Reentry, April 2024-February 2025
Shortly before and after resigning from a miserable office position in mid-May, 2024, I began studying DAWs - digital audio workstations, or computer programs that enable you to record, mix and share music at a professional level. When I had last recorded, DAWs were beginning to emerge as the go-to recording set up: solid state consoles with physical dials, knobs, and levers were still used by people like me to record and mix multiple tracks of instruments and vocals that constitute a song. I was much more of a musician/composer than a recording engineer back in the day and still am. The learning curve was huge for me, as I am moderately computer literate but not particularly adept with computer-related technology. The prospect of learning the DAW environment had been intimidating to me for years, but I took the plunge.
I happened to have an iPad and GarageBand, a relatively beginner-friendly DAW that comes free with Apple machines. I reviewed several YouTube introductory videos that were immensely helpful (thank you Pete Johns, Charles Cleyn) supplemented by other research and gradually built a basic competency with GarageBand. From May-September, I recorded my first four songs (which I consider releasable) on that platform. While GarageBand is considered more of an entry level recording product by audio pros, its features - from sophisticated instrument sounds to corrective sound engineering - are powerful. The software is only one part of the recording picture: after additional research, I also dropped about $1500 on equipment, including Yamaha HS5 studio speakers and a Scarlett 4i4 audio interface, which connects your computer/software, speakers and electronic instruments and microphones for recording purposes. In October 2024, I took the next step up and purchased Logic Pro - a professional-level DAW, also by Apple, and paired that with a new MacPro. I had read repeatedly that GarageBand-Logic Pro was a good onboarding path for recording musicians new to DAWs, and the experience was as smooth as it could have been for me. An additional five songs were recorded on Logic from October-February, and I am stocked with an album of material, preparing for release.
I have also studied the music distribution environment which is very different than it was decades ago, as well as royalty collection, general audio production, music promotion, and the music business. Future blog posts will cover these topics.
Adam Grant, in his book Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, raises the excellent concept of “scaffolding:” when we undertake something big, new, and totally unfamiliar, we can take supportive actions to prop ourselves up and build competency and familiarity before the actual undertaking of the new endeavor. We establish a scaffolding equivalent to supports for construction workers in the building trades. It is worth restating the value of YouTube tutorials for this purpose. I built a scaffolding with research and GarageBand that would propel me to my next level of discovery and proficiency. I will take this blueprint forward, as there is so much more to learn about independent music for the artist.