I definitely underestimated the significance of a studio environment. Having been messing around with recording myself in the last few weeks, the difference between an empty bedroom, open floor living room, a car, and a conditioned/treated room is huge! I was interested to learn about all the different ways of treating a room like bass traps, shaped walls + ceilings, floating floor (room within a room), even but non-flat walls, etc.
Experiments in Recording Spaces
In the car or in the living room is the clearest sound but I actually really like the natural reverb in the bathroom! Obviously the beach is chaotic but does have a certain ambience…
Also been considering the pros and cons of recording in a group. These days people mostly record individually to get the crispest and most accurate sound with minimal eff-ups. For example this epic video of Ariana Grande recording in a vocal booth:
However, the vibe that can be created when performing in a group in undeniable. I think that’s why initatives like NPRs Tiny Desk Concerts are so popular. We get to see and hear the magic as its happening, plus they are usually more intimate renderings of the songs. My fav Tiny Desk Concert is Jon Batise:
So joyous! It’s been years since I played with a band, I miss it.