5 reasons to embrace live recording!

Concerned with how to get you music to a wider audience? Short on funds for a studio?

If you answered yes to either of those questions then you are in the right place! Live recording gives Artists and clients the opportunity to capture the performance that may be once in a lifetime and saves them a lot of money. To put it into perspective, here are 5 reasons for recording your live show or event with some valuable tips as well! Hopefully this can help you get your music out there for a lot less cash.

1. A live recording is like a photograph.

In many ways, your live recording is like a photo. A moment in time recorded to enjoy over and over again. A live recording is very different from a studio album under normal circumstances. In a studio recording session, the band and or musicians can re-record the part again to fix mistakes! To put it another way; you get “do-overs”. That being said, conversely, sometimes “magic” happens during “mistakes” live or in the studio! The point is: Live is cool, and adds a special element. OK, Here’s a scenario I’ve experienced many times with different bands I have recorded(many unreleased haha!): I will listen to those performances over and over during the mixing process and I come to LOVE what happens live, subtle mistakes and all(although, easy for me, I’m not the one on stage that night…)! So you should feel awesome about taking on the challenge of a live recording.

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Just like a picture, you only have one chance to capture your recording, so make sure there no noisy audio sources. To be certain, do a “Line check”. Use headphones to listen to each audio source through the mixer. If you notice noise when it should be quiet, turn off or mute the channels of the mixer one by one to narrow down the inputs to the noisy culprit, then fix the problem before you start(usually a bad cable….Baaah).

2. Take advantage of technology

These magic live recordings could be lost if it weren’t for the awesome technology that we have in mixing consoles these days. Many digital mixers have USB ports for iPad directly on the surface to easily record a mix of the show that night. Live Multi-track recording is a technological gift! One that should be well taken advantage of! We use the Soundcraft Si series console so we can work with up to 24 inputs and record them via a USB port. These tracks that get recorded are unaltered mic signals coming directly from the mic pre-amp for the most pure recording signal of each individual input to be mixed later. Another option is the Master buss recording, also called, Left/Right or “board mix“. This mix is made by the engineer and is what the audience hears. On digital mixers with USB recording capability this can be done with very little effort because the balance is already set for the room by the sound engineer.

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Digital mixers have a lot of processing power and can make sure that your stage sound is clean and easy to set-up. With that processing power they can also help make a simple recording sound polished as well, so a simple 2 track recording could sound much more like a finished product as soon as your set is done!

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3. Much faster! HIGH FIVE!

Instead of spending many hours or days setting up in the studio, why not solve two problems with one solution? Since you are already having an event or concert, you will need a sound system. Usually those come with one or more audio technicians to help. Why not record what you perform at the same time? This will save you hours or even days of time, effort, scheduling etc… Use this saved time to rehearse your songs or performance so it is perfect when you record it. Cause remember, you only get one shot live!

I believe the phrase is “killing two birds with one stone”…

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Make sure you provide the audio technicians with ALL the necessary information about inputs, placement on stage etc..

4. Capture something unique!

With easily shared digital media, just making an album and selling it isn’t enough anymore. You must use many different ways to get your music out there using many different channels. Variety is the spice of life! Diversify! Give your fans all the ways to buy your product, single, album, special cut, live album or tour themed stuff. Mp3, CD or Vinyl, A unique recording of something that isn’t in stores is a great grassroots promotion and buzz starter as well. Anybody remember “Import Albums”? These were live recordings of many famous and un-famous bands while they were overseas, on tour etc…. Those albums were awesome examples of unique recordings that made a buzz!

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A live recording may have a special extended solo, special audience interaction or really funny moments, all of which are great additions to a fans library! Live shows also have one more exciting benefit: The pre-sale audience. People attending your show would love to have a copy of the live show they just saw. Don’t forget the audience interaction too, maybe your fans will hear their own voices on the album! Woo hoo!

5. Affordable

Some people can’t afford the high costs of studios or recording equipment. The capture of their live show may be the only way they can have a recording and could be a huge blessing for a band with very little money. For the least expensive route choose a “board mix“. It’s the easiest. Pay a little more for the Live Multi-Track Recording and you will have every file recorded to mix later in your favorite recording software. But more work will need to be done for a finished product. Either way you’ll see less money leaving your bank account and that is awesome!

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With all the money saved you could: Pay for CD packaging, t-shirt’s, gas money and more!

In conclusion

A unique live recording may lead to creating a bigger buzz for less money! No longer do you have to pay high-priced studio’s for awesome quality. Live albums have been a large part of music fans collections for years. Look at live albums like: Peter Frampton, Nirvana: Unplugged, Jimi Hendrix, Pantera…. Just try searching any of your favorite bands on your favorite video sharing platform, there will be hundreds of live results. Who knows, your live recording may lead to a hit song, a hit album or a million views on social media and more!

Please check out one of my Favorite Live albums: Double Live! by The Yule Logs! (Recorded by Matt Eckhardt, Mixed by Kurt Lind) on Bandcamp and please feel free to listen to some of Matt Eckhardt’s best live recording work right here!

Enjoy Playing, Enjoy Creating!-Matt

Why Choose a Live Recording for Your Band?