Modern tech has totally changed the nature of working as a session musician. Nowadays, most session players have arguably as much skill as audio engineers do, and are more than capable of running their own studios, allowing them to record from home.
In the same way that real money games like the online blackjack Canada has to offer has changed the landscape for those who enjoy a spot of gambling every so often, musicians can work from home now. This is excellent for their clients, too, since the expense of studio time is no longer an issue.
These recommendations are some tips on what to prioritise as you go about constructing your home studio for session work.
Quality Amps and Instruments
Right off the bat you need to know that really expensive recording equipment won’t make bad music equipment sound any better. Actually, it may just highlight the negative qualities of your cheap gear, and end up making it sound even worse than usual!
If you have session musician dreams, whether you will focus on remote sessions or not, you will simply have to get professional gear. Join a band who plays at bars, save your money, and get the best gear you can as soon as you are able.
A Computer with Decent RAM
If you are an engineer and recording full band setups at the same time, a first-rate computer rig is a non-negotiable. As a session musician, however, you will only be recording a couple of tracks at the most simultaneously, and your CPU won’t get taxed with excessive processing. This means that the most you will need to do in terms of upgrading is going to be your RAM, and this is worth it, no matter how much recording you may be doing.
Converter and Interface
Pro-level standalone conversion units can be ridiculously expensive, and you may well have to modify your computer with extra inputs in order for it to connect with this kind of device. I recommend picking up an interface.
With your high-quality preamp, another must-have, you won’t be required to focus on the preamp included when you choose an interface. You will be able to choose whatever make or model has the best quality converters as you need.
A Good Quality Microphone
It should go without saying that you will most definitely need a high quality microphone or two as well. The choice when it comes to which kind of mic you get will depend on the instrument you play: violinists will probably want different condensers or ribbon mics, and guitarists will require condensers and dynamic mics.
The best recommendation for choosing the right microphone is chatting to other session musicians who play what you play, and getting some feedback from engineers who are experienced in recording your instrument. They will be able to give you experiential advice, and there is nothing to beat that!
You don’t need to be able to record a big variety of different artists and instruments, you just need to be able to get your own sound down at the highest possible quality as a session musician. Implement these tips for your home recordings and get to work!
