![\"thebag\"](\"http:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/files\/2016\/06\/thebag.png\")
<\/a>\nMy parents gave me this leather bag for my 21st Birthday. I\u2019m not sure what they imagined I would use it for, but it feels just right to carry my hobby in it. I\u2019m afraid I have no idea where it comes from and it is unlabeled.<\/p>\n
There are two sets of tools that go in my bag \u2014 core and optional.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Core Tools<\/p><\/div>\n
I have come to understand that the number one tool in my bag is me. Education is the single most effective investment of time and money that you can make. No tool can compensate for a lack of knowledge, but knowledge can compensate for a lack of tools.<\/p>\n
Recording Lounge Podcast<\/a> \u200b(FREE) Eneloop rechargeable batteries<\/a> ($21, Pack of 8) Computer<\/strong> Freecom Tough Drive<\/a> ($104) DAW Software<\/strong> Effects<\/strong> Publishing<\/strong> Optional tools<\/p><\/div>\n The Realistic PZM microphones are great for recording anything live, just chuck them on the floor in front of the performer and relax. They are unfortunately no longer sold. The Silverline SPL Meter<\/a> ($32) is good for measuring the loudness of sound (mix around 80db to combat the Fletcher-Munson Curve), but it can also be used with Room EQ Wizard<\/a> to analyse the acoustics of your room which will help you mix. A USB Midi Cable<\/a> so you can plug in and control the many musical devices that have midi ports. Cables, cables, cables \u2014 you can never have enough cables. Velcro cable ties<\/a> to keep all those cables neat and tidy. Audio adapters \u2014 see cables. Electrical tape for 1,001 uses. Sunglasses \u2014 because, rock star.<\/p>\n So there you have it. For just over $500 you can record, mix and publish music that matches the quality of anyone else on the planet. It\u2019s an incredible, democratic time to be an artist and I cannot wait to hear where we go from here.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in the kind of sound quality you can get from the above gear, take a listen to my album. I tried to record some tracks 20 years ago and trust me, the difference is profound. I think it sounds as good as the pros, I\u2019d love to know what you think.<\/p>\n Listen to my album Enjoy” here: A software developer by day, musician by night shares his bag full of album-making tools<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13684,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[2303],"tags":[1553],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26821"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13684"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26821"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26821\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27092,"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26821\/revisions\/27092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkdev.kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a>
\nMixing Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior<\/a> \u200b($28)
\nThis one book can teach you everything you need to know to record and mix the album of your dreams. Mike is a superb and realistic teacher, the content is all killer, no filler. The advice is practical, honest and down to earth.<\/p>\n
\nThis show has been going since 2009, broadcasting hours and hours of real world experience from a professional who speaks with love and authority. The passion that the host has for his craft illuminates every topic under discussion. The archive of this podcast is an invaluable treasure trove of information and enthusiasm. Start from episode 1 and immerse yourself in the world of the recording engineer.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nRode NT1-A Microphone<\/a> ($229)
\nThe first link in the recording chain, and therefore the most important. Sometimes it seems that there are as many different types of microphone as there are stars in the sky. The pros can never have too many microphones, but I found one to be enough. This one was chosen because it is a quiet, sensitive general purpose mic at a great price.
\n(Other Microphones<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nZoom r16<\/a> ($400)
\nAudio is analogue, computers are digital. The recording interface converts between the two. The Zoom r16\u00a0can operate as a stand alone battery powered recorder, but you can take your pick from pretty much any interface produced in the last 5 years<\/a>. Useful features to look out for: Phantom power (some microphones require power); At least 2 inputs (for stereo recording); adjustable headphone mix level (for recording); XLR and Jack inputs (to cater for a broad range of instruments). For example you could go for a PreSonus AudioBox USB<\/a> ($99).<\/p>\n
\nGreat batteries, recommended elsewhere on cool tools<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nI have a Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 Laptop running Windows and it\u2019s gorgeous, but again, pretty much any computer will do nowadays, and any operating system. If you have one already, it is almost certainly good enough.<\/p>\n
\nI keep my entire music studio on an external drive so I can work from any available PC. It also makes it easy to back everything up. The Freecom Tough Drive has stood up well to my rough and tumble world.<\/p>\n
\nDAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software puts the functionality of the million dollar recording studios into your hands. I use Reaper<\/a> ($60 Win\/Mac) because it is has all the required features, has a passionate userbase, is extremely customizable and is priced reasonably. But once again, we are spoilt for choice<\/a> and it is difficult to choose badly.<\/p>\n
\nEQ, Compressors, Reverb, Delay. It is tempting to collect effects like trading cards. Be wise, and select from the incredible array of free Effects collated and rated at the Bedroom Producers Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nSennheiser HD202 Headphones<\/a> ($25)
\nThe single most difficult challenge I encountered was trying to make my mixes sound good on many different devices: in the car, on headphones, earbuds, the kitchen radio. There\u2019s no other way but experience, so don\u2019t sweat it. Create a mix, listen to it on lots of different devices, note down what doesn\u2019t work and repeat. You will get better. The Sennheiser headphones are sturdy, comfortable and detailed. With the aforementioned technique you can mix an album on these.<\/p>\n
\nNot only can you fit a recording studio in a bag, we live in an age where you can distribute your album as widely as any other SuperRockStar(TM). No longer do you have to sell your soul to The Man at the Record Label, just upload your tracks to the internet. I went the vanity route and hired CDBaby<\/a> ($89 per album) to publish my album on all the digital download and streaming sites. It was very simple and they will even collect royalties.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nApple Music<\/a>
\nSpotify<\/a>
\nDeezer<\/a>
\nYoutube<\/a>
\nGoogle Play Music<\/a>
\nCDBaby <\/a><\/p>\n