This article was taken from the January 2013 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.
If you want to make your own music, a home studio has never been easier to build. Anth Gaskill, co-author of production book Complete Music Producer: Essential Skills to Become a Success, gives some sound advice for budding super-producers.
Position your speakers for full effect Place your speakers at least a metre away from the wall. "Higher frequencies tend to feel focused and directional, whereas low frequencies have a more 360-degree spread," says Gaskill. "If your speakers are close to the wall, bass frequencies will reverberate and you end up with a wave being reinforced and amplified." Angle and distance the speakers so that they form an equilateral triangle with the listener's head.
Consider the absorption and diffusion of sound "You don't want concentration points of sound reflections, so you need to make the environment break the sound up evenly," explains Gaskill. Avoid smooth, flat surfaces. You don't need the full egg-box treatment, just place shelves and pictures randomly along the walls to disrupt sound reflections, and lay carpet on the floor. Modern houses have insulation in the walls, but if not, hang thick material to stop sound leaking.
Don't rely on your headphones as a guide They'll preserve your neighbours' sanity but they won't accurately reflect how audio will sound through speakers. "Stuff that's panned really wide will feel concentrated in headphones, but when you listen through speakers it can sound disjointed," says Gaskill. Note the volume it will ultimately be played back at before turning down the volume to work on the piece. This will prevent loudness from obscuring any unsophisticated work.
Know when to move to a bigger setup Although able to do a lot in a small space, guest musicians might find it hard to get inspired in your box room. "A common trick is using an old mattress to create a space around the singer; the mattress has really good sound absorption so you can get quite a dry vocal," suggests Gaskill. "But if you've got someone coming in who you don't know, it's not the best aesthetic and it might impact upon their performance."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
