Two things I do every day to increase energy and avoid burnout

Two things I do every day to increase energy and avoid burnout

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Mindset & Wellbeing
In this post, I'm going to take a break from the usual topics and talk about how you can increase energy and avoid burnout. As we approach the New Year, many of us are able to take time to think about our goals for the coming year. Whatever your own personal goals or resolutions, one thing most of us would like more of is time and energy. As musicians or composers, we often have a second job, as well as family commitments and the demands of day-to-day life.  Our musical endeavours might be restricted to an hour or two in the evening. But if we are too tired from our day job it’s going to be a struggle to make much progress in this small window. On top of this,…
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Free Tools for Composers

Free Tools for Composers

Blog, Composing, Home Recording Blogs, Sampling, Sound Design, Sound Effects, Stock Music, Techniques, Virtual Instruments
There are many free plugins and sample libraries available if you know where to look. But what might surprise you is just how good some of them sound! As a composer for production music libraries and I use these free tools in my own compositions. So please try them out for yourself and have fun! In addition, check out my latest video. I'll show you how to create a cinematic percussion track using an amazing FREE sample library. https://youtu.be/kurh2D9Qh3E https://youtu.be/kurh2D9Qh3E Spitfire Audio, Labs. Let’s start with Labs by Spitfire Audio. This huge collection of high-quality instruments has to be heard to be believed. Labs covers a vast range of instruments from mandolins to synthesizers. Furthermore, the collection is growing all the time. So why not check them out! Kontakt Player…
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How to fit acoustic foam tiles

How to fit acoustic foam tiles

Acoustic Treatment, Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Mixing, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques
If you've ever thought about improving the sound in your home studio you may have considered using acoustic foam. In this post, we explore how to fit acoustic foam tiles. For many home studio owners sticking foam panels to the wall is a worry. If you are renting a space then you might not want to damage the walls. Likewise, if you decide to move rooms or change your studio layout then you may want to move the panels at a later date. Let's take a look at some of the options in this video. https://youtu.be/AP4tNcLTv8s The benefits of using acoustic foam tiles are:- Medium to high frequency sounds are more controlledImproves recording of acoustic instruments and vocalsImproves mixing when monitoring on speakersLooks great on the walls! Depending on your…
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What is a Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone?

What is a Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone?

ADR, Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Podcast, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques
What is a Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone? In this month's post we will answer the question: what is a Large Diaphragm Condenser microphone? Some characteristics of a large diaphragm condenser microphone are:- It is good for recording quieter sounds, instruments or the human voice Delivers warmth and clarity Has a wide frequency response (Low to high frequencies) It has an extended dynamic range (Quiet to loud) Requires Phantom Power This type of microphone is designed for increased sensitivity. Therefore, it requires phantom power. It is likely that your recording device will have an option for turning phantom power on or off. Most importantly, always make sure you turn phantom power on after connecting the microphone. Typical uses Spoken Word (e.g. Audio Books) Narration or Voice Over for moving image Podcasting…
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Can you make money selling Stock Music?

Can you make money selling Stock Music?

Blog, Home Recording Blogs
Can you make money selling Stock Music? If you are a musician hoping to make a living from music right now it’s a pretty tough marketplace. Digital streaming platforms provide poor revenue from selling music. Landing a record deal is harder than ever. Fan funding is difficult. And finally, the pandemic has put a stop to live music, removing the only decent revenue stream left for some bands. So, what other ways can you make money from music? One option for musicians and composers is to try writing for stock music libraries. For the last six months, I've explored the subject: Can you make money selling Stock Music? Here are my findings so far. What is Stock MusicStock Music LibrariesWhat makes a good Stock Music Track?Is it possible to make…
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Home Recording Studio Essentials: What You Actually Need to Get Started

Home Recording Studio Essentials: What You Actually Need to Get Started

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Podcast, Pro Tools, Recording & Mixing, Techniques
Setting up a home recording studio doesn’t have to be complicated — or expensive. In fact, you only need four core components to start recording, editing, mixing, and playing back audio at home. In this guide, we’ll look at the Home Recording Studio Essentials, explain what each piece does, and help you make sensible choices without getting overwhelmed by gear options. The 4 Essential Components of Any Home Recording Studio Every functional home studio needs these four things: A computer with DAW software An audio interface A microphone Monitoring (headphones or speakers) With just these, you can: Record sound Edit and arrange audio Add effects Mix and export finished tracks Let’s break each one down. 1. Computer – Mac or PC? Your computer is the heart of your studio. It…
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Using AudioMovers for high-quality audio streaming

Using AudioMovers for high-quality audio streaming

Audio Streaming, Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Sound Design, Sound Effects, Techniques
Introduction Recently I had to deliver my first online teaching session. The subject was sound design and I wanted the students to hear the audio at the same quality I was hearing in my home studio.  For this I needed high-quality audio streaming. I knew what I wanted to achieve with the live stream, but I wasn’t exactly clear how to do it. My goal was to share my screen, while demonstrating Adobe Audition, through the Zoom conferencing App. I needed to route audio from my microphone and also route audio from Adobe Audition and possibly from other apps or my web browser. I also wanted to keep the audio quality as high as possible. So, this blog post is all about how I achieved High-Quality Audio Streaming alongside Zoom.…
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How to Add Audio Watermarks to Your Tracks

How to Add Audio Watermarks to Your Tracks

Blog, Pro Tools, Recording & Mixing, Sound Design, Sound Effects
In today’s post, we’re diving into audio watermarks — what they are, why you need them, and the easiest ways to add them to your music or audio files. What is an Audio Watermark? An audio watermark is a short, repeated sound placed over a piece of music or an audio recording to indicate that it’s a preview. Unlike digital watermarks (which are hidden and undetectable), audio watermarks are meant to be clearly heard. They serve two main purposes: Letting clients preview your work without giving away the final product. Protecting your work from illegal copying. Why You Should Use Audio Watermarks If you’re sending samples to potential clients — like mixing, mastering, or production demos — adding a watermark protects you from unauthorized use. After payment, you can send…
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Top 10 Home Recording Resources (Blogs, Podcasts & Communities)

Top 10 Home Recording Resources (Blogs, Podcasts & Communities)

Blog, Field Recording, Home Recording Blogs, Podcast, Pro Tools, Recording & Mixing, Sound Design, Sound Effects
If you want to improve your home recording skills, it can be hard to know where to start — and who to trust. The Home Recording Studio blog exists to help, but no single site has all the answers. Over the years, I’ve built up a short list of reliable, high-quality home recording resources that I return to again and again for learning, inspiration, and staying up to date with the audio world. This updated list focuses on resources that are still active, relevant, and genuinely useful in 2026 — including blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, and communities. 1. Sound On Sound Sound on Sound is a true classic. It was one of the very first recording magazines I read when I was starting out, and decades later it’s still one…
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5 Things that have improved my recording & mixing

5 Things that have improved my recording & mixing

Blog, Composing, Mixing, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques
Lately I’ve been thinking about what has made the biggest difference to my home recording and mixing. Here, I’ve come up with a list of 5 things that I think have improved my recording and mixing at home and taken me to the next level. Audio InterfacePreampsMonitoringMicrophonesPlugins 1. Audio Interface.  A few years ago, I decided to make an investment in a good quality audio interface. I had a budget interface but some technical issues with this interface, which almost ruined a recording session I was doing for a band, prompted me to reconsider. So, I wanted something that wouldn’t let me down. I also needed at least 8 inputs and the ability to connect my Focusrite Octopre ADAT interface to give me 16 inputs in total.  This is a…
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