As a recording engineer, I can tell you that spending $2,000 on “professional” recording equipment at Guitar Center is not equal to “recording professionally.” While it’s true that digital technology has reduced the cost and learning curve of audio and video recording, these are simply the tools. Anyone can go out any buy a table saw, but do you know how to make anything with it?

If you want to be a musician, be a musician. Don’t try to be a recording engineer as well. Yes, you could save money, but in the end, you’d be better off paying someone to record you. You would have to move your equipment around, but kid, get used to that. I play gigs three to five nights a week, hauling a keyboard rig and amplifier. Sometimes I have to bring a PA system. Moving the equipment sucks, but you have to do it.

2 track vs. 4 track recording. Yikes. 4 track recordings were popular in the 80′s, when 4-track cassette tape machines became affordable. (The “analog” analog of today’s digital recording, if you will.) Computer based recording systems — and I’m assuming that’s what your $2,000 would buy — can record on as many tracks as you have physical inputs for. I regularly track on 16-24 tracks. This allows me to use multiple microphones and preamps for more flexibility during mixing.

Chris, I’m surprised this post made the cut. I realize there may not be many professional musicians or audio engineers in your community, but this is what I do day in and day out for a living. I certainly appreciate the spirit of the post; however, in the music business, it’s all about experience.

There also seems to be a craze of people recording BEFORE they ever do a show. This is completely insane in my opinion. The fact that you can make a half-decent recording (which, by nature is only the best performance out of many attempts) doesn’t mean your band is great and it certainly does not mean that you can perform these songs in a decent fashion.

These tips seem to be centered around making money and becoming famous… and though when I was 13 I probably would have felt the same way I really believe that “fame” is completely unimportant. Forget merchandising, record labels and fanfare… just have fun!!! Thats the whole point of music and why any of us love it so much.

Just my thoughts.

I know it may seem like common sense, but it has to be said.

Make sure your contact information is EVERYWHERE. On the CD. On the jewel case. On the intro letter.

Make it look professional as possible – no hand-written notes!

One more thing – make sure there’s a tracklising for the CD. You think I am kidding, but I used to work in radio and took music submissions from local bands. A tracklisting was the #1 thing that was missing.