It has been what seems like FOREVER since we all got stuck at home due to the pandemic. A silver lining to this isolation has been that more and more people are reaching out to their creative side, whether it is channelling their inner artist, vlogger or musician. Not everyone has access to good quality recording equipment but that should be no reason to deter art!
Don’t fret because by following a few simple steps, you can make the most of what you have for the best sound quality possible with limited resources.
- Picking the right recording Environment
When it comes to recording audio, no matter if it’s an instrument or voice, the most important thing is to ensure the room is the right size. Avoid really large spaces as it may make the audio sound distant and also avoid really small places as the audio may echo a lot. In addition to size, also make sure the room does not contain hard reflective surfaces and windows, as the sound tends to bounce off of them. An ideal situation would be a medium sized room with many soft objects like beds, sofas and if you want to go the extra mile, surrounded in blankets.
- Picking a quiet place
The biggest problem at recording at home is the sound of vessels clanking in the kitchen, and cars honking down the street. These may sound pretty normal to us on a regular basis but have an immense impact on recording. Try to find the most isolated room in the house where these sounds are minimal.
- Distance of the Camera
One of the most faced problems is the correct distance of the camera from yourself, or phone, if you are just recording audio. While it may be tempting to place the camera such that the visual aesthetic is satisfied, this is most often too far to record good quality sound. Then again, keeping your phone too close to an amp or an instrument may unnecessarily muddle the sound, the simplest solution is to record audio and video separately, so both criteria can be met. However, if that isn’t an option, the key is to find a middle sweet spot that factors in both sound and visual aesthetic.
- Eliminating noise (mostly from wind)
It’s summer and the temperature can be a real pain to record in, but as tempting as it may be to have ACs or fans on DON’T! Phone mics, laptop mics or even proper recording mics are HIGHLY sensitive to wind and even the sound of your breath. While recording, keep your doors and windows shut and fans and ACs off. If you are specifically recording only audio and do not have access to a pop filter, you can fashion one out of an old stocking and some plastic container lids.
- ENUNCIATE!
When using a phone or laptop microphone, it is quite obvious that you will not be able to get good control over the gain (that is, a good input level for the audio signal). Keeping that in mind, it is CRUCIAL to remember to enunciate words while speaking or singing. For instrumentalists, this could mean playing more clearly. This becomes important as phone microphones are not likely to pick up small nuances and details very well unless it is clear enough.
While these steps may not bring you to the same quality of sound your music or YouTube idols may have, it is certainly a step in the right direction. So keep these things in mind and unleash your talent! Happy recording!
Written by Crew Member: Liza Mathew
Art piece by Crew Member: Sangeet Pandey
Chords & Co. 