We listen to tons of albums every day, and the recording and production quality tends to vary just as much as the styles of music do. Ultimately, it’s up to you (the artist) to decide what sort of sound you’re going for, and of course, cost is always a concern. Yes, in a perfect world, we’d all have the time and money to spend weeks tinkering in a professional studio. That’s not a reality for most of us. But are you sacrificing pro-sounding results for the convenience of home recording? Again, it all depends on what your goals are with your music, and the means at hand. But unless you really know what you’re doing, getting that “radio-ready” pro sound of polished tracks at home can be a struggle.
So, when is a pro studio the right choice for your project?
We’ve heard a lot of different stories from musicians: some swear by the studio, others prefer the freedom of working at home and could never imagine shelling out big bucks and dealing with time constraints. For others, booking studio time is a motivator: you know exactly when you’re going in, and you’d better have your tracks up to snuff by the time that day rolls around. With the advent of pro-quality (HD, even) home recording, a lot of musicians are doing basic tracking at home, and only going to the studio to lay down the major elements of their record. (Why record tambourine at the studio when you can do it at home?)
What are your thoughts on this? Can you get the sound you want from your DAW/home studio? Do you think a pro studio is a must for a serious musician, or a waste of money? Let us know in the comments below.