3 Simple Truths For Recording "Radio Ready" Songs

Not every home recording sounds like it could be played on the radio. And there are a million different reasons why that might be true for a given song.

But some home recordings DO sound amazing. They sound “radio-ready” as I like to say.

And that’s what I want to help you with today.

Specifically I want to address actual recording process (which by the way is only one of 6 steps every song goes through from idea to final release) and give you three simple truths to unpack that will help you get better recordings without changing your gear.

Photo by Raffi Youredjian

Where The Magic (Actually) Happens

Let’s assume you’ve written a great and memorable song. And let’s assume you’ve crafted a powerful and engaging arrangement.

Now we come to first step that actually deals with the sonics of capturing a great recording.

When it comes to sonics (i.e. how your audio will actually sound in the end), no step is more important than this one. The recording (or “tracking”) phase is what makes or breaks your final product.

Ironically, no sooner do new home studio owners get into recording do they start to be- lieve that the mixing phase (Step 5) is where all the “magic” happens. They grow disillusioned with recording, thinking it purely as a quick “capture the performance” phase and want to move on to bigger and better things.

I know this is true because I deal with tens of thousands of students every month who express this sentiment. I also know this to be true, because I’m the same way!

But if you want a radio-ready song, please hear this important truth: the recording phase is truly where the magic happens – so don’t rush it and don’t settle.

Let’s first assume you already have the necessary equipment to begin recording. If you don’t (or are simply unsure if you have what you need) here are the only 5 things you need to get going.

Also if you are looking for some specific setups, here is a $350 studio rig you can use.

So, assuming you have the gear in place and your song is written and arranged – here are the three key recording truths you need to keep in mind in order to get great recordings in your home studio…

Recording Truth #1 – Mic Placement Is Everything.

What matters more than what mic you use to record is where you put the mic. This is called mic placement – and it’s the difference maker.

Did you know that if you move your mic an inch or two closer or farther away from your instrument or voice it can drastically change the bass response? Or that by angling a mic 90 degrees you can turn up (or down) the brightness?

Don’t just settle for the first place you put the mic. Experiment and tweak until you are getting the sound you hear in your head. To help you out, here are 4 ways to get more out of your current microphone(s).

Recording Truth #2 – Recording Too Loud Is A Problem.

One of the most common mistakes I see people making in the home studio is that they record their tracks too hot (too loud).

This is because somewhere along the line someone told them to record as loud as you can without clipping (that red light at the top of your meters). Unfortunately because digital is different than analog, that’s horrible advice.

To get a cleaner and more musical recording, grab the gain or volume knob on your audio interface or preamp and turn it down so that your audio signal inside your software is peaking at around 50% to 75% of the way up the meter.

No louder.

Your recordings will sound cleaner, clearer, and more musical if you follow this advice.

Recording Truth #3 – You Must Think Like A Producer.

Traditionally, major recording sessions involved not just a recording engineer but also a producer.

And what does the producer do? He casts the vision for what the recording should sound like. While the engineer would choose the right mic, placement, and pre- amp level, the producer would map out what kind of sound everyone was shooting for.

Today in your home studio, YOU are the producer, not just the engineer. You have to wear both hats.

And what that means is you must map out what you want the song(s) to sound like before you ever hit the record button. Move away from asking things like “What do good drums sound like?” to asking “What do I want these drums to sound like?”

Commit to a sound/vibe in your head and then execute.

If you let your recording sessions be shaped by those three truths, you will succeed. If you spend time playing with the mic placement until you get the sound you want, record at a nice conservative volume, and do everything from a producer’s mindset – committed to a sonic vision, your song will sound great.

Maybe not at first – but over time you will get better.

That’s the good news about recording: it’s an art form, not a science. You can learn it and improve.

Homework You’ll Actually Enjoy

To help you think like a producer and record better sounding tracks, I want you to do some homework.

Take 20 minutes today to listen to 3 of your favorite songs by your favorite artists and write down descriptive words for their sound.

How would you describe the drum sounds? The vocal sounds? What elements do you like or not like? Why?

This article is an excerpt from my popular ebook 6 Steps To A Radio Ready Song and covers just one of the six critical steps every song must go through from idea to final release. Download your copy of this guide absolutely free here.