STACK #256 February 2026

FEATURE TECH

TOP TIPS

The setup The simplest setup for recording and making music requires an audio interface, a computer, and appropriate software. Many interfaces come packed with starter DAW software that can get

Save, save, save! When using a computer, you can never save your work too often. Check if your software has autosave and enable it. Not sure about something you’ve added to a mix? You can always save different versions (label them well!) and go back to an older one if need be. Watch those levels When rendering audio in a DAW, make sure you don’t let it distort – a good DAW will tell you when it happens. In such cases, reduce the level of the relevant track, or add an effect such as compression, to calm it down. Take, take, take! When it comes to human sources – vocalists, guitarists, etc – some are satisfied with their first take. If you have the time, ideally get at least three takes, so when it comes to mixing you can pick and choose the best bits from them, as any single take is rarely perfect.

you going, allowing you to expand to full versions later and keep what you’ve already created useable. Audio interfaces are a doddle to hook up, with a simple USB connection. Sound can pump through your computer or screen, and down the track you may wish to get studio monitors – a fancy way of saying “speakers” – designed to deliver your sounds as purely as possible.

A DAW can look bewildering to newbies, but don’t be daunted. Start out simple and work through any inbuilt or online tutorials – there’s a wealth of info out there. Working on a need-to-know basis can also be a great approach. Need reverb on a track and don’t know what to do? Learn it. You’ll increase your knowledge incrementally and master that DAW before you know it.

Why audio matters If you’re going to do something, do it properly. What’s the point of creating something if you’re not presenting it at its best? Learning your gear is key – from best microphone placement for the task at hand and mixing your audio with good separation over the stereo (or surround) spectrum, to using the right combination of effects. Also, ensure there’s no background noise to interfere with the clarity of acoustic recordings (instruments or vocals). A little effort can go a long way in making the difference between demo quality and the real deal.

Creating content that sounds pro Mastering is key to getting your audio

sounding its absolute best. It’s the process of adding the final EQ touches to your mix before releasing it, be that via an online clip, through a music distribution service, or onto a soundtrack. Most DAWs offer some basic general mastering options, and there are also websites that offer free AI-driven mastering with often surprisingly good results. You can achieve professional results with a very basic home setup, rather than having to load-out to a dedicated, usually expensive, studio.

Getting your content out there You’ve finished your masterwork, so what’s next? Naturally, that depends on where you’re aiming it. If you’re a muso ready to launch to the world, there are distribution services such as Distrokid that take the hard work out of getting your music onto all the usual streaming suspects – and likely some you’ve never encountered! They’ll charge you, but usually reasonably, and the time saved from submitting individually yourself is substantial. Getting it out there is the easy part – getting

it heard is a whole other bag of beats. A strong social media presence is a must, and many find YouTube the best way to go. Don’t be shy about self-promotion, but don’t annoy people either. Look further afield and contact DJs who are into your types of music, whether radio, internet-based, or club. It’s a challenge, but you’ll often pick up fans along the way who’ll spread word of mouth, and who knows where it’ll lead? Stay realistic – with over 100,000 songs uploaded to Spotify daily, as one example, you’ve got a lot of competition.

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