One aspect of music making that has made dramatic changes over the last twenty-five years is home recording. In fact, no longer do you need to pay high prices at recording studios to create first-rate recordings. Prior to the digital age, most home recording was done on multitrack cassette decks. Tascam's Portastudio was especially popular in the early 1980s. These devices allowed people to record up to eight tracks, but the sound quality could not compete with the two-inch tape, reel-to-reel, and console setups found in professional studios.

By the mid 1980s, Digital Audio Tape (DAT) recorders became a viable home recording option, but this was limited to recording “live to two-track.” In 1991, the Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) was introduced and this allowed enthusiasts to record up to eight tracks onto Super VHS magnetic tape. Despite the promise of this technology, home-recording buffs still needed to “bounce” tracks down, or synchronize machines together, if they wanted to record more than eight tracks.

Today, home computers are used to create recordings with stunning clarity and resolution, and there are virtually no limits to the amount of tracks you can use. If you have good ears, reasonable computer skills, ample workspace, and a lot of patience, you can record your tunes in the comfort of your own home. To get started, all you need is a Mac or a personal computer and a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) such as Pro Tools, Nuendo, Cubase, Logic, Digital Performer, or Sonar. Next, you need an interface and an array of quality plug-ins (reverbs, compressors, and equalizers). If you plan on recording acoustic or “live” instruments, you will also need some quality microphones. Once you know how to use this technology, you can engineer and produce your own music. If you pay attention to detail, your music can rival recordings made in professional studios. Check out The Everything® Home Recording Book for more information.