Third Take

What’s the one piece of gear every studio has? A lava lamp.

In my modest home studio, I’m usually recording myself, my band, or my friends. We all know we’re recording in a converted bedroom, and there are no expectations for it to look or feel like a “professional” studio. However, that doesn’t stop me from trying to make the studio as comfortable as possible. Recording is fun, but it is also stressful, and marathon days can be grueling. A few comforts can make a big difference in fatigue, attitude, and end result.

Atmosphere

The studio should be a place that makes you want to be creative. I couldn’t believe the change when I painted the walls and installed some creative lighting. All of a sudden, the studio had a vibe. It was a place I wanted to be – a place that inspired me to be creative.

I bought a gallon of blue paint from the “oops rack” of Home Depot for $5. One afternoon of hard work later, the room was transformed from a boring white box into a creative space. The track lighting was more expensive, but for under $200 I had a set of work lights and some dangling mood lights. Each set of lights is on a different switch, so I can get enough light when I need to hook stuff up, or turn off the spots for a coffee-shop kind of mood.

Be careful about hanging stuff on the wall – picture frames can rattle against the wall in the presence of a loud guitar amp. Instead, tack up some posters or tapestries.

Cleanliness

Studios get messy. After a busy session, there room is littered with CD-Rs, cables, and miscellaneous bits of guitar and drum gear. My studio is also my practice space, and I’m constantly hauling my guitar rig in and out as I do gigs. I never have enough space, but I try to keep a handle on the clutter – especially when people are coming over to record. Trying to work in a messy space makes me feel claustrophobic.

I try to make sure everyone has a comfortable place to sit. The vocalist gets a stool to rest on between takes. I haul the office chair upstairs for others who are waiting on their turn to track, or listening to the mix. I have a padded stool with a back for guitar players. Everyone is happier and more attentive when they’re comfortable.

Talkback

When someone is performing in another room, I used to yell through closed doors to communicate with them. I could hear them through the microphone they were recording into, but they couldn’t hear me. It was frustrating and got in the way of creativity.

One day I grabbed an extra 57 and routed it so it only went through the monitors – it was “talkback,” like real studios have had for decades. Finally, two-way communication was both possible and pleasant. It was such an improvement to our process that it now stays hooked up all the time.

Magazines

I keep a few magazines around, so people who have nothing to do aren’t banging their heads against the wall in boredom. Flipping through a Guitar Player or looking at pictures in JPG Magazine helps pass the time for band members who are hanging around waiting on their turn. I’m not a big magazine reader, but I buy one every now and then and leave it in the studio for bored musicians.

Microphone or Lava Lamp?

Whether your studio has lots of guests or you only record yourself, a few comforts go a long way toward making your space a creative retreat. Instead of buying another budget microphone, invest in a bucket of paint and some lighting. You’ll be amazed at the difference.