Help me!

[Audiodude]

Okay, so my job is to spend all day every day talking to people on the phone about studio gear. But when presented with the opportunity to stand in front of a group of people and talk about studio gear, I suddenly turn into a mute idiot.

So please, if you would, help me...

In a little more than a month, I'll be flying to Eureka Springs, Arkansas to speak at a workshop for songwriters (http://www.ultimatesongwritersworkshop.com). My assigned topic is "how to build a killer home studio for the least possible amount of money." I've got three hours to fill. It's time (past time, really) for me to have an outline and start preparing my presentation.

Here's what I know..

-I want to discuss acoustics, including do-it-yourself fixes for existing rooms.

-I'll pull a few topics from our FAQ section, including "Mac or PC - which is better?" and "what's the best software?"

-I want to make some specific recommendations of books, DVD's, and other learning resources.

-My audience will consist of songwriters, singers, and guitarists who want to record their own music. Their technical experience ranges from none to highly proficient

-My demo system will consist of a MacBook running Logic Studio 8, a PreSonus Firebox interface, and whatever other gear / software I can talk manufacturers into letting me borrow (open to suggestions here).

-As part of the presentation, I want to do a simple vocal / guitar recording and show what's involved in making a demo. Maybe record this live with a songwriter from the audience, or maybe prepare it ahead of time, Food Network-style, so I can fast forward to the finished product.

My questions for you all...

If you were in the audience, what sorts of things would you like to see covered???

What practical tips would you share with a songwriter with little or no recording experience who is just getting started recording?

[itsplayed]

Hey Jeff...nice gig! Does the topic include everything from room treatment to system building for that "low cost killer home studio"? If so, could you be a little more specific on what killer means as far as recording/editing/mixing goes....What's the budget? Are you including do-it-yourself options or is this going to be based on store bought merchandise?

On a side note, I think the best advise you can give someone looking to "do it for themselves on a budget", is to steer them in the direction of very helpful websites..........like this one!...:p

[Bops2000]

Jeff,
here is an introduction to your masses, otherwise known as a monologue. Just ripped it out, hope it helps. db
cut me some slack on equip. and I can work on it some more dude.

A songwriter creates the artform well ahead of the recording medium. I would equate songwriting as painting.
I would equate processing the tune as brush strokes.
The best tunes are simple chord changes or derivatives of simple chord changes. Get too funky, and you get into a niche, not a bad thing at all, however, either you want to be steadfast as an artist, or be an artist and make money at it also.
It appears these days that the better artist with musical capabilities, gets the look as a songwriter to boot. Not the case at all, simply the additional expertise gives him or her the advantage to the masses of 'confidence' from the masses.
Most songwriters fail to see the end result, the 'wow' factor that they can create themselves, with simple recording techniques. They can 'wow' anyone by realizing the progression from paint to brush to canvas, that canvas is yours alone songwriter, the detail, or lack of it is you. You need to know how to bring the painting to light, on your own terms....
(blah blah blah)

I would like to hear about, as a songwriter the, available 'systems' to use that are non-technical, a lot of folks I know and deal with, just want to lay down tracks, for example an old school buddy of mine, Jerry, took about two years to get off tape to a tascam 2488 daw box.
Stuff like that. and also i would mention, although some folks 'write a tune' on various sample software, should be aware that although has merit, probably is already done from someone else across the globe.
Ok I shaddup now
Good luck

[dcwave]

I do not envy you. I have to do these about 4 times a year at large telecom trade shows on everything from VoIP to PBX trends to government regulations. Thankfully I am usually only allocated about 1 hour give or take 15 minutes.

Here is what I learned - tell them what you are going to talk about. Then talk about it, then recap what you just told them. That is the formula to successful speaking. The stuff you do in between is time stretchers

I noticed that the website lists your talk as "How to Set up a Killer Home Recording Studio for Less than $500!" - I don't see how you can possible setup a home studio for less than $500.

Okay back to what you really wanted - tips about what to tell these people and what I would want to hear.

Tip 1 - Don't quit your day job
Tip 2 - Learn to tune your instrument - even if its just your voice.
Tip 3 - Don't expect a million dollar sound recording in your bedroom.

Here is what I would want to hear from such a seminar , especially one geared towards home recording:
Gurrella Recording techniques - how to get the most out of your space - when to use the bathroom as a verb unit, should the blankets and mattresses be in front of the mic or behind the performer? Getting commercial levels without squashing the mix. Proper gain-staging when recording - you don't have to have the peaks at 0. These are few that pop into my head.

[Audiodude]

Hey Jeff...nice gig! Does the topic include everything from room treatment to system building for that "low cost killer home studio"? If so, could you be a little more specific on what killer means as far as recording/editing/mixing goes....What's the budget? Are you including do-it-yourself options or is this going to be based on store bought merchandise?
"Killer" in this case means whatever I / we think it should mean. I'm interpreting it as a "better-than-amateur sounding songwriter's studio to aid in the creative process, and possibly create demos to show off my hard work."

I'm hoping to come up with several studio packages, with the cheapest under $500 (computer not included). Any studio - even the $500 variety should include acoustic treatment as part of the strategy. But in the uber-cheap studio, acoustic treatment would probably consist of makeshift solutions such as the "cleverly-placed-bookshelf" diffuser, the "stack o' pillows" broadband absorber, and the "sack o' laundry" bass trap.

All the hardware and software will be of the "pro" (as in sold by Sweetwater) variety, albeit low-budget.

[87PRS]

Audio 101 to Audio 4001, simple recording solutions to the expensive alternatives. Using a cheap 4 track digital recorder as a songwriting tool, for ceative idea capture...being able to drop those ideas into a more complex system to add and create multiple tracks, building on sequencing and over-dubs, usb, firewire, lightpipe...hopefully they already own a compatible computer, and don't forget...Vista!!! Keep them smiling and scratching their heads, even the proefficient need a wow factor. Keep your head up and eyes open, Eureka Springs is known for rogue motorcycle gangs....feeling better now Jeff? Okay, so I envy an audiodude who gets paid for talking gear and recording to a bunch of musican songwriters, what a life! Show 'em what you know and have fun doing it...we also like to hold stuff and look at it, maybe push a button, and always sing a song.