The Recording Revolution Hits Four Years

If you had told me back in 2009 that I’d still be writing posts on The Recording Revolution four years later, I would have laughed in your face. Mostly because I didn’t think this site would amount to much, and partly because I figured I’d run out of things to talk about 3 months in.

And yet, here we are, exactly four years to the day that I sat down to write my first post for the world. That’s 600+ posts, 250+ videos, and just about 2 million visitors each year. 

Via Till Westermayer Flickr

What You Have Learned

So to celebrate I thought it would be great to hear from YOU, my “students” from afar. I asked a couple of weeks ago on Facebook what was the biggest thing you had learned from your time so far with The Recording Revolution. Here are some of my favorite responses.
 

Use stock plug-ins; learn your DAW of choice. – Alton R.

Learning how to mix with only your stock plugins is a great exercise. It helps you focus on learning the basics of EQ and compression. If nothing else it proves that you don’t need fancy plugins to make a great mix. Also, it doesn’t matter which DAW you work in. Just pick one that you feel comfortable with and get to work!

Mixing in mono and at low volumes, points out so many imperfections that I never otherwise would have noticed – Joe S.

I’m a huge fan of tricking myself into success. And two of my favorite mixing hacks are mixing in mono and at low volumes. If you literally changed nothing else about your workflow beyond these two moves, you’d get better results guaranteed.

For me it is the overall goal of keeping focused – and the knowledge that mixing is not a magical thing. Work hard, keep focused and you will do some “magic” – Bastian K.

It’s all too easy to hear a great mix and assume it was the result of one or two big sweeping mix moves that drastically improved things. Whether it was a secret technique or mysterious plugin, we prefer to believe that there is a magic bullet that can get our mixes to the next level. The truth is, drastic results come from small mundane mix moves that add up. It’s a cumulative effect.

Not over thinking the process, and just working on finishing mixes without focusing on perfection. – Brian T.

I think many of us are so afraid of failure that we simply over think the recording and mixing process. The good news is you don’t need a perfect mix to go pro. All you need is a mix that’s 85% of the way there and you’ll do just fine!

I love how TRR taught me that I should always think of music/recording as an art, and not a science. – Noah C.

I’m confident that where many of us get tripped up is in the belief that recording is more of a technical skill than an artistic one. While there are many technical elements to the process, what really makes a great recording or mix is the art, the performance, and the musicality of all parties involved. Of the two pillars that hold up great recordings, never lean on the technical one too much.

The most impactful thing I have learned from you is that I already have all I need to make good recordings and that it’s up to me to use the tools I have and improve myself – Eric M.

This last quote says it all. If I could scream one message loud and clear over the home studio airwaves it would be this: “Gear doesn’t matter. Stop making excuses and go make a great sounding record with the stuff you already have.”

It’s not a popular message, but it’s the truth. And if you embrace it, you’ll be more encouraged and more motivated to make great music than ever before.