How to set up and affordable recording home studio

College is a time of creative experimentation for many musicians. What better way to capture and record those ideas than in the comfort of your own recording studio?

You'll need to invest a few hundred dollars in equipment, but then again, that beats paying thousands of dollars worth of studio time.

You will need:
1. A computer
2. Recording software (Logic and ProTools are better but more expensive than standard software like GarageBand).
3. An audio Interface (firewire or USB) to be able to digitalize the signal of your instruments.
4. Cables
5. Microphones and stands
6. High quality monitor speakers or headphones

Don't forget about your instruments as well. Since you'll probably be living in a dorm or in a house that is poorly sound reinforced, don't worry about mixing and recording with headphones. Just make sure they're high quality, and also make sure to rest your ears every 15 minutes.

To make the small room more acoustically friendly, place furniture about six to eight inches away from the walls. If you're like me, plug your guitar or bass direct so that you don't have to worry about noise leakage. This works well for recording distorted guitars especially with the hundreds of digital plug-ins available in Logic.

You can't replace high-end studios, but you can always start slow in places like these.

Should You Rehearse When You're Sick?

There really is no way to do this. You can't expect to rehearse for a play or gig when your vocal range has dropped two octaves and you're struggling to stay conscious.

I picked up the flu on Tuesday and these last three days I've been struggling just to get out of bed and forcing myself to eat at least a yoplait. Then there's my commitment to "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot". It's not fair for my fellow actors and the director to have to work around my absence, but then again, I can't really be of much help if I'm barely able to breathe.

Gus Ripa, our director, is very lenient on sickness issues. He always says we should leave if we have to but deep down inside, almost every actor that's been getting sick is saying, "The show must go on."

It's a good thing I got sick on a relatively early stage of rehearsals because if it had been two weeks from now, we'd be in some serious trouble.

So what's more important? Getting well for the long run of the show or learning a few notes that you won't even be able to remember because your fever-ingested head can't even process how the heck you got out of bed today?

Superbowl Halftime Show, for real?

It's that time of year again. Fans are getting their wings ready for the Superbowl. I've rarely missed one, that is the halftime show of course. That and the 30-second million dollar commercials are more culturally representative of America than actual American Football.

I have nothing against football, I wasn't raised in the U.S. so naturally I'm the type of guy that's always complaining about why they call actual football soccer, here in the States.

What I find so interesting about the largest viewed television event of the year is the craftiness implemented in the commercials. It's what's happening now, what people want to see and buy. The same is true for the half time show. It's what's "hip".

Sadly, The Black Eyed Peas is what's on the top of America today. Historically, the main performers of the Halftime Show were marching bands. During the 80s and 90s the music superstars of the world took the stage for the 12-minute set list. The peak was U2 in 2002 as they paid an emotional tribute to the victims of 9/11 performing "Beautiful Day," "MLK," and "Where the Streets Have No Name."

In the past decade we've seen a decent Paul McCartney playing Beatle tunes (he could've at least invited Ringo), a Rolling Stones that were way too old to perform, Prince (enough said) and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey Posing as The Who (How could you guys?).

Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers pretty much symbolize America so that was fine. But the fact that a newly turned techno pop group who have a smash hit are considered "the best" is just not cool by me. That's right, The Black Eyed Peas should stay where they belong: either doing club gigs or indoor venues. There is no way they can hold up to a massive arena crowd even if it's just for 12 minutes. Maybe that's why the Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm is joining them.

Disappointment. I don't have the halftime show to look forward to now, but at least I've got the ads. Although the fact that Justin Bieber is teaming up with Ozzy Osbourne for a Best Buy ad isn't getting me excited at all.

Start-Up Venues

What are the best venues to start out playing live in the Bethlehem area?

There's only one I've been to: Godfrey Daniel's. This coffeehouse-themed venue sits about a little less than a hundred people and makes for a good intimate set. It has won numerous open-mic awards, pertaining specifically to the sound quality. It would appear "The Dan" lends itself most to country music and bluegrass, but anyone can play there. Just sign up.

Then next door you have the indie-underground more hard rock "Fun House". While I haven't been there yet, I've heard the name of the venue suits itself.

Lastly, you have the Wildflower Cafe. This peace and love tea and coffeehouse belongs to the sixties, but contemporary music is always welcome.

I'd say these three venues are a good start for any up & coming musician. Guess I'll try them out soon enough.

First Rehearsals

We've only been going at it three days. People are still getting the hang of their classes and sorting out last-minute schedule changes. Most students go home after there last class, do homework, have dinner, watch tv etc. You would think the same would apply to me, after all, I'm only taking 16 credits. But no, from 6 to 9 at night every week-day I'm in a little place called Zoellner rehearsing for "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot".

It's been fun so far and the cast is wonderful. We've got four and a half weeks to make it all come to life. This is play set in purgatory about the trial appeal of Judas Iscariot (played by me) of whether he belongs in hell or deserves to finally ascend to heaven. Probably the biggest challenge for me is going to be able to sit in a catatonic state for most of the show without cracking up or smirking at the jokes that so often appear.

Tomorrow we move to the Diamond Theatre and we open Feb. 18.

Trust me, Lehigh Valley, we've only just begun, but this is something you won't want  to miss.

First Post

Hello all,

Welcome to my music and theatre blog. Blogging had always intrigued me but I never went through the trouble of creating my own site. Now that I'm taking a Multimedia Journalism course it's something that I HAVE to do, but more importantly WANT to do. I'll be sharing my experiences and day-to-day activities in the performing arts at Lehigh University weather it's rehearsing for "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" or  recording choir groups and orchestras in Baker Hall. I'll also be blogging about any music news and tips that are out there as well as reviewing music albums, concerts, and plays.

See you soon,

Adrian V