As I’ve recently expounded on, my brain is most creative when I’m away from a computer, and the internet as a whole. As it turns out, external influences mostly distract me from creativity, not inspire. Can I get inspiration from a video or song? Sure. But when I’m in the heat of creation, those things pull my attention away from what I’m actually making.
There has been a resurgence over the last few years to make “DAWless” music- i.e. recorded and edited without a DAW, or computer. I’ve seen quite a few Youtube channels using old Fostex and Tascam cassette tape recorders to make albums. If you go on eBay or Reverb, you will see prices for these long-in-the-tooth machines skyrocketing.
Why? Is it the “sound” of analog recording? There might be some validity to that, but what I think is more likely is this: people are learning how to create without computers again.
I’m definitely part of this movement- the idea that people are more creative away from computers is not new. Is there science to back this up? Yes, absolutely- but all you need to do to know it’s true is to try it yourself.
Does this fit your workflow?
You should ask yourself these questions:
- Is it time efficient?
- Is it financially feasible?
- Is it repeatable?
Time efficiency when recording music is a bit subjective, but it’s still important to recognize when you’re wasting time. For me, and a lot of other ADHD people, producing music on a computer wastes more time than doing it with a piece of hardware. There’s fewer distractions, and I can get a lot more done in a much shorter time span.
The biggest time sink with most music recording is the post-production: mixing, automation, editing, mastering, and so on. This, of course, is driven by our desire to make it perfect. But sometimes perfection is the enemy of “good.” Are you going for perfection, or are you going for a completed work?
The one caveat to this is: if you’re using hardware, there is a learning curve, just like there is with a computer. Take some time to learn how to use your equipment, and it will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Music production without a computer?
Amazingly, computers didn’t become widely used for music production until Avid’s Protools came out in 1989. It’s not difficult to understand how they did it before that- they recorded everything onto a tape. It looked like this:
Microphones -> preamps -> mixing desk -> tape recorder.
If you’re a musician, you probably already have an instrument. Not much is needed beyond that- just a smartphone might be enough. Any kind of tape recorder, multi-track recorder, or even a camera with a decent microphone. In fact, anything that records with a microphone could work.
The important thing is, of course, to create something. What device you capture it with isn’t as important as the process of creating it.
If you want to make good recordings without a computer, but want the ability to edit tracks and add effects, then you should look at portable multi-track recorders, like the Tascam DP series or Zoom R series. These machines start around a few hundred bucks, but will allow you to record a full album of material. Some of them even have microphones built into them.
The more you want to do with your music, the more equipment it requires, so keep that in mind when creating things. Going computer-less boosts creativity, but I’m not going to lie, you can do a lot of things with a computer that would be tough to replicate with hardware. Buying gear adds up costs quickly. It’s more cost effective (and uses less space) to buy devices that do more than one thing to make the most of your money.
“But I don’t want to use cheap multi-effects on my album!” Okay- are you willing to wait a decade until you can afford all the individual pieces you want? No, of course not! It’s better to record something with what you have than not record anything at all.
Remember, perfection is not the goal.
Creativity and Productivity are the goal.
All you really need for Creating is something to capture it with. Get inspired, hit “Record,” and start singing.
My setup
I’m currently building my non-computer music setup, and I’ve already started making things with it. I bought a used Tascam DP-02 eight-track recorder, which has effects and a CD-R in it. I already had microphones and guitar stuff (which you’d need for computer recording anyway). I don’t have an actual drum kit, so I bought an Alesis SR-18 drum machine to record with. This is the one piece that has taken the longest time to learn, because it’s really not intuitive to use. The more time I spend with it, the easier it gets.
If you want to create music, there are plenty of devices out there that will get the job done, including samplers, grooveboxes, multitrack recorders, and all-in-ones. All of these pieces can be bought used on Reverb.com or eBay and are readily available.
But until then, just grab your phone and create something!