Recording Mic tips:

1: Don't be cheap on mic costs

Start with at least one good condenser microphone that you can use to capture quality vocals and acoustic instruments.

2: Don't be cheap on cable costs either

If you do, you will forever be searching for phantom noises, pops, crackles and intermittent connections around your studio, instead of recording music!

3: Listen correctly

Invest in a good set of professional headphones. You want a pair that is as neutral as you can afford and that is made for the home recording studio.
Headphones made for basic listening will color the sound, so avoid them.

If you can afford a pair of near field studio monitors, it will greatly help. This will allow you to reduce the coloration effects of your home studio room.

When you mix down or master your songs, listen to the mixes on a wide variety of devices (your headphones, your car stereo, the close field monitors, your living room stereo, a cheap boombox in mono, etc.). This will allow you to get the best overall mix and sound that works in most situations.

Check your mix in mono (not just stereo) to make sure that elements of the song don't simply disappear due to cancellation.

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