Making a Record during a Pandemic

I'm constitutionally unable to sit still. In times like these, that comes in handy. Some folks are a little on edge whether because of boredom or frustration or anger.

I figure it's a good time to get projects done.

The beauty of DIY is you're not stuck as you would be if you've been recording at someone's studio and are now locked out and waiting for the ok to restart. The downside is you have no excuse to put it off, and it will be calling you as you sit on the couch asking why you're not fixing the guitar part or recording the lead vocal because the scratch vocal sucks!

Because I don't like how I sound right now, ok? Stop bugging me.

I bring that up only because I've got ONE song that's been kicking my butt. The rest of the tune is finished, sounds good, and is tired of waiting for me to get it together. My answer was to move onto another song (which went without a hitch. Figures, right?) 

The other thing that DIY gives you is the ability to hone your sound, which is both important and misunderstood. Perhaps the biggest is that you have to sound like a record maee at a big time studio with every resource available. You will not sound like that. You just won't. And recording software has its own sound, though people will argue that, but if you're using plug-ins versus using outboard gear like guitars and keyboards, then you're using the sound signature that they created, and there's nothing wrong with that if you like the sound.

Finally, I go by the simple rule that so long as it's clean and as clear as you want-can the voices and instruments be heard-then it's fine. Will there be comments or criticism? Always, but that's the norm, and like all creative ventures you won't please everyone.

There are times I wish I had the access and opportunities that big acts have to make the record I hear in my head. But they too have to justify and recoup those costs, because people got to be paid and record labels never forget.

So, you do your own thing and own it, be proud of it, and if you get any blowback remember this appropriate retort:

What do they know?

©2020 David William Pearce

Waiting is the Hardest Part...

I started this a month ago, became even more depressed and...

It looks like this will be a lost year for performers... and not just the megastars whose tours have been cancelled or postponed.

All of us. Even the lowly open mic'ers.

It's possible small shows, small gatherings might be allowed later in the year, but bigger shows might not happen till next year assuming some sort of reliable treatment or vaccine. So it's goodbye concerts, sporting events, festivals, big weddings, all the stuff people love getting together for. But don't worry, the joy boys running the show assure us that someday, somewhere, it'll all be ok again.

None of them, I might add, are losing their livelihoods, connections, businesses.

They are the ones who did little to protect us in the first place.

Am I angry?

It would seem so.

A month later...

Now I'm thinking maybe June or July...

Until then we have Zoom, which is deeply imperfect for concerts, foremost being that you have to have a setup that is designed for music rather than chat, which is the default for Zoom. That means you have to have a good (decent) interface...

This is mine.

...Which, ironically because of disrupted supply chains and manufacturing interruptions, means they're hard to come by.

Jimminy Cricket!

I participated in a round-robin Zoom concert a week ago and, all in all, it went well-not perfect-but well. And as you would expect, there were issues with internet connectivity, sound quality, camera quality-older phones and computers do not offer clarity in picture quality- which may determine how much effort you want to put into how you look and how well people will be able to see you.

All in all.

It's better than nothing, but it's nothing like playing for real people rather than the computer with images of people on it.

I don't like it.

But... it's what we've got for now.

©2020 David William Pearce