MMC Episode 78: 10 Common Beginner Mistakes in DIY Music Recording & How to Avoid Them

In this episode of 'Music Maker's Cookbook,' Sean and Brandon discuss key mistakes often made by independent artists when embarking on DIY recording journeys. Topics covered include the importance of pre-production planning, acoustical treatment, proper gain staging, effective use of tracks, committing to decisions, and handling file management. They emphasize pragmatic approaches to avoid overloading with effects and plugins, self-criticism to a fault, and the critical need for backups and redundancy. The episode aims to help musicians refine their recording process and ultimately produce better music while learning from common pitfalls.

00:00 Introduction to the Music Maker's Cookbook
00:08 Holiday Season and DIY Recording
00:57 Common DIY Recording Mistakes
02:31 The High-Pass Filter Debate
12:16 Pre-Production Planning
16:46 Acoustical Treatment
22:06 Proper Gain Staging
27:53 Recording in One Take vs. Multiple Takes
37:18 Layering Guitars for a Massive Sound
38:59 Exploring Recording Techniques
40:56 The Importance of Intentionality in Mixing
43:22 Organizing and Managing Your Files
45:36 The Necessity of Backups and Redundancy
48:28 Avoiding Overloading Effects and Plugins
55:12 Overcoming Self-Criticism in Music Production
59:45 The Biggest Mistake: Not Recording at All
01:08:27 Conclusion and Contact Information