RECORDING AT HOME VS. THE STUDIO WITH GREG ARCADE

Prolific Canadian Musician & Producer Greg Arcade Shares His Thoughts On Which Method You Should Choose When It Comes To Making Music...

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JAN 26, 2023 WRITTEN BY GREG ARCADE

We live in unprecedented times when it comes to making music and releasing it to your audience. One of the biggest questions I always receive is, “Should I record at home, or should I record in a pro studio?” I always tell people to record at home, but ultimately it is up to you and what you want to accomplish.

In the two-decades I’ve been playing music, I have recorded in bedrooms, garages, small studios, lofts, massive multi-million dollar studios, and at home. I have worked with producers and I have worked with people who think they are producers, but they pretty much just know how to hit record and screw up a few hours of work… Recording on my own I have learned many lessons. I have blown up connections, fuses, and entire computers with power signals in the early days because I had no idea what I was doing, and I have recorded music that has made it on to national and international broadcast through radio, television, and movies. I have received cheques in the mail from unknown organizations paying me for something I didn’t even know they used, and I have sold guitars to make rent. I’ve recorded albums for myself, I’ve recorded albums for other people as a ghost writer, I’ve helped fill-out people’s recordings with the 15+ instruments I know how to play proficiently. I’ve received grant (singular) and used it with one of my earliest bands. I was approved for grants which I turned down on multiple occasions. I refuse to use public money now because I need to do this on my own. I’ve had people in suits approach me after concerts and offer me faustian deals. Ultimately I’ve built everything I have from the ground up through many trials and tribulations. I’ve been slandered. I’ve been libeled. I have also been praised for the selfless actions and endevours I have undertook. I’ve performed with massive bands to thousands of people, and I’ve performed to empty roadhouses; dark dank shi*tty punk clubs with people trying to fight me. I’ve had essentially every experience someone could have as a musician. In this article I will discuss what I believe is the best way to pursue recording music in several scenarios; the reasoning and rationale behind those beliefs.

First of all I’ll start with this: record at home.