THE BEDROOM PRODUCER
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uilding on the theme of this latest issue of our magazine, the tools for music production and what is considered as a ‘recording studio’ have dramatically changed over the last few years. Driven by access to technology, as well as the rise of genres (which don’t necessarily require a traditional recording environment with expensive microphones and preamps, but
by Abhimanyu Malhotra, The Sonic Arts Co. rather operate ‘in-the-box’), the term ‘bedroom producer’ has cemented it’s place in the music industry. Contrary to the name, which might imply a product that is of sub-standard quality, bedroom producers & artists have consistently proven that creating good music no longer calls for a million dollar studio and vintage analog equipment. In this month’s column we discuss how technology has enabled someone in a 1 BHK apartment to make hits that gain as much, if not more popularity than songs produced in a professional recording studio (with
January - February 2020
say, an SSL 9000 desk and other such world class equipment). Traditionally, the foundation of music production and recording, is built on ensuring the medium through which an instrument or a band or a singer is recorded is of the highest calibre and quality. This meant that each stage of a studio’s signal flow process needed to be optimised in order to be competitive in the market. This in turn called for expensive microphones and preamps for recording, high-end consoles and monitoring equipment for mixing and mastering, an environment which needed to be made absolutely sound-proof as well as a plethora of hardware devices that add their own unique value and character in the signal flow process. A studio’s USP hence, was often defined by what gear they had as well as the quality of the recording environment. It become a rea-son an artist would choose a particular place, for a specific sound that the studio was known for. However as innovation in technology continued to shape the industry, two major factors con-tributed to a complete transformation of how music is recorded and produced. The first, is the fact that computing power exponentially increased, while the physical size of microchips, processors and computing systems decreased. This meant packing a lot more efficiency in machines that are portable, and available not just for industrial and commercial purposes but for retail users as well. As these machines developed, softwares for recording and production also scaled along with the tech that was driving them. Industry-grade softwares like Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase and Ableton were designed to facilitate quick and efficient workflow on massive session files. The ability to record a band or make a beat was no longer confined to a studio, but became portable. It was only a matter of time before even laptops were able to run all out music sessions, thanks to DSP (or digital processing systems) that shared the workload and computing power. Companies like Universal Audio started developing software versions of the very analog devices that were their flag-ship products, opening accessibility of high quality music equipment
to a huge market, and it was not long before dozens of other audio equipment manufacturers followed suit. Technology not only allowed innovation in the equipment, but also in the environments that are needed for music production. Dozens of sound proofing kits are now available on the internet which serve towards creating an environment within which music can be recorded and mixed, even in a normal bedroom. These techniques range
The keys to your creativity
from DIY to professional grade kits that come with bass traps, diffusion absorption pads and much more. Portable microphone enclosures and cages Best-selling range of audio interface also enable recording on the go. Audio equipment manufacturers realised that their mass Call/WhatsApp: 9884304425 market growth was not www.promusicals.com going to come from a handful of studios, but from prosumer level customers, and that’s why you now see lined, since artists use templates a plethora of products that are made that already have dialled in levels specifically for “the bedroom producer”, on EQs, compressors and summing which brings us to the second factor channels for the various instrument that has contributed to this transforgroups that they would use in a mation and that is the evolution of track. This trend is only going to music genres. Electronic music, though continue, and you now even have it started on hardware, is now widely hits being written on softwares such produced “in-the-box” and there are as GarageBand on the iPhone. While hundreds of companies that produce one can argue that the charm of digital instruments or VSTs for syntheworking in a recording stu-dio with sis, recording and mixing. Portability analog gear definitely has it’s own allowed artists that are touring to also character and appeal, it is without create and compose on the road, and doubt that the future of this indusyou often read about so many modern try is now moving to “in-the-box”, day hits being recorded in a hotel room and digitisation of the process is or a tour bus. Especially with electronic now widespread enough to where music, which is heavily based on samanyone in any corner of the globe pling and synthesis; you do not really can learn how to record or write or require a traditional recording studio mix music simply with a laptop, a to create such music. Even the mixing basic microphone, keyboard and process becomes much more streamYouTube access.
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January - February 2021 2020
