Multi-track recording - 2024 09 04

 

Last Sunday I attempted solo multi-track recording with my Presonus Audiobox and Studio One. I got so frustrated I was in tears. At the end of that session I had decided to turn my recording desk into an art desk and started moving my artmaking supplies into the room.

After some time reflecting and discussing my effort with Matt, I realized my expectations of the process were entirely unrealistic and I was not going to pick up the 'how to' intuitively. I had to watch the instruction videos. I had to break down each step of the set up so I could do that. I had to identify each obstacle I encountered and be ready to stop everything and source an instruction video to get me to the next step.

Yesterday afternoon and evening I had time and energy to focus on the process and my own learning curve. I pitched my expectations to be so low as to achieve success no matter what happened. I was able to get a file set up and record a click track and 6 instrumental tracks by the end of my recording session last night. Matt came and listened to my results and immediately improved the outputs by adjusting the volume settings.

My playing is not masterful by any stretch of the imagination. The piece I am working on is a well-known folk song that is extremely simple in chords, melody and structure. I have a nice chart that I wrote for myself. I love the song and I have a concept for turning it into a music video about the generations of women in my family.

I would like to start with Grandma Jones - and have Mom tell the story of the things she used to say, how she was able to knit gloves, how she managed the household and family.

What I notice right away with the recording process is that it sharpens my awareness of things that I can improve, and also to keep all my efforts within my capacity and capability as a musician, with the instruments I have.

I am inspired to keep working on it, and to start my collection of songs that I want to turn into autobiographical music videos. All the songs I sing have specific, personal, historical connections to my life. This is another way to bring my story of the women in my life into the historical record. 

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