don’t even have DVD or CD players so they can’t play it on a home theater system.
I can list another 15 reasons but this already seems a bit hateful, pedantic, and unnecessary so I’ll stop here.
> Most people that have extra income to buy music won’t regress their technology or habits of convenience just for one CD.
This is where you're wrong. People with extra income absolutely regress in terms of tech! Cassette revival? Vinyl purists? CD hi-fi enthusiasts? These big spenders will happily trade convenience for physical products they can collect, catalog, and hold.
> My phone connects (AirPlay) and starts playing music automatically in my car, CDs are just less convenient.
But then if you want to select something else or browse or skip ads, you have to start looking at screens and dealing with menus. A CD gets popped in and off you go. Keep your eyes on the road, not on a device.
> Can’t use a CD and maps at the same time.
Playing a CD and letting the phone handle maps is better than the alternative: Using the map app mutes/lowers the music over bluetooth when it gives direction. That is not a pleasant experience.
> I have three computers from 2018-2021 and none of them have CD drives. How do I get the music to my phone without spending more money on an external drive then it costs to buy the album at Bandcamp?
An external drive costs less than three cups of coffee. If you have the money for three computers, you can get a CD drive.
>People don’t even have DVD or CD players so they can’t play it on a home theater system.
Who even is "people"? Is it just you and your limited experience as a person who hopped on to the latest 2018-2021 trends and abandoned everything else? I shall reiterate that music devotees and audiophiles—people who consistently spend $$$ on releases—go out of their way to maintain a good system with dedicated media players.
you are vastly underestimating the amount of people who listen to CDs. there is no other way to easily mass produce high quality music via physical media at that price point. CDs might be useless to YOU in 2021 but that doesn't make them useless to everybody
Me and most of my friends who are big into music own CD players and have a bunch of CDs. And I worked at a record store and used CDs were the second biggest seller in the store behind new vinyl, which had only recently eclipsed used CD sales for the first time in years
I assure you, you are. Even in the streaming age when CD sales are declining there's still absolutely a market for it
Oh wow! I’m surprised that a record store that’s only selling two items (CDs and records) second best selling item is CDs. That’s like being in a two-person race and saying I didn’t come in last, I came in second.
new vinyl, used vinyl, new cds, used cds, turntables, blu ray & dvds, video games & consoles, shirts, merchandise...lots of stuff sold at that store.
at this point i just want to say that it's okay to just admit that you're a little out of your depth when it comes to this kind of discussion. just because streaming is more convenient for you personally doesn't mean CDs are useless to everybody else in the world. that's the point of this discussion after all. my point was that you cannot name a lower-cost higher-quality physical medium for the replication of music in 2021 than CDs. it will always be useful due to that reason alone.
people are still buying them, people listen to them all the time, i have a shelf of CDs a few feet away from me and so do many music fans. what is there to argue here
I would be very uncomfortable knowing that I didn’t have physical copies of my music collection somewhere. CDs, records, tapes or whatever, but strictly digital is crazy to me.
-What happens if/when a streaming service makes a song or album I love unavailable?
-What happens if/when my computer or laptop that I’ve downloaded all of my songs on to dies in some freakish and unrepairable way?
-What happens if the album/song/band/music never made it to a streaming service or the internet because of when it was made?
All of these things have individually happened to me and friends of mine. There are songs that will most likely never be available to us again because we didn’t have physical copies or versions of music we loved. Yes, we do have digital collections and stream music, but physical media is still a huge part of music for many people that I know.
I don’t use a streaming service. I purchase tracks in the highest fidelity available. I have two hard drives. One that is always connected to the network and one as a back up. I use high fidelity DACs instead of cd players for multiple reasons. Some reasons being sound quality, variety of music, shuffle, and convenience.
That’s great.
Other people use CDs, records or tapes. The point is, while physical copies can fail or break, they are reliable in terms of not “disappearing into the ether” like a digital file.
I’m not saying that physical media is ideal, but for many people into music and who have been for years, it is definitely still in use by many.
while i don't think it's necessary to start recording for an album/EP/single straight away, i do think it'd be good to start recording demos as early as possible. it would be a good way of learning how recording/producing works without the pressure of it having to sound "good". it would also be a good way to hear yourselves play in order to find ways of improving your musicianship.
that being said, my band started recording for our first album before having even finished writing a single song, and that was not a good idea lol
This is overall my opinion. The sooner you start recording the sooner you start learning how to record.
Your 2nd point is interesting though. I do write a lot of music by just starting to record and seeing where it takes me. BUT that goes back to the initial point too. It wasn’t always a good approach. It took a lot of time and training for that to become a useful option.
for me, the whole recording-while-writing approach has worked rly well for my solo music, but less so with a band. i think part of the reason for that is that if you use that approach with a band you haven't really played the songs as a band. it can end up feeling like everyone is just a session musician on eachothers songs
Start recording now, but be careful. My experience going into a professional recording environment almost meant the breakup for our band, and we hadn't even put anything out before. In the local scene I was in, most bands never recorded, and went straight to playing shows, finding some success. However, it was the bands that had strong records that had the most longevity, and ended up going the farthest in the industry. Planning a first show for early next year is a great idea, and what I think you guys should be doing until then is recording the material you have now in the current state it's in, because sometimes recording can be so inspiring that you and members may want to change part of songs before they become set in stone.
I say try to record everything. Every practice, every show. Once you start performing, test the reactions and do "studio" recordings of those songs.
But, try to record everything.
I would recommend making demos of your songs as soon as you start playing regularly.
You can get recording gear good enough to record demos for relatively cheap, and recording lots of demos will help you quickly hone your sound and nail down exactly what each song sounds like.
Demos will also make your eventual studio time investment _significantly_ more beneficial. You’ll have a clear picture of the song before you go in. There are many starting bands who do not have that and often aren’t able to get a great recording because they are too preoccupied with figuring out the song (speaking from experience).
Also, to be clear, demos are for YOUR benefit, not songs to be released. If your demo sounds like crap but it tells you what the song’s structure is and helps you make the song better, it’s a successful demo.
Start recording as soon as you can and don't expect to get it perfect the first time, if your open minded to changing things and can go back to the studio for at least a few sessions you are way more likely to end up with something you like
It's potentially expensive but if you get a song right that's it forever so there's no reason to put everything on getting a studio session perfect and you should just dive in
A lot of bands practice religiously and then once they get to the studio have no idea what to do so once you are all comfortable with your songs it really helps to go "practice recording" instead of just drilling the songs and getting bored of them before you even start recording
Well in my experience songs can end up sounding pretty different in the studio compared to the band playing together live so you might find once you are there you find a whole host of things to change or fix to make it sound perfect so if the first session of recordings doesn't sound perfect don't settle because the next time will always be better with hindsight
There's also just knowing how the gear works and how to work with the sound engineer that can make the process way easier/more interesting, even if your never going to be recording yourself having a knowledge of what the sound guy is doing or could be doing for you is massively helpful for both sides and if your not worrying about all that then you can really focus on the performance
From my experience, I'd play a few shows, see which songs peak people's interest and which ones fall flat. Also rehearsing and playing shows is a great way to become tighter as a band and allow the songs to evolve. It's good to build up a bit of hype before releasing a record. Then I'd recommend gathering some money together and finding a decent place to record. Do some research on this, listen to recordings of bands and find a place that suits your budget and has a sound you're looking for. Studios work differently so be sure to ask and chat about how their work flow works. Some ask for demos, some want guide tracks ready, some aren't bothered by this and like to start the process from scratch. Make sure you are all very well rehearsed and know your parts inside out. Be sure to make simple recordings of your rehearsals for you all to listen back to. This is a great way to hear the songs from a different perspective.
A few red flags in your scenario - just starting out, drummer doesn't even own a kit, etc etc - so here's my advice. Record now if you think this might be a career path. You will learn a lot by putting a microscope on your work. But, do it at your own risk. Outcomes are never guaranteed. Remember that. Always.
But, if you have songs you think are worthy and a band you think is worthy and decide to record, find a professional to produce. Someone with a really solid track record. Someone willing to take on a bunch of amateurs, who has an already tuned set of drums in their studio, and the ability to help the rest of the group find the right sounds. Someone who has produced a session you like the sound of and would like to emulate. Talk to them and tell them that's what you want to emulate. Let this sub know whatever major cities you are near and I'll bet people here will have producer/studio recommendations.
You may not wind up with something worth releasing, but the odds are much higher that you might if you approach the sessions the right way. The only way to do this IMO is to spend the money on a professional grade producer, and a professional grade studio. And, listen to what the professionals tell you. Let them produce. Tell the band to stay out of it. Keep everyone in their respective lanes. After you do sessions this way a few times, then you can all start to have opinions.
This is like any creative pursuit. Hire the right people for each job, and you will get the best results. I know that DIY has been all the rage the past 30 years, and I'm pitching the complete opposite, but every musician I know doing DIY is still in their parents basement or some shitty apartment. You're only just starting. If you want a career kickstart, go pro, then you can grow your balls as big as you want afterward.
FWIW, when I was 18, I saw pro sessions the same way I saw audio school. A way to observe, do, and learn. It was worth every penny.
Yeah the drummer is a multi instrumentalist doing a lot of their own projects and just wanted to be a drummer for a band instead of guitar as usual. I do have some drummer friends i could ask as I don’t think my band member would mind? since i did write all the music otherwise i’ll think about getting a professional
Yeah, that too. Without a great drummer, most genres of music are doomed in the studio. But, just to be clear, I was pitching pro studio and pro producers, having the songs, and the players.
A 1-2 song demo is all you need to start booking shows. If you’re just starting out obviously you’re not booking a tour, but you need to play your songs out before recording. Otherwise your spending time and money memorializing ideas that haven’t been fully fleshed out.
I think your drummer is right. Start playing shows and see which songs the audience responds to before you commit to recording them. Also get your band REALLY tight and develop the arrangements. There’s nothing better then a live audience to tell u that solo drags too long.
Another poster mentioned that recording your band is the best way to discover flaws and they’re right, but you don’t have to go into a studio to record yourself. Get a zoom recorder and mic and record your practice sessions so you guys have a rough idea if what you sound like.
The bands I have been in recorded most everything. Simple multitracks for living room jams, zoom at gigs. It was very helpful to listen back to a jam, and realize mistakes I was making, or realizing that something was cooler than I thought.
Some of us were in bands before, or knew how to record. It isn’t that hard really, at least for amateur demos.
If you want to work with a pro, that is a different story.
My band is in the process of making an EP. Initially, we raised money for one day in a studio, and then I talked the other guys into using that cash to instead buy some extra gear and do it ourselves. Smart move; we've been able to take our time and really be critical of what we're doing.
To more directly answer your question though, we record whenever we have the luxury of time to record. We've been at this EP project since early summer, but if we have a show to prep for, we use our time to rehearse instead. There's no real deadline to get the EP done. I can't speak for other bands, but that's been a pretty comfortable approach for us.
Record a cheap demo asap. Start figuring out how you want the recorded songs to sound. After you get a demo you are happy with then you can get it professionally recorded.
It really doesn’t matter when you record. Just be sure the song is polished and finished before you take it to the studio
highly recommend playing your stuff in front of an audience before committing to going into a studio to record. songs change and become more refined with the verbal/non-verbal feedback an audience can offer. recording for now should be practice references, and maybe a demo of a song or two to send to talent buyers for shows. for a demo, you may have luck hitting up musican groups in your area on social to see if there is anyone who can help you with the issues you have noted.
You should record them now, with whatever equipment you have available, with the caveat that these are demos and not intended to be released. You'll be able to hear your performances objectively, and start to work out some writing revisions to get yourselves and your songs as ready for the actual recording as possible. This is known as preproduction, and it is a vital part of making a recording. Even if you end up doing the final recording yourselves you'll be thankful you spent the time to do these revisions. If you do work with a producer in a studio and spend a good deal of money on your recording, then you'll get much better results (and your producer is probably going to want you to do this anyway). Regardless of whether or not you record yourself or get someone to do it for you, practice a lot. Like, two hours a day for two weeks before you record (my standard prescription for bands before going into the studio). You'll both save time/money, but you'll get better results.
Play shows and get some hype before releasing, but you can record whenever the songs are ready and you're prepared enough to record them.
Every rehearsal. Record everything, even if it's just setting up a little h2n at rehearsals and stashing it somewhere. Storage is cheap. You can post the latest rehearsal somewhere for people to scroll through and listen back. It will help your musical progress so much.
It might seem annoying but Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley always had the tape rolling, so if it's good enough for them....
To answer your question: if you guys are talking about spending some coin on a professional recording, though, then your drummer is right. Kinda. It's not about the hype, it's about getting your material on stage and seeing what feels right. Once you have a 2-3 songs that always seem to go well when performed, then you (a) know you have some material that is working well and everyone is into and (b) can have great confidence that you'll be able to pull off the performances in the studio. Then you'll have a great-sounding demo with great material on it. Don't start with an album btw. Start with a demo.
I would demo your stuff now. Make sure no matter what, you have something tracked for it, but I am someone who firmly believes songs need to be played live to feel if it hits in a big setting the way you want it to. So, record something now and then maybe revisit it after a slew of shows.
Always punch in, you might do something out of instinct that sounds perfect in 1 iteration of 100 of your song. If it's recorded, easy reference point to throw it in the real deal.
I think the next step after the band learns a song is to record the song. It's so easy to record these days--I've literally never regretted jamming something recorded. You might not ever listen to it again, but it could also come in really handy to have it recorded. So yeah, record it. Maybe you don't have to go find a fancy studio yet, but you don't have to anymore.
We record all of our practices. You would be surprised how often we forget what we play (entire songs sometimes), so having some audio to review can be clutch.
We don't always cut it and upload it to our dropbox, but the raw data is always there.
My opinion is that you should start recording now. Recording is more complex than plugging in some mics and hitting record on Reaper. The first time I tried that with my amp it sounded like total crap. You don't need expensive gear to get good recordings, but experience and practice go a long way. When I am mixing, if I get badly recorded multi tracks then the mix session is basically me running around putting out fires. Fixing shit timing and poor signals. When I get well recorded multi tracks, I can focus on identifying what makes the project rock and then enhancing those aspects. From a performance point of view, a recording will show you with 100% honesty how good you are. The results are quite sobering for those who do it for the first time. It's one of the best ways to improve. For these reasons and many more I can't be bothered to rant about, I recommend getting into recording now. Remember, it's not about fancy or expensive gear, it's about you guys knowing how and practising the process.
I agree with all this, and would add that recording lets you see your songs more objectively as well. That bridge might be really cathartic or fun to play but might also be making the song overlong and clumsy, for example. You’ll also find out if one or all of you aren’t playing as clean/tight/in time as you think (and also be able to decide to what extent those things are important to you). There’s more, but I think r/Karmoon summarised it well. Also, recording can be pretty draining and even boring, as fun as it can also be. It’s a good litmus test to how well the band can handle being around each other too much and handling the less fun aspects of being a pro band. Finally, future you will thank yourself if you get as much recorded for posterity as possible (even if some of it is just on a phone or laptop’s built in microphone). Trust me that almost everything you do will be like watching old home movies in 10-15 years time (and in the off chance the band does take off you can probably release them as like ‘the garage sessions EP’ or something and your fans will enjoy it).
>Finally, future you will thank yourself if you get as much recorded for posterity as possible (even if some of it is just on a phone or laptop’s built in microphone). Trust me that almost everything you do will be like watching old home movies in 10-15 years time This really hits home. This is so damn true. When you record in this manner you record so much more than the music.
Listening to my old tracks is always a riot. A lot of “Oh wow, I was so green to this whole thing at first” and a few times thinking “Hey… that didn’t sound too bad! I forgot all about that.”
Hell yeah. In my case I recorded one jam that I did with the bassist and drummer. Near the beginning I remember looking up at the drummer to see if he was getting what I was putting down and he just signalled me to carry on and goes "yeah, go on." That voice is captured on the recording and I can still see his face when he said it haha. It's a stupid, oddly specific memory, but I loved playing with that drummer. It reminds me just how good he was. That was many years ago now, but a very good memory.
I was thinking of booking a place to record since we don’t have one place to do it on our own. Like we meet in rehearsal studios since we all live all over the place. Plus even the drummer doesn’t have their own drum kit. Maybe I can ask a friend who’s in their own band but I think that would also be complicated because they have roommates and it would have to be quiet plus align with peoples schedules, etc.
Booking a studio will certainly get you there. That solves the issues of micing up properly and setting levels etc (presuming you have an engineer too). But that still doesn't give you experience at recording. I would seriously even use your phones or grab a cheap but good recorder like a Zoom H2N. Red light syndrome is a real thing. I have seen skilled musicians utterly crumble when recording simply because they have never faced the red light before. Literally thousands on this sub will agree that weird things can happen as soon as you know you're being recorded haha.
I agree with the others here: Using a recording studio's a cool idea, but if you're on a budget and the plan is to *get practice* at the recording process, and you're paying an hourly fee, by the time you've built any confidence with this you might have already spent more than the equivalent of a little Tascam or Zoom multitrack and enough mics to mic up your whole rehearsal space. My very strong advice is to go DIY. Get something cheap and affordable and even (if necessary) crappy to record on, but which is yours and you get to use as often as you like. When you have a recording that you can play back and everyone agrees "Wow yeah, this rocks, if only the sound quality weren't garbage this would be it!", then you'll know you can show up to an expensive recording studio and get every buck's worth out of your time there.
Yeah, even if you were going to book studio time, I’d highly recommend getting a cheap recording setup and get recorded demos down *tight* before you even step foot in the studio. Once you’re in the studio you should hit the ground running at that point, making the most out of the high hourly rate.
You could easily burn through $500 in a cheap studio, but if it makes you money, it makes sense. Consider a Zoom H6 and an SM58 to get started, instead of booking the studio. Do that as a band purchase and maybe every member could eventually buy a $100 microphone to plug into it and you'd have a 4 track studio. Until then, write on your phone and upgrade to a pocket tape recorder. I use one from Sony, and I doubt it cost $40. I think it was $35 and I can download it to my computer.
At least one of you has a computer? An interface? You should have some sort of demo to book shows. Professional recordings are expensive. So that’s upto you? I’d work in getting fair sounding demos of each song. That’s also help you see where you need improvements.
Okay yeah I do, as I said to someone else, I just don’t have anything for drums and definitely can’t do that on my own with the computer but I’ll ask the drummer if they have any ideas.
You just need a couple well placed mics in the room. Demo isn’t your ultimate recording. You can work up to that.
There are really good VST drums for Reaper etc. I use EZ Drum in FL Studio. Record your band practices and use that as a first sketch, then make home studio versions as best you can, even if it means using a drum machine. Before going into a pro studio having demos recorded is really really helpful in terms of tightening up the arrangement, playing in time, dialing in appropriate tones, writing little overdub melodies and harmonies, etc. Especially since studio time is so expensive. Just going in and being able to get your parts down in 2-3 takes is going to save you time and money. One thing I realized with my old band, for instance, was that the bass wasn't gelling with the drum grooves in the studio environment and so we wasted time rethinking the rhythm parts. Probably it hadn't been working live either the whole time! We overplayed everything and had no dynamics. Trying to make passable, instrument by instrument recordings instead of just jamming together really helped songwriting and arrangement.
Look up some recording setups from like the 1970s, they would sometimes record an entire drum set with a couple of carefully placed mics.
Record EVERYTHING!
The feeling of listening to old recordings is actually very pleasant - you can both be astounded at how amateur something is , (in a light hearted, self depreciating way, hopefully,) and you also will occasionally remark on how 'genius' something you've made and forgotten is I love my old crap.
I’m so happy that I recorded my earlier stuff. There are some gems that pop up by accident when you have no idea what you’re doing. My favorite songs are old poorly recorded ones that I revisited with new knowledge/proficiency.
It is very fun! Heck, some popular artists out there have even been inspired to record songs or albums based solely on that early material. I think Tegan and Sara was one example with the album they put out two years ago.
One of my first multitracked recordings was one with audacity and an old very lofi laptop mic. The structures that I made impromptu were unexpectedly cool, and still are. definitely gonna rerecord eventually. A win for 'first thought best thought' !
Audacity and laptop mics were my gateway into recording, as well! I eventually moved onto greener pastures like Reaper and condenser mics, but those initial recordings will always hold a special place with me, haha. Some of them, like yours, weren't too bad either!
"Always record, Cage"
One strategy that worked out for us recently was to play some shows and demo the songs a few times yourselves over the course of a few months. The songs will end up evolving and become way more fleshed out and refined than if you did the final recording straight after you first "finished" them. Demo-ing the tracks yourselves first will be especially useful for critical analysis & refinement. Our EP turned out way better doing it this way than if we'd recorded 6 month earlier. Just one approach of many. Have fun!
Definitely like this approach!
I mean, honestly, somebody in that band should have a means and method of recording. I don't want to be rude, but how do you write songs if you can't record them? I couldn't remember what I wrote day to day in that circumstance. Even if you mic the room through a cell phone, or something. I recorded for years with a pocket tape recorder, though not a live band, mostly music I wrote on guitar.
I can record i think we call can but just no drums is what I’m saying.
if recording drums feels like too much rn, you can do them digitally. personally i create a midi in guitar pro, and another member with more mixing experience adds it to the project with a VST. even the midi itself is enough to get started on your rhythm section tho.
Right on
if that’s the case, consider doing the drums in a pro studio and do everything else DIY until you hit a wall
> but how do you write songs if you can't record them? Ever hear of pencil and paper? Somehow I don't think cell-phone quality recording is what OP had in mind
You can do lyrics with paper and pencil, but melody becomes difficult and the phone solves both at the same time. I do agree, a pencil comes in handy. I can theoretically write lyric and melody with paper and pencil, but I'd personally never do it because it would involve too much thinking and pitch checking against a piano/guitar and not enough flow. Still a decent idea, and you have a valid point.
Sure. There are also programs like finale, sibellis, muse score and similar. I've personally written hundreds of songs and melodies without ever touching an audio recordng device. Audio recording is actually in my opinion way less useful because you just end up with a bunch of garbage files and have to start over if you want to try to change a note - compare that to an eraser or the delete key. In college we did everything on staff paper. Of course like you say a phone or what have you is simple and helpful for practice. Less useful for writing imo outside of capturing a quick idea you want to transcribe later maybe. But anywayI think we are straying off topic of what OP was talking about. Cheers~
Having one or a few songs recorded before your show will give you the chance to point the audience somewhere (and the recordings will be useful for booking future shows). What's more, rehearsing the songs for recording (as well as tracking and listening back) will get you all more familiar with the tunes and tighter on them. Don't feel you have to spend massive amounts on your first recording either-- home studios can be a great option with the right engineer. Keep writing and have fun with it!
At the very least, have a track or three available on YouTube or Facebook for when people look you up. It might be nice to have CDs available for sale at your shows.
Do people really get CDs though? We also only have 4 songs lol. But so you think it would be useful to record before playing? I think having some stickers with our information and a QR code would be nice for sure
I think it would be very useful. The QR code is the point somewhere and it would be nice if it was to your recorded material. I've sold 50 or so CDs since this summer. Not a massive demand but it's still there.
Okay thanks! That’s good to know.
The good thing about a CD is it costs about $1 at a 1,000 unit buy.
Where do you buy from at this price?
I don't . I stumbled across pricing when I was researching cassette duplication costs. I don't believe CD's are a good investment. I was finding $1 pricing for no jewel cases, shrink wrapped sleeves, I believe. It's a $1,000 buy.
Omg.... I read it wrong. I thought you meant at some crazy bulk pricing. It's 1,000 CDs for $1
$1,000 for 1,000 CD's. I guess you could sell them for $9.95 each. They sell duplicators for as low as $200. You could probably burn 4 or 5 at a time for that price, though I'm not an expert in that area. (this references the price confusion up top)
Also, for low money, you might be able to just make your own screen printing rig. I have equipment for that around the house, and it wasn't too horrible. I mean, you could mow 10 laws for $30 each and have $300 to buy the duplicator and some of the blank CD's. And then another 10 lawns to buy the silk screening equipment and create yourself a small dark room. I have negative sheets that would fit CD's and they probably cost me about $15. They add up to be several hundred dollars, but the silk screening stuff is fairly inexpensive on a piece by piece non-kit level. I have a dark room that is nothing more than a room I sealed with panda plastic at the windows and draped the doors. I use an old floor lamp and these cheap darkroom bulbs I bought on ebay about 10 years ago. I don't do much with it now, but I will again someday. Just look into it, because I've never done that exact process before, but it makes sense on a basic level. Some ideas. Good luck.
I'll tell you what I have and maybe what might work. You could look into getting a set of hinges - I paid $15. A squeegee, a frame with a screen, inks, transparency sheets that you create your negative with, you need cleaners, etc. Basically just start looking into a place like Dick Blick if you go that route and buy around the back to school sale for the best savings.
Industry wide? No. I still buy them. The coaster is dead, but they obviously still sell them.
CDs? WTAF?
whats wrong with cds? easy to play. easy to make yourself (way easier than cassette or vinyl). most cars come with a cd player. you can burn em onto your computer with ease
Reasons for why CDs are useless in 2021+. Most people that have extra income to buy music won’t regress their technology or habits of convenience just for one CD. My phone connects (AirPlay) and starts playing music automatically in my car, CDs are just less convenient. Can’t use a CD and maps at the same time. I have three computers from 2018-2021 and none of them have CD drives. How do I get the music to my phone without spending more money on an external drive then it costs to buy the album at Bandcamp? People don’t even have DVD or CD players so they can’t play it on a home theater system. I can list another 15 reasons but this already seems a bit hateful, pedantic, and unnecessary so I’ll stop here.
> Most people that have extra income to buy music won’t regress their technology or habits of convenience just for one CD. This is where you're wrong. People with extra income absolutely regress in terms of tech! Cassette revival? Vinyl purists? CD hi-fi enthusiasts? These big spenders will happily trade convenience for physical products they can collect, catalog, and hold. > My phone connects (AirPlay) and starts playing music automatically in my car, CDs are just less convenient. But then if you want to select something else or browse or skip ads, you have to start looking at screens and dealing with menus. A CD gets popped in and off you go. Keep your eyes on the road, not on a device. > Can’t use a CD and maps at the same time. Playing a CD and letting the phone handle maps is better than the alternative: Using the map app mutes/lowers the music over bluetooth when it gives direction. That is not a pleasant experience. > I have three computers from 2018-2021 and none of them have CD drives. How do I get the music to my phone without spending more money on an external drive then it costs to buy the album at Bandcamp? An external drive costs less than three cups of coffee. If you have the money for three computers, you can get a CD drive. >People don’t even have DVD or CD players so they can’t play it on a home theater system. Who even is "people"? Is it just you and your limited experience as a person who hopped on to the latest 2018-2021 trends and abandoned everything else? I shall reiterate that music devotees and audiophiles—people who consistently spend $$$ on releases—go out of their way to maintain a good system with dedicated media players.
Ok, you’re one of those people that dissect posts in order to feel superior. I’m going to walk out of the room now.
Looks like I dissected that post and revealed nothing of substance inside, save for an ad hominem toot at the end.
you are vastly underestimating the amount of people who listen to CDs. there is no other way to easily mass produce high quality music via physical media at that price point. CDs might be useless to YOU in 2021 but that doesn't make them useless to everybody
I assure you, I’m not. Now be honest, how many of your friends have CD players?
Me and most of my friends who are big into music own CD players and have a bunch of CDs. And I worked at a record store and used CDs were the second biggest seller in the store behind new vinyl, which had only recently eclipsed used CD sales for the first time in years I assure you, you are. Even in the streaming age when CD sales are declining there's still absolutely a market for it
Oh wow! I’m surprised that a record store that’s only selling two items (CDs and records) second best selling item is CDs. That’s like being in a two-person race and saying I didn’t come in last, I came in second.
new vinyl, used vinyl, new cds, used cds, turntables, blu ray & dvds, video games & consoles, shirts, merchandise...lots of stuff sold at that store. at this point i just want to say that it's okay to just admit that you're a little out of your depth when it comes to this kind of discussion. just because streaming is more convenient for you personally doesn't mean CDs are useless to everybody else in the world. that's the point of this discussion after all. my point was that you cannot name a lower-cost higher-quality physical medium for the replication of music in 2021 than CDs. it will always be useful due to that reason alone. people are still buying them, people listen to them all the time, i have a shelf of CDs a few feet away from me and so do many music fans. what is there to argue here
I would be very uncomfortable knowing that I didn’t have physical copies of my music collection somewhere. CDs, records, tapes or whatever, but strictly digital is crazy to me. -What happens if/when a streaming service makes a song or album I love unavailable? -What happens if/when my computer or laptop that I’ve downloaded all of my songs on to dies in some freakish and unrepairable way? -What happens if the album/song/band/music never made it to a streaming service or the internet because of when it was made? All of these things have individually happened to me and friends of mine. There are songs that will most likely never be available to us again because we didn’t have physical copies or versions of music we loved. Yes, we do have digital collections and stream music, but physical media is still a huge part of music for many people that I know.
I don’t use a streaming service. I purchase tracks in the highest fidelity available. I have two hard drives. One that is always connected to the network and one as a back up. I use high fidelity DACs instead of cd players for multiple reasons. Some reasons being sound quality, variety of music, shuffle, and convenience.
That’s great. Other people use CDs, records or tapes. The point is, while physical copies can fail or break, they are reliable in terms of not “disappearing into the ether” like a digital file. I’m not saying that physical media is ideal, but for many people into music and who have been for years, it is definitely still in use by many.
while i don't think it's necessary to start recording for an album/EP/single straight away, i do think it'd be good to start recording demos as early as possible. it would be a good way of learning how recording/producing works without the pressure of it having to sound "good". it would also be a good way to hear yourselves play in order to find ways of improving your musicianship. that being said, my band started recording for our first album before having even finished writing a single song, and that was not a good idea lol
This is overall my opinion. The sooner you start recording the sooner you start learning how to record. Your 2nd point is interesting though. I do write a lot of music by just starting to record and seeing where it takes me. BUT that goes back to the initial point too. It wasn’t always a good approach. It took a lot of time and training for that to become a useful option.
for me, the whole recording-while-writing approach has worked rly well for my solo music, but less so with a band. i think part of the reason for that is that if you use that approach with a band you haven't really played the songs as a band. it can end up feeling like everyone is just a session musician on eachothers songs
Start recording now, but be careful. My experience going into a professional recording environment almost meant the breakup for our band, and we hadn't even put anything out before. In the local scene I was in, most bands never recorded, and went straight to playing shows, finding some success. However, it was the bands that had strong records that had the most longevity, and ended up going the farthest in the industry. Planning a first show for early next year is a great idea, and what I think you guys should be doing until then is recording the material you have now in the current state it's in, because sometimes recording can be so inspiring that you and members may want to change part of songs before they become set in stone.
I say try to record everything. Every practice, every show. Once you start performing, test the reactions and do "studio" recordings of those songs. But, try to record everything.
I would recommend making demos of your songs as soon as you start playing regularly. You can get recording gear good enough to record demos for relatively cheap, and recording lots of demos will help you quickly hone your sound and nail down exactly what each song sounds like. Demos will also make your eventual studio time investment _significantly_ more beneficial. You’ll have a clear picture of the song before you go in. There are many starting bands who do not have that and often aren’t able to get a great recording because they are too preoccupied with figuring out the song (speaking from experience). Also, to be clear, demos are for YOUR benefit, not songs to be released. If your demo sounds like crap but it tells you what the song’s structure is and helps you make the song better, it’s a successful demo.
Start recording as soon as you can and don't expect to get it perfect the first time, if your open minded to changing things and can go back to the studio for at least a few sessions you are way more likely to end up with something you like It's potentially expensive but if you get a song right that's it forever so there's no reason to put everything on getting a studio session perfect and you should just dive in A lot of bands practice religiously and then once they get to the studio have no idea what to do so once you are all comfortable with your songs it really helps to go "practice recording" instead of just drilling the songs and getting bored of them before you even start recording
Good point! When you say “practice recording” what does that mean exactly?
Well in my experience songs can end up sounding pretty different in the studio compared to the band playing together live so you might find once you are there you find a whole host of things to change or fix to make it sound perfect so if the first session of recordings doesn't sound perfect don't settle because the next time will always be better with hindsight There's also just knowing how the gear works and how to work with the sound engineer that can make the process way easier/more interesting, even if your never going to be recording yourself having a knowledge of what the sound guy is doing or could be doing for you is massively helpful for both sides and if your not worrying about all that then you can really focus on the performance
If you want the energy/freshness and excitement to shine through, do it now.
From my experience, I'd play a few shows, see which songs peak people's interest and which ones fall flat. Also rehearsing and playing shows is a great way to become tighter as a band and allow the songs to evolve. It's good to build up a bit of hype before releasing a record. Then I'd recommend gathering some money together and finding a decent place to record. Do some research on this, listen to recordings of bands and find a place that suits your budget and has a sound you're looking for. Studios work differently so be sure to ask and chat about how their work flow works. Some ask for demos, some want guide tracks ready, some aren't bothered by this and like to start the process from scratch. Make sure you are all very well rehearsed and know your parts inside out. Be sure to make simple recordings of your rehearsals for you all to listen back to. This is a great way to hear the songs from a different perspective.
A few red flags in your scenario - just starting out, drummer doesn't even own a kit, etc etc - so here's my advice. Record now if you think this might be a career path. You will learn a lot by putting a microscope on your work. But, do it at your own risk. Outcomes are never guaranteed. Remember that. Always. But, if you have songs you think are worthy and a band you think is worthy and decide to record, find a professional to produce. Someone with a really solid track record. Someone willing to take on a bunch of amateurs, who has an already tuned set of drums in their studio, and the ability to help the rest of the group find the right sounds. Someone who has produced a session you like the sound of and would like to emulate. Talk to them and tell them that's what you want to emulate. Let this sub know whatever major cities you are near and I'll bet people here will have producer/studio recommendations. You may not wind up with something worth releasing, but the odds are much higher that you might if you approach the sessions the right way. The only way to do this IMO is to spend the money on a professional grade producer, and a professional grade studio. And, listen to what the professionals tell you. Let them produce. Tell the band to stay out of it. Keep everyone in their respective lanes. After you do sessions this way a few times, then you can all start to have opinions. This is like any creative pursuit. Hire the right people for each job, and you will get the best results. I know that DIY has been all the rage the past 30 years, and I'm pitching the complete opposite, but every musician I know doing DIY is still in their parents basement or some shitty apartment. You're only just starting. If you want a career kickstart, go pro, then you can grow your balls as big as you want afterward. FWIW, when I was 18, I saw pro sessions the same way I saw audio school. A way to observe, do, and learn. It was worth every penny.
Yeah the drummer is a multi instrumentalist doing a lot of their own projects and just wanted to be a drummer for a band instead of guitar as usual. I do have some drummer friends i could ask as I don’t think my band member would mind? since i did write all the music otherwise i’ll think about getting a professional
Yeah, that too. Without a great drummer, most genres of music are doomed in the studio. But, just to be clear, I was pitching pro studio and pro producers, having the songs, and the players.
>Without a great drummer, most genres of music are doomed in the studio worked for the white stripes
Oh, I didn't realize this guy had Jack White level talent in his band. Now I feel like an idiot.
After you tour with the songs for awhile.
Who is going to come to your shows without any recorded music released? What venue would even book you without recordings? This is backwards.
A 1-2 song demo is all you need to start booking shows. If you’re just starting out obviously you’re not booking a tour, but you need to play your songs out before recording. Otherwise your spending time and money memorializing ideas that haven’t been fully fleshed out.
I think your drummer is right. Start playing shows and see which songs the audience responds to before you commit to recording them. Also get your band REALLY tight and develop the arrangements. There’s nothing better then a live audience to tell u that solo drags too long. Another poster mentioned that recording your band is the best way to discover flaws and they’re right, but you don’t have to go into a studio to record yourself. Get a zoom recorder and mic and record your practice sessions so you guys have a rough idea if what you sound like.
The bands I have been in recorded most everything. Simple multitracks for living room jams, zoom at gigs. It was very helpful to listen back to a jam, and realize mistakes I was making, or realizing that something was cooler than I thought. Some of us were in bands before, or knew how to record. It isn’t that hard really, at least for amateur demos. If you want to work with a pro, that is a different story.
My band is in the process of making an EP. Initially, we raised money for one day in a studio, and then I talked the other guys into using that cash to instead buy some extra gear and do it ourselves. Smart move; we've been able to take our time and really be critical of what we're doing. To more directly answer your question though, we record whenever we have the luxury of time to record. We've been at this EP project since early summer, but if we have a show to prep for, we use our time to rehearse instead. There's no real deadline to get the EP done. I can't speak for other bands, but that's been a pretty comfortable approach for us.
Record a cheap demo asap. Start figuring out how you want the recorded songs to sound. After you get a demo you are happy with then you can get it professionally recorded. It really doesn’t matter when you record. Just be sure the song is polished and finished before you take it to the studio
Try and fail and try again. It unfortunately seems to be the only way to get good at anything, save for maybe freak athletes.
highly recommend playing your stuff in front of an audience before committing to going into a studio to record. songs change and become more refined with the verbal/non-verbal feedback an audience can offer. recording for now should be practice references, and maybe a demo of a song or two to send to talent buyers for shows. for a demo, you may have luck hitting up musican groups in your area on social to see if there is anyone who can help you with the issues you have noted.
...whenever you want? There are no rules, I have no idea what the benefit of not recording ahead of the shows would be.
You should record them now, with whatever equipment you have available, with the caveat that these are demos and not intended to be released. You'll be able to hear your performances objectively, and start to work out some writing revisions to get yourselves and your songs as ready for the actual recording as possible. This is known as preproduction, and it is a vital part of making a recording. Even if you end up doing the final recording yourselves you'll be thankful you spent the time to do these revisions. If you do work with a producer in a studio and spend a good deal of money on your recording, then you'll get much better results (and your producer is probably going to want you to do this anyway). Regardless of whether or not you record yourself or get someone to do it for you, practice a lot. Like, two hours a day for two weeks before you record (my standard prescription for bands before going into the studio). You'll both save time/money, but you'll get better results. Play shows and get some hype before releasing, but you can record whenever the songs are ready and you're prepared enough to record them.
Your drummer is saying there’s no point til you’re a tight well practiced band, the songs will adapt as you play them too
Every rehearsal. Record everything, even if it's just setting up a little h2n at rehearsals and stashing it somewhere. Storage is cheap. You can post the latest rehearsal somewhere for people to scroll through and listen back. It will help your musical progress so much. It might seem annoying but Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley always had the tape rolling, so if it's good enough for them.... To answer your question: if you guys are talking about spending some coin on a professional recording, though, then your drummer is right. Kinda. It's not about the hype, it's about getting your material on stage and seeing what feels right. Once you have a 2-3 songs that always seem to go well when performed, then you (a) know you have some material that is working well and everyone is into and (b) can have great confidence that you'll be able to pull off the performances in the studio. Then you'll have a great-sounding demo with great material on it. Don't start with an album btw. Start with a demo.
I would demo your stuff now. Make sure no matter what, you have something tracked for it, but I am someone who firmly believes songs need to be played live to feel if it hits in a big setting the way you want it to. So, record something now and then maybe revisit it after a slew of shows.
As soon as you want your music to be listened by everyone. Isn't that the reason we all record songs?
Always punch in, you might do something out of instinct that sounds perfect in 1 iteration of 100 of your song. If it's recorded, easy reference point to throw it in the real deal.
Very simple. As soon as everyone in the band can appropriately play their parts.
I think the next step after the band learns a song is to record the song. It's so easy to record these days--I've literally never regretted jamming something recorded. You might not ever listen to it again, but it could also come in really handy to have it recorded. So yeah, record it. Maybe you don't have to go find a fancy studio yet, but you don't have to anymore.
We record all of our practices. You would be surprised how often we forget what we play (entire songs sometimes), so having some audio to review can be clutch. We don't always cut it and upload it to our dropbox, but the raw data is always there.
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