The landscape of the traditional recording studio has changed drastically over the last decade. Advancements in technology have made audio equipment much more affordable and efficient than ever before. Because of this, more and more artists, ensembles, educational and religious institutions are choosing to record “at home” as apposed to a traditional commercial recording studio.

        This change in the landscape has put many of the worlds leading commercial recording studios and record labels out of business. It has also fostered the emergence of many, many amateur studios. While these studios, whether professional or hobbyists compete directly with large commercial studios, their clients can often leave with a recording that sounds vastly inferior to commercial music. The biggest complaint: Why is it so quiet?

        The answer is both simple, and complex. A recording begins as a sound wave traveling through the atmosphere and agitating the diaphragm on a microphone, which sends a tiny electrical signal to a pre-amp, which sends a much larger signal to a recording device, formally analog magnetic tape, now digitally converted to a computers hard drive.

        The truth is, a recordings quality can suffer because of any single point of this process, and is usually because of most or all of it. The wrong microphone, wiring, pre-amp, and especially a/d converters can ruin your recording long before even the most expensive plugins attempt to correct it. And while they can certainly help, typically the damage is already done. Not to mention the sound that was recorded in the first place was sub-par, often in a space with no considerations for the actual acoustics.

        So what is the answer? Do it right. Solid experience is invaluable in designing a recording setup and space, and can pay back in dividends when it comes to the final product, the recording itself.

        Desert Island Studios is dedicated to helping you design a studio that works perfectly for YOUR needs. From the smallest bedroom setup to a world-class commercial venue, we have the experience to help you accomplish your goal of creating a record that sounds as you had envisioned it. For more information, and FAQ, please see FAQ.