Record, Mix, and Release a Song (Part 1): Getting Started with Recording a Song in a Home Studio

Getting started with recording a song in a home studio can be one of the most crucial phases. In this episode we look at pre-production planning, and then get started with a blank project! As well as setting up the project, we record the first guide tracks.
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#Cakewalk #CreativeSauce #HomeStudio

[@CreativeSauce]

A HUGE thanks to those who joined live. It was blast, and I'm likely to do again. Great to get to know you all!

[@benbirdsinging3275]

Thank You!!

[@kevinsavage2751]

Thank goodness there are generous-spirited people like you in the world, prepared to take the time and effort to share your knowledge, insights and advice with others. Best of all, your teaching technique is so good - many people who have technical ability are unable to communicate it effectively, unlike you. Thank you for your entire library of tutorials. What a contribution to the general pool of knowledge!

[@TheKevinpascal100]

❤️Mike is a real Good Teacher

[@sakshimehta2413]

Structural arrangement Harmonic arrangment Well rehearsed

[@matthewcoldheart4783]

I don't understand why this man doesn't have more than 1M subs!!

[@nyenye7676]

This channel took me through my baby steps in producing music and home recording. Your videos give a smooth introduction to every basic process I need (for now). Thank you so much for putting a lot of effort in your videos to explain things precisely that it seems like I’m actually taking a course (minus the boring parts). This channel is a gem. Thank you so much!

[@larsdahl6594]

I _DO_ in fact love you! I've googled so many questions in the past few days to no avail, and here, by random(?) chance, you've answered all my prayers!

[@striverfor7628]

5:00 5:38 Set up the tempo. Project > Insert Tempo Change 9:51 Now the kick and snare 10:31 Open the track lanes 11:18 Bounce to Clips 11:42, 12:07 Loop them over a period of time. Right click > Groove-Clip Looping 13:12 Record a count-in 13:48 Save the file with a number in the title 15:08 Get your levels roughly right, don't let them peak (have an average level of about -18 db and -12 as a peak) 16:13 Guide vocal 17:31 Type M for the Marker window

[@alanc6857]

Love your workflow so far!

[@PeterPopoola]

Thank you so much, Mike. This series is PRICELESS!

[@BoraAymete]

We're lucky to have you Mike, bless you for your efforts.

[@sorrytopart]

Once Again....THANK YOU

[@VyfrandMusic]

This is fantastic. Thank you @creativesauce!

[@sig1809]

This stuff is gold dust, saving me months of frustration. Thank you so much.

[@brynmorgan12]

Superb, thanks for that, cheers.

[@craigdouglas9979]

Thank you, this is a great resource.

[@parakletosuk]

Just found your channel and this very timely series. Thank you for sharing!

[@miikku7100]

Thank you Mike! You have been one of my helping angels in my path to learn this all music production stuff.

[@Dave_The_Beatmaker]

Already addicted to your videos!

[@mikegeeguitarman8991]

dude this was a brilliant video. well done.

[@lickguitars1276]

great tutorial Mike i love it

[@JerryNicolato]

I so greatly appreciate what you did here. It's exactly what I need!!!! Can't thank you enough!!!!!

[@thesarfaraz]

You are a genuine genius Sir. Thanks for simplifying studio recording for us common folk !

[@DS-tu4qg]

There are allot of good instructional videos, but yours are among the very best, definitely "top shelf stuff"....a huge thank you.

[@oldfamiliarway]

Thank you so much, this program is so overwhelming and this was such a good baseline to get started.

[@savydemirmusic]

So useful.Thanks man🙏

[@surangadesilva9518]

I was looking for a complete but concise guide for home recording for several years.. You are a genius and so generous to make the whole process such practically and theoretically sound... All the best .. !

[@edgarkoskee1156]

even if the basics i know morealess by heart, its always interesting to see your videos, coz: the one or other thing is brought back to my mind as "oh yes, you have to remember this, Edgar'"

[@johnclark1925]

Thank you Mike… good idea on your labelling conventions… 😎👍

[@Endless.Records]

Thank youuuu

[@NSProductionuk]

Thank you Sir!!!!!!

[@jimfogle184]

Great start Mike. Thank you for making this series.

[@CreativeSauce]

My absolute pleasure Jim! Thanks for getting in the chat!

[@dogriver751]

What a fantastic tutorial. I've just upgraded to Cakewalk and this is invaluable to me. Thank you so much Mike.

[@welchomestudio]

So far, so good. That's a nice start to the upcoming series of videos. Looking forward to it. Thanks Mike!

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you Grebz, I hope you can pick up a few tips :)

[@richarddoray2427]

What a great start, Mike! I can't wait to see the rest of the videos in this series.

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you Richard!

[@nisargdelvadiya0625]

Hi thank you very much for this. It will help me so much.

[@torbengrnborgjensen4994]

Hi Mike - I only recently downloaded Cakewalk and bought a Solid State Logic SSL2+ audion interface as I wanted to get back into some recording. Stumbled over your videos and what a help they have been already! Just went through the video on Sends/Inserts and used it as a "see one - do one". Now thats in the bag :) Over the next few weeks, I will watch and learn from your "record, Mix and Release a song" videos. What a fantastic, and all the way professional series of tutorials you are making available to us. Huge THANK YOU from Denmark - and keep the creative sauces flowing :)

[@passonthering]

All of your videos are fantastic, but this one was remarkable! That's why I'm remarking. :-) Thank you, teacher!

[@richardmalouin9085]

Love you course, gosh very professional production

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you so much Richard, I'm glad you appreciate :)

[@olashoplife]

Awesome

[@subramaniantr2091]

Superb

[@amaracea]

Just opened KZbin and missed the live stream but WOO! Excited for this series :)

[@CreativeSauce]

Great to see you here Amaracea! I hope you enjoy :)

[@garymccorkle5248]

Thank you. This series is going to be very helpful.

[@CreativeSauce]

Thanks for watch Gary - I hope its helpful to you!

[@pmshrevecomm]

My home studio gets delivered Sunday! I feel like I'm going to be seeing your face a lot for the next few weeks, lol.

[@CreativeSauce]

Oh awesome! What do you have coming?

[@JadeStarr]

Great video. Easy to watch, easy to understand and superb presentation. Can’t wait for the next one. You rock Mike!

[@CreativeSauce]

Cheers Jade!

[@nymous4992]

Hyped!

[@CreativeSauce]

Me too!

[@catsven1973]

Love this guy .. and one more thing we almost use the same daw as well as the same plugins and VST

[@reevant2215]

Yet another good video Mike, thanks. Now onto the bass part.

[@CreativeSauce]

Thanks Reevant - the 3rd episode will be out tomorrow :)

[@chinanolan1529]

This man is a godsend!

[@CreativeSauce]

Lol, thank you :)

[@shiresongs]

Thanks!

[@pwykes]

Thank you so much for doing this series (and all your other videos). This is extraordinarily helpful and presented perfectly. Can't wait to see the rest of the videos in this series. This is going to be a "must watch" for aspiring home recorders.

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you so much Paul. I just put out the second episode about an hour ago. Hope you were able to catch it :)

[@EvgenyIbragimov]

GREAT! THANK YOU!! ))

[@m4schine-gun-kellyiii343]

You are the best teacher I ever had thank you very much Sir. 💯

[@CreativeSauce]

You are very kind, thank you :)

[@KennyRayK]

Hey Mike, excellent video. One thing, I would have liked to have seen the process of deleting the end and taking the kick and snare out of that quiet section. Beginner here and I’m not sure about editing, etc. Working my way through this series, you have inspired me to get my tunes down properly and I thank you for that! Stay safe out there! Cheers, Kenny

[@PeterPanQuails]

Brilliant work, Mike. Thank you. Can I suggest a prequel to this series: explain the various hardware equipment like what is 2x2 Audio Interface. What is Control device, etc. and How do you set it up with the computer.

[@keithveecock2898]

Hi Mike, As already stated by others, thanks for such clear explanations of the process and for taking the time to help the rest of us. For the complete newbies like me, please can you show us how to record a track whilst listening to a previously recorded track (overdubbing?) in cakewalk. I've watched countless youtube videos trying to find out how to do this but it's assumed that explanation isn't needed -believe me, it is!

[@pedrosuwarnajonathan2272]

Thanks, it really does help

[@CreativeSauce]

Awesome! Thank you :)

[@mattissakw]

Brilliant just what I needed thankyou..regards kbdevotion...

[@simoncolvex]

Thank you. Very good explainations and some good tips I've already started adopting. I wish this tutorial was around when i was first trying to learn Sonar X1.

[@CreativeSauce]

LOL - I wish I was making them then! Thanks for watching :)

[@tyronedaniels9631]

Hi Mike All the best with your move and new studio plans... Did you ever make a video on Cleaning Up as you call it... Placing markers for various song parts and fading instruments for the end part of songs... That might seem boring to some people but it's the real nitty gritty if you wanna learn and become efficient Thank to you... My gratitude for all you do... People like you makes our world better 🙏

[@francescodefendi3201]

Helpful! 👍🏼 thanks!

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you!

[@Mognam]

Thanks. This is perfect for me. Record at home using Cakewalk. Already picked up some great tips from this vid. Look forward to the rest.

[@CreativeSauce]

Glad you enjoyed, thank you!

[@MG-br5vc]

I really wished this existed years ago... ;-) Thanks Mike

[@CreativeSauce]

Oh, me and you both man!

[@khaldounj]

very helpful, thanks

[@CreativeSauce]

My pleasure :)

[@mimojapan]

Hah! I never noticed that "Grove Clip Looping" function but it's very useful indeed. Just now tried it and it surely sounds more pleasant than the metronome.

[@CreativeSauce]

Haha - glad you found a tip my friend!

[@mimojapan]

@@CreativeSauce Oh and I found even more (and just used it for the first time) on your "vocal comping" clip. So I convinced the Mrs. Mimo to sing me (_very_ rare event) two takes and something nice will come of it soon

[@shiresongs]

it is possible to set up a recurring gift for you. You make my day every morning!

[@PeterPopoola]

Lyrics to the song: Verse 1 I met an old man by the sea I met a man of mystery He looked so happy and so poor It didn't seem he wanted more He had no shoes, he had no style I had the blues, he wore a smile I asked him how this came to be He was laughing as he said to me Chorus I don't buy what I've been sold That happiness is made of gold Or another one can fill your soul No, I don't buy what I've been sold And I don't buy what I've been taught They laid the trap, now you've been caught Slowly dying with the thought That you've been killed by what you bought Verse 2 We walked a while along the beach The sand and water on our feet The sky was gold, though I was grey, And this is what he had to say Can you use your eyes, Can you smell the air Is the breeze still blowing through your hair? These things are here and they are so And this is all you have to know Bridge Slow down, you know Slow down, you're home Slow down, you know Slow down

[@LBJ314]

Mike, you've made this so simple, yet, I am still not able to hear anything that I've recorded. I'm following you to a tee.

[@willknight7848]

I've just come across your channel and I'm completely new to this, so it'll be a while before I'm ready to record a song. Happy to see in your recommendations that the midi controller I decided to buy this morning was there! what are the odds? Still struggling with the basics of Cakewalk but I'm finding your channel invaluable, especially all the hints and vids about free plugins, although I've had problems getting some to work. Good work Mike.

[@Karnaerkki]

Damn you can sing

[@bojangles945]

I've just stumbled across your page. Is there any videos explaining how to set up the interface to the computer. I'm totally new to it all. Cheers

[@Patrickillian]

Nice video :)

[@CreativeSauce]

Thank you!

[@MrHhkrohn]

Great videos! I got stuck at dragging the loop. It’s probably simple but got lost there. You do it so smoothly. How to get the to the 4 min.. again? ( the duration of the piece) just started cakewalking 😌

[@GPM80]

Top class presentation as always mike. I would happily binge watch this series all night. Roll on the 6th 😂😂. Can i also ask which model taylor you are playing?? Loving the sound of that guitar

[@CreativeSauce]

Hey Glyn. Yes its called the Big Baby. I think it may be one of their cheapest! Maybe they should send me a few for review right? LOL. But even though I have a few guitars, I love this one for recording. Its not quite full size dreadnought , which is great for recording as it doesn't get too boomy. Its not always my first choice for strumming, but for picking I love it!

[@GPM80]

@@CreativeSauce thanks for the reply mike. Really lookin forward to watching part 2 tonight once kids are in bed 😂😂😂

[@GPM80]

@@CreativeSauce what would be your first choice for strumming??

[@ec6992]

So grateful to find these videos. Just downloaded CW. Do you still recommend the same controllers?

[@czr7j9]

I had an older version of Sonar i couldn't believe it when i downloaded the latest for free, only it doesn't have session drummer which is much better than the standard drums. but cant complain.

[@AG-bx2zl]

Would have been nice to see you setting up the track in the DAW to record guitar ... the main reason I was here but I guess it's not a Cakewalk lesson

[@jontangenes9275]

For the quantize, you have to use the SHIFT+Q keys

[@penem7632]

Gosh That's Why I'm not getting it thankyou so much!

[@Roero]

Very useful video! Question: instead of using the keyboard, how can I use the drumkit samples during the song recording? I tried to choose some of them, they work if I play them in the tool, but as I start recording they won't start automatically... Thanks

[@chrisstringer375]

Morning Mike A quick question. When you 'save as' and add an incremental number, (00x), does CW re-write all the audio files or does it re-use ones that haven't changed?

[@ismaildincer259]

Can you tell us where to get that pop filter? It is really good imo.

[@stephenkitchen6182]

Hi Mike, I'v just got a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 When I tried to record my voice on Cakewalk I got a very fussy voice recording What can I do to sort this out? I don't get this problem with Audacity.

[@creative_expressionproductions]

please could you do a tutorial using the innovation launchkey mk3 49

[@jhonmoody518]

Help what am i missing, loaded bass,drums etc from onboard vst,on to tracks,i can hear them if playing sample rhythms, I arm tract, hit play record, can hear metronome and see the bar moving , can hear the sample playing but nothing is recording.

[@jackbagbaga291]

Hi there! I've been watching your videos since I installed the Cakewalk by Bandlab on my computer. Please help coz I have a sort of problem in recording.... I am using a Yamaha MG20XU as my recording/audio interface and Yamaha Montage as my audio source of all the instruments. I thought that the recording was good since all my tracks are working well. But when I started soloing each track, it captured the audio of all the tracks. Only in Track 1 has that single audio. But when I solo Track 2, it has the audio of Track 1. I solo Track 3, it has the audio of Track 1 and 2, and goes all the succeeding tracks... Is this normal? or Is there a button that I have to click before recording another track? This is what I am doing... For example TRACK 1 has already an audio recorded. Before recording to TRACK 2, the RECORD button of TRACK 1 is disarmed then I engage the RECORD button of TRACK 2. Then this process goes with the next tracks. PLEASE HELP! Thanks a lot!

[@Rapidguitar]

How do you Zoom out on the screen to see more like the screen you show?

[@malinikolineklauseth]

I have a problem with the playback, it tends to start to late, I dont understand why, I have a simple setup: focusrite audio interface, shure studio mic and casio cdp plugged in.

[@nebukenazar]

Sorry Buddy, i am always telling same words but; "You are the best!!"

[@CreativeSauce]

Haha! Thank you :)

[@MuzixMaker]

Terrific tutorial, but my download doesn’t have the drum plugin. Only thing that shows up in terms of instruments is TTS-1.

[@CreativeSauce]

Hi, there is a an option in the download section of the Bandlab Assistant to get the plugins. I wonder if you had that enabled?

[@MuzixMaker]

@@CreativeSauce Thanks! follow up (late!) I reinstalled, and perhaps checked the option, everything is available now.

[@MuzixMaker]

Wouldn’t it make sense to freeze the click track to save CPU workload?

[@rmjrmj4]

Hay, the mean problem I'm having is that the audio mic recordings are not recording or getting picked up, Voice Meeter is not allowing any input, do you have any suggestions on how to fix it? Voice Banana Meeter only helps so much as it gets the sound working but my PC has no other options to us anything else for CakeWalk audio assistant. In short, how do I record audio with a headset or mic, and what is the setup for it? It would help a lot if you can explain voice banana Meeter controller to CakeWalk.

[@specialrat1311]

is it possible to record drums without a midi keyboard? Ive tried recording it by just clicking on it with my mouse with the track armed and recording but it doesnt pick up anything.

[@CreativeSauce]

Yes! Many DAWs including the 2 I use (Cakewalk and Studio One) allow you to use your computer keyboard. The downside is the lack of velocity variation. But useful if you dont have a midi keyboard.

[@specialrat1311]

Creative Sauce i found it!

[@harveyandruss8748]

You can draw it out in midi also. He has a video on that. You can also find drum loops for nominal to free

[@jeremiahtrumanmusik6186]

@@specialrat1311 i have the same problem. How did you fix (find) it? Thanks

[@andynogger853]

Hi Mike, great videos and excelent explanations. But ..... I am lost in creating my click track. It does not record. I followed your video step by step, no way, no click track. Any idea? Greatings Andy

[@andynogger853]

Got it, dont use the mouse but the virtuel keyboard :-)

[@music_creator_capable]

Hey!

[@CreativeSauce]

Hello my friend!

[@Anna29839]

It would be even more helpful if you showed the whole process(including the work with voice, instruments(i mean the use of compressors and such stuff)) cause this part is the most hard for me. I hope you touched that topic in the next vids

[@Anna29839]

omg, I've already seen that you actually have a vid on such topics!!! Thank you for your work, really. I just started my music production journey and it's pretty hard for me so far. I hope I'll have enough patience for such amazing, but still baffling for beginners, art and even "science"!)

[@maltefrohlich3419]

Did you ever thought about a Creative Sauce Discord Server. I think it would be a very nice thing to help each other within the cakewalk community

[@CreativeSauce]

A great idea thanks :) Ill put it on my list. I use this one from time to time discord.gg/FNQbfJ

[@prashuryagoswami6122]

Hey man can we completely delete or disable the pro xhannel

[@vlobster7660]

Quantize......erm what does that mean?

[@vlobster7660]

I was lost at the drum part.Far too much going on and needs more clarity