How to Record a Song at Home: A Simple Guide

There comes a time when any budding musician has to try to record their work. It’s a step forward, whether you’re recording in a studio or the comfort of your bedroom. 

A good recording can get spread far and wide over the internet, regardless of if you spent a lot of money making it. We’re going to talk about how to record a song at home in this article, giving you some insight into the basics of recording and the tools available to you. 

Don’t worry if you’ve never recorded a thing in your life. We’re going to start from the absolute basics and provide you with the fundamental knowledge you need to get started.

Essential Tips on How to Record a Song at Home

The beautiful thing about this period in time is that there are thousands of musical tools to help you create any sound you want. You can take raw recordings of you and your instrument, or you can create what sounds like a robotic army marching to the beat of chainsaws and flamethrowers. 

You have a near-endless amount of opportunities in front of you. There are a few points to keep in mind if you plan to record well, though, and we’re going to go through them below. 

Let’s get to it:

Pick Software that Suits Your Needs

The most common myth around is that you need to have a system of sophisticated software to record anything worth listening to. There are certainly benefits to buying high-end recording equipment, but those benefits only come when you understand how to use them. 

In other words, don’t go out and buy the most expensive recording software out of the gate. We recommend trying your hand at some of the lower-end ones first because they’re just as useful for recording quality songs for beginners at home. 

Whether you’re learning how to record audio on Mac or PC, some programs will suit your needs. Many people got their start using Garageband or one of the hundreds of recording apps available for free on your phone. 

The software you choose should depend on the type of music you plan to record. Different music requires different features.

Features to Look for

Unless you plan to record single takes of yourself playing guitar and singing, you’ll need a little bit more than a single-track recorder. 

Your system should allow you to add multiple layers to the song you’re creating. In other words, you should be able to record one track of your voice, one track of your guitar, one for drums, and one for bass. Of course, you’ll record tracks for whatever instruments you plan to use. 

If you’re ambitious, you could also add dozens of more tracks that add texture to the music and embellish it when needed. 

The electronic musicians out there should try to find software that comes equipped with digital instruments, looping capabilities, and a lot of potential effects and unique sounds to work with. 

Finally, any software you choose should give you the ability to play around with specific tracks and tweak them to your liking. A raw recording can sound great, but a lot of musicians like to add effects after the track has been recorded. 

Carve Out Space to Record

A lot of modern musicians make chart-topping albums in their bedrooms or spare rooms. It seems that the key to making good music at home is having a space dedicated to the recording process. 

Wherever you choose to record, make sure that you’re in a quiet room with little disturbance from the outside world. As you progress with your recording practice, you can start to bring in more equipment like microphones, amplifiers, keyboards, and more.

The process gets a little more complicated when you clutter all of your equipment onto your bed whenever you want to record. Additionally, having a dedicated space for recording will make it more accessible to sit down and get to work whenever the feeling is right. 

For example, you might feel a little less inspired after you’ve hauled out all of your equipment, set it up, and sat down at the computer. It’s a lot easier if everything is ready for you when you want to start.

Write the Song Before You Record

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s possible to record a song gradually as you’re writing it. Many musicians have done this over the years, and the recording process is as unique as the musician who uses it. 

That said, you might want to have concrete ideas in your head as you just start to record. That is until you get a good feeling for the software you choose and your recording process. 

Write out the lyrics, the chords you plan to play, and some vague ideas about different tracks and layers that you may intend to use. Having all of these ideas fleshed out in advance can give you a lot to work with. 

In this way, you’ll have a basic sketch to try and record. For the beginner, this limitation can help you learn the ins and outs of your recording software and get a hang for how things work. Once you’re done recording the skeleton of your song, you can then go back and tweak things. 

We all want to sit down and translate our ideas and songs directly into a recording. Some people are gifted with that skill right out of the gate, and some people aren’t. 

Recording music is a skill, just like playing an instrument is a skill, though. That means it takes some time to learn how to make your ideas into songs that other people can listen to.

Want to Learn More about Recording?

Understanding how to record a song at home may just be the next step in your musical career. Hopefully, our exploration of the basics of home recording was helpful. 

Explore our site for more information on how to improve your craft.