Wired: Musicians' Home Studios
"A great book, full of practical advice and tips from working professional do–it–yourselfers."
– Tom Dumont: No Doubt
"Sound: perhaps the most elusive art. There has long been a draw to capture it: voices, musics etc. froze in time and place for the amusement/amazement of other ears. From Thom Edison and his wax cylinders on up, we who are tuned in to sound, musicians, technicians, artists, 'listeners,' are intrigued with the many ways to record what we hear. Anyone with a simple cassette recorder is part of this movement, and worthy of inclusion here. Live capture. Life capture. The obsession takes various forms. Herein we find stories from some pop-culture sojourners of various temperments"
– Lee Ranaldo: Sonic Youth
Advances in technology along with the advent of affordable digital recording has ushered in a new era of the home recording studio. The novice musician and the quintessential professional alike can explore the fun of laying down tracks themselves and getting WIRED.
WIRED: Musicians Home Studios serves as both a technical guide to 'do–it–yourself' home style recording as well as a journal of first-hand experience and solid advice from some of the music industry's finest: Tom Dumont of No Doubt, Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Snoop Dogg, and many more. From common sense tips to in-depth recording techniques, these musical mavericks show you the essentials of recording and how home recording is within anyone's reach:
- Set up your own recording space and learn the ins and outs of recording, editing, mixing.
- The pros and cons of analog and digital recording and working with digital audio workstations.
- Learn about the different types of mics and micing techniques for drums, instruments, and vocals.
- Understand guitar, vocal, bass and drum signal chains.
- Outboard gear 101:compressors, limiters, EQ's, mic preamps.
- Understand basic acoustic principles to guide your room construction and recording setup.
Alongside tech tips and anecdotes WIRED provides a glimpse into the personal lives and the music industry battle stories of some of the most successful artists of our time. WIRED not only shows you how but why more and more musicians are taking recording into their own hands, all set against a backdrop of a distinctive photologue of the people, places and equipment that make it all happen.