Not everyone might have the luxury of a built-in studio. So, don’t let the absence of one stifle your talent. All you need is a good location, a few pieces of equipment, and a hell of a good voice. So, here are a few pointers to help you record songs at home to express your talent.
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FIND YOUR TRACK
Do you intend to download a karaoke/instrumental version from the internet, or do you wish to play the song on your own instrument?
For karaoke covers, you can download the karaoke versions of songs from Sing2Music, Sing King, Karaoke Version, and so on. There are for the sole purpose of helping you record a cover song at home. Experiment with them and discover which one works best for you.
For a piano or guitar cover make sure your instruments are set up well. They shouldn’t hinder your performance in any way.
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BEWARE OF COPYRIGHT
Ensure you get a license to cover and post someone else’s song to avoid copyright issues. Some copyright owners let you perform covers if you share the video’s revenue cost with them. However, some songs are restricted from playing in certain countries so double-check your usage rights before you dive in.
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CHOOSE A GOOD LOCATION
Choose a soundproof environment free of background and white noise. A good place to effortlessly set up your equipment. To avoid distracting people from your song, keep your background simple and clutter-free.
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SET UP YOUR MIC
To record, you can use a high-quality microphone. You can also use your phone to record your cover. But if you want the best quality audio, you can always invest in a good quality mic at a reasonable price.
You can also invest in a condenser mic. A condenser mic plugs into an audio interface, which acts as a middleman. It simply translates microphone and instrument signals into a computer-readable format.
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SET UP YOUR CAMERA
A well-lit environment and a good lens can enhance your video quality dramatically. If you’re on a tight budget, you can simply use your phone camera. Or you can invest in a good quality camera at a reasonable price to capture you in the best light possible.
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USE A DAW
A digital audio workstation (DAW) is like a recording software with many helpful tools. With a DAW you can professionally record, edit, and compose music. There are a plethora of software options available, depending on whether you use a Mac or Windows computer. There are free ones like Audacity, Soundtrap, and Garage Band. But if you want to invest in a better quality program with more features, there’s Logic Pro X, Ableton, FL Studio, and so on.
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A LAPTOP OR A COMPUTER
Your laptop or computer will be the backbone to record your cover. You will need one to plug in your mic, use a DAW, edit, and upload your cover on YouTube.
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RECORD AND EDIT
Once you have your piece, get into editing. Edit out all background or white noises. Make sure your voice is perfectly aligned with the music. If you’re recording your music separately, merge your audio with your video. And there you have it! Here’s your finished cover song, ready to be published.