Want to record yourself and Still get a killer, pro-sounding record?
This Is How It's Done.
Introducing:
Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials
- "We need to finally finish this record, but for some reason we just can't get it done. "
- "How do we know if this actually sounds good enough?"
- "We bought the same gear as (insert artist/producer/YouTuber) but our songs still don't sound great."
- "Our final result after mixing still sounds like a demo. How TF do we make it sound pro?"
- "We heard that artist/band XYZ recorded themselves & made this massive sounding record. How did they do that?"
- "I don't want to deal with all the frustrating tech stuff. I just want to create art!"
Sounds familiar? I've heard these sentences hundreds of times from bands that I've worked with over the years...
Everybody wants to produce themselves, these days and there are countless stories of DIY-recordings that got really popular and the artists really successful.
It seems totally doable and the barrier of entry is lower than ever before. Yet, there are very few people who actually make really great sounding records that way.
In fact, there's so much crappy sounding stuff out there, these days, that browsing through playlists with new bands on Spotify for more than 10 minutes makes you want to poke your eardrums with a stick.
Here's the thing:
- It's easy to learn different ways to put a mic in front of a guitar cabinet, or put a mic inside a kick drum.
- It's easy to learn how to connect an interface to the computer and record a, high quality signal with minimum noise and no clipping.
- Also, gear is affordable, and even cheap gear is so good these days, that everybody can record high quality audio at home.
So, what's the issue? Why do most DIY records still not sound good?
- Most songs and/or performances are not good. And people don't even realize. They think it's the mix when it's clearly not their biggest problem.
- Many artists are not intentional. They don't know what to listen for, when and why to use a certain recording technique (so much conflicting info out there), and what they're actually trying to accomplish. They haven't formed a clear vision and a sound in their heads, yet.
- Nothing beats experience. So you either have to do it for a very long time, or you need professional guidance from someone who has that experience.
90% of the DIY productions I get to mix have problems in these areas (not the actual recording techniques)
So what you need to do is fix them at the source, before moving on.
See, your art is important, your art is powerful and your art deserves to be presented in the most exciting and best possible way, whether it is for the masses, a small niche, your friends or yourself. So don't half-ass it. Do it right!
When you are intentional, have a clear vision and know what to listen for, you can use the actual techniques with confidence. Because you can then always check against the vision and reference in your head and make sure you're on the right path, making the right decisions.
So how can you learn that? What are some of the secrets behind successful, great sounding DIY-recordings?
Before we get to the how, here's a little background story for you (I'm sure you can relate):
I've been there myself. I was excited, but at the same time completely insecure and quickly frustrated, trying to record my band's songs in our jam space in 2008. I probably seemed confident, but I was far from it.
At first, it seemed like a super fun thing to do and it would also save us so much money compared to booking a recording studio, right?
(Let's ignore for a minute that we weren't even good enough to go to a professional producer, anyway. And nobody told us how underprepared we really were.) ?
After weeks of researching I finally decided what gear to purchase and download (ahem...). Only to find out that some of it was total crap and some was way too complicated for me to really understand back then.
A lot of money and time were wasted before we finally actually started.
I recorded our first demos, got stoked on the results first, but then quickly realized that it actually sounded like shit. So I tried again - and failed again. It took so much time and I was never really happy with how it sounded.
Then I started to improve a little, did a LOT of research through blogs, YouTube, books, etc., put the pieces of information together and... it still sucked because I hadn't developed the ears and experience, yet, to be able to judge it properly.
As soon as I compared it to my favorite records, it became crystal clear that it was still way off... I was stuck. Now what?
Well, I thought, it must be my mixing skills, so I went down that rabbit hole further and while I slowly got better, the basic problem stayed the same: I was trying to figure it out on my own. Stabbing in the dark. Trying and failing, over and over again.
Wasting time and money, spending countless frustrating days at our jam space. Releasing poor sounding songs.
In fact, I must now admit that I was hurting my band by trying to do it all myself and doing it poorly. We would have gotten ahead so much faster, had we realized earlier what it really takes to make a killer record!
That's me in 2009, trying to figure it all out with gear that was much too expensive for me at the time, still didn't sound great and was completely unnecessary for what I was trying to do. But damn, look at that hair...
If only someone had told me this earlier...
(well, this and the thing about my hair. I mean, come on...)
Then, one day, after working with and getting mentored by a really great, professional producer/engineer for the first time, it dawned on me and I began to discover the secret to making great records DIY-style.
There are actually three secrets and it seems so obvious, once you hear it.
Secret #1: Define your "why"! What do you actually want?
Ask yourself: Do you want to release a great record NOW, or do you want to do it in a couple of years, when you're finally experienced enough? Assuming you'll be practicing your production and mixing skills non-stop during that time. Because that's what it takes if you're figuring it out on your own.
If you want to make a great record NOW, focus on these things first:
- your songs
- the arrangement
- the playing and singing technique
- the performance
- the production / engineering (capturing your takes)
Don't even worry about the mix until you got that stuff right. Get help in those areas first. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can learn this with the right guidance!
Then, ideally, choose a great mixing engineer and deliver tracks that can be turned into solid gold.
That's the recipe. The fastest way to success. Make magic happen now, not in 5-10 years, when you finally have the ability and experience to mix properly.
Now, you can absolutely learn how to mix - but not anytime soon if you don't get professional guidance. Be prepared to put in the hours. And weeks. And months. And years.
With great education you can learn it faster, but I'd still recommend practicing on the side until you can beat the mixes of the engineer you're working with. Then do it yourself for the actual releases.
Secret #2: You can't polish a turd (sh*t in -> sh*t out)
Let's say you still want to mix yourself right away. Cool! Who am I to tell you you can't? In fact, if that is what you want , I'm going to help you with that! It's fun, I get it!
But in this case it's still crucial to know that what you do during writing, arranging, pre-production and recording is MUCH more important than what you do in mixing. So many people immediately focus on the mix, while completely skipping the truly crucial parts.
Don't be that person. Make your life during mixing easier by getting the foundation right!
Secret #3: Don't try to figure it all out on your own!
Get advice from people who know what they are talking about. People who have successfully done what you are trying to do. Not some random YouTuber who has never produced anything exciting in the real world.
Don't be as stubborn and stupid as I was. Don't try to make sense of all the free but conflicting information out there. You will get amazing results SO much faster if you follow an actual system that works for YOUR music!
As soon as I did that, I got to the point where my records sounded professional. Then we got signed. Then I started making records for labels and bands worldwide and...
...Boom! Their records went on the radio, they got signed, hit the charts, they achieved their goals. I had cracked the code.
But in my case it took failing so many times and making so many mistakes. That's why I want to make it easier for you and save you the headache and frustration. I want you to benefit from the mistakes I've made and the things I've learned over the years.
I don't want you to put in insane amounts of effort and money, only to end up with just another amateur sounding product in the end that won't move the needle for you in any way.
And I know you're still struggling with the same stuff that I struggled with, because I see it every day in the DIY-bands that I'm now working with as a mixing engineer and coach.
So back to you and how we can help you. What we've created here for you is different.
It's not an incredibly complex program for audio snobs. Everyone can follow along, regardless of their current skill level. We're also never going to tell you that it's the gear or your room that's holding you back.
Because it isn't.
I say "we", because this program and whole platform has been inspired and developed by many more than just myself. Bands I've worked with, peers in the industry, my podcast co-host and guests, my students and of course my small team here at Outback Recordings and The Self-Recording Band.
We've created a program that truly helps self-recording bands make better records and achieve their goals. Period. And it speaks to musicians. It's made for musicians.
Enter Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials
We've created the complete, proven, step-by-step system to make a killer self-produced record that will actually move the needle for you and help you reach your goals.
Without the headache, the endless back and forth and without the fear of ending up with just another amateur sounding product in the end.
It's an in-depth online course that is helping help self-recording bands like no other program before.
In order to make a record that hits hard and resonates with people, you don't need a recording degree or understand all of the science and tech behind recording music.
And you don't need tons of money or years of time to spend, either.
All you need is your songs, your creativity, your ears and the passion and drive to actually implement stuff and make it happen.
It's time to stop dabbling. Take action and finally make your dream record!
Here’s What You’ll Get When You Sign Up
- Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials is an online video course and a complete system that walks you through the process of making a DIY-record step by step.
- After you sign up you'll get detailed instructions and info on how this all works. You will get immediate access to the modules and lessons, as well as worksheets and checklists that come with the course.
- On top of that you'll have access to incredible bonus material. You'll notice that this alone is worth way more than the price of the course!
You'll get lifetime access. And if you go through it all, follow the steps and implement everything, you'll have:
Knowledge, Hearing, Playing Technique & Mindset
- The right mindset and perspective to achieve great sounding results each an every time you record.
- The knowledge to make confident recording decisions and the ability to hear and identify problems and listen for the things that actually matter
- An improved playing technique that your recordings will greatly benefit from.
Gear & Setup
- Your recording setup up and running and your room optimized for recording.
- The knowledge to setup your instruments properly for recording
- The knowledge to use your recording gear properly
Systems & Workflow
- A systematic approach to managing, consolidating, editing and exporting your files
- The knowledge and skills to properly collaborate with pro mixing and mastering engineers
Your Vision Brought To Life!
- Amazing sounding, mix-ready multitracks and of course...
- ...A killer, self-produced, finished record that you And YOur AUdience Will Love For The Rest Of Your Lives!
Here's What’s In The Course
There are 7 modules that are divided into bite-sized lessons and sub-lessons
1
Module 1: First Things First - The Foundation (Do Not Skip This!)
Click To View Lessons
2
Module 2: The Gear You Really Need - And How To Get It Out Of The Way
Click To View Lessons
3
Module 3: Basic Setup & Pre-Production
Click To View Lessons
4
Module 4: The Actual Recording Setup - Setting Up, Getting Tones, Preparing The Session
Click To View Lessons
5
Module 5: The Recording Session
Click To View Lessons
6
Module 6: After The Production - From Exporting Raw Recordings To Final Masters
Click To View Lessons
7
Module 7: Example Sessions
Click To View Lessons
Bonus
And there is even more!
To make this course even more valuable for you, we added in some bonuses on top! We want to offer you the absolute best on-demand program for self-recording bands out there. Period. The number one resource for DIY-musicians wanting to get amazing results recording themselves. That's why you also get:
Huge Library Of Group Coaching Call Replays
We've recorded dozens of group coaching calls that we've done for our Syndicate members (coaching students) and early adopters of this course. These calls are available for you inside the course. Hours and hours of feedback, Q&A sessions and professional advice. Included for free. ?
Production Planner, Worksheets, Guides & Checklists
You'll get downloadable documents that are the perfect addition to the video lessons! After all, I want you to take action, implement the content and get results in the end.
Track your progress, don't miss a single step of the process and keep everything organized with your production planner!
Use your checklists and guides to go through each task and stay on track to achieving your specific goal!
Bonus Workshops
Bonus workshops from top industry experts!
You'll get access to additional in-depth video workshops from top professionals on topics like room acoustics, marketing & content creation for artists, or setting up guitars
About The Course Teacher,
(Hi, It's Me!)
I've spent most of my life making records with authentic rock, punk and heavy bands. That's all I've ever done and all I've ever known professionally.
Starting as a musician, wanting to record my own band (just like you!), I soon discovered my love for producing and engineering. During recent years, I've moved more and more to mixing and mastering only, working with bands and labels from all over the world.
I've been learning from incredible mentors and I've been working out of my current studio "Outback Recordings" full-time now since 2013. Songs I've worked on gathered millions of streams and hit the charts in many different countries.
But in the beginning, I've learned the hard way. So I know exactly what it feels like to be a DIY musician. Also, my team and I have worked with thousands of self-recording bands from all over the world, so I'm very familiar with the common issues and problems that DIY-recordings often have.
Now I have put all this knowledge and experience together and made it available for you as a proven system, because I don't want you to make the same mistakes that I made and that many self-recording bands out there are still making everyday.
I want to help you make better records, achieve your goals and stand out from the crowd!
Here’s what OUR Students are saying
I know it's not easy to trust a total stranger on the internet claiming to be a trustworthy expert. So don't just take my word for it, but read what my coaching clients and course students have to say.
Lukas
Prosperity
"Benedikt and his team managed to create a comprehensive guide for DIY Recording, without getting lost in too much details."
You will not only receive technical tips and tricks, but also, maybe more importantly, a guide on how to tackle the recording process itself.
What I enjoyed the most is the passion which Benedikt shows for his craft, which motivates to get started and try out new things to create a unique sound.
Bernard
The Ennrons
"I got answers to questions I didn’t even know I had"
I learned more in one hour on creating a great sonic landscape than many hours trawling YouTube.
Well worth the fee for such excellent tuition. Thanks.
Torsten
Love Forty Down
"I literally learned more during this program than in the 20 years before!"
I do DIY recordings for 20 + years. So I think I know a thing or two about recording. That's why I had my doubts if this program could really tell me things I don't know already. How could I've been more wrong?
The Self-Recording Band Academy turned out to be the best resource I ever chose to learn from!
No more frustration and headache. No more wasted time and money. This course will not only lead to much better results. It can save you thousands of $$$.
How much money have you spent on gear that didn't really make a difference in the end, if you're honest? How much money did you put into your band for various things over the years, that didn't really lead to great results?
And how much money did you spend on education and things that actually matter? Things that actually get you results? Your knowledge, skills, mindset and perspective?
The funny thing is, we easily spend $1000 or more on a new guitar, $2000 on amps and pedals and another $1000 for a basic recording rig. Yet, when it comes to actually learning how to use that stuff and gaining the confidence and knowledge to create truly great things with it, we rarely invest anything.
Or we don't even think about investing in ourselves, because we either tell ourselves it's not necessary, or we think proper audio education is out of reach, too time consuming and too expensive anyways.
If you want pro results you're basically stuck with these options:
- Hiring professionals. Great idea and highly recommended, of course! But this will cost you thousands of dollars, $10,000+ if you're doing an album, and you'll have to spend that over and over again for every release. Also, you'll need to find producers who get your vision and sound and you'll need to make it work in terms of scheduling, etc.
- Going to audio school and paying $500/month or more to get a $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 "degree" in the end (after years) that you don't even need and that doesn't guarantee anything.
- Paying $1000, $2000 or more over time for various complicated subscriptions, seminars and courses for audio engineers until you feel like you have enough information on each part of the process (although it takes forever and you still don't really understand how it all works together and what really matters for you as a musician)
- Paying for private lessons and 1-on-1 coaching, which is absolutely fantastic, but can easily cost you $150/hour or more and will take a LOT of time.
- Deciding not to pay at all and piecing together information from YouTube, Blogs, etc., which can be helpful if you're searching for a specific piece of information, but VERY time consuming and frustrating when you're looking to get a complete picture that will actually get you results. Also, how do you know which pieces of information out there are actually true, actionable and valuable?
- And finally, skipping the education altogether and just trying to figure it out on your own. That's what I did for much too long and it cost me years of time, plenty of opportunities and THOUSANDS of dollars spent on the wrong equipment or ineffective room treatment while still getting poor, amateur sounding results.
Well, there is one more option now...
(or two actually)
Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials
The Complete, Proven, Step-By-Step System To Make A Killer Self-Produced Record
€347
Tax might be added, depending on your location
The Everything Bundle
Get Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials + ALL of our online courses on editing & mixing, so you can learn every single part of the process!
€741 €497
Tax might be added, depending on your location
Already bought any of these courses in the past?
We won't make you pay twice, or more than anyone else!
Let us know via email to support@theselfrecordingband.com and we'll send you a discount code!
100% Satisfaction Guarantee for 30 Days
I believe in this system 100%. I just know it works. This is why I let you start the course and be part of the program for 30 days without any risk. If, for whatever reason, you feel like you didn't learn anything valuable, just email me and you'll get a 100% refund within 30 days after purchase. No questions asked.
Your Questions Answered
Can we buy this as a band and share the costs between the band members?
What is the specific result that I get when I finish the course?
Is this a mixing course?
Is this right for me?
What if I start and then find the course is not for me?
It's gonna be a while until we can start recording. Should I still join now?
How much time do I need to set aside for this?
Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials
The Complete, Proven, Step-By-Step System To Make A Killer Self-Produced Record
€347
Tax might be added, depending on your location
The Everything Bundle
Get Mix-Ready: The Band Recording Essentials + ALL of our online courses on editing & mixing, so you can learn every single part of the process!
€741 €497
Tax might be added, depending on your location
Already bought any of these courses in the past?
We won't make you pay twice, or more than anyone else!
Let us know via email to support@theselfrecordingband.com and we'll send you a discount code!
Let's change your recordings forever and create something you and your audience will love for the rest of your lives!
This program is something I'm extremely proud of. My team and I have been working hard to create something that is insanely valuable and helpful for DIY bands, because A) I started as a self-recording musician myself and B) now as a mixing engineer working with a lot of other DIY bands from all over the world, I keep seeing the same problems over and over again. That's why I'm on a mission to help you overcome those problems, help you make better records and change this constantly growing part of the music industry forever.
Take action now, be part of the movement and your records will never be the same again. I can't wait to welcome you on board!
