I love technology. It is a beautiful thing.
However, while there’s nothing wrong with technology itself, we need to consider the role that technology should play in our career as audio engineers.
I’m mainly referring to technology as it pertains to audio engineering, particularly in the recording world. These days everybody and their dog can have a home recording studio.
Don’t get me wrong, that can be an awesome thing. Thirty years ago it simply wasn’t possible to spend a couple thousand Naira and be able to make the now so called high-quality recordings at home. The technology wasn’t there.
Technological advancements of the last few decades have brought a new, massive percentage of the population into the world of studio recording. My life would certainly be dramatically different if I couldn’t record my music (and the music of others).
Without the onset of new technology, the entire recording industry would consist of the select few who could drop millions of naira on a huge recording studio, fully equipped with digital recording machines and massive digital consoles.
Today an average Keyboardist; Steve, can pick up an interface and a microphone and do a lot of things the big studios of the past could do, and even a lot of things they couldn’t! with the help of software plug-ins.
This leads me to my next point — the misuse of technology.
Here’s what has happened. That average Keyboardist; Steve, with his interface and microphone has been told he can “do a lot of things the big analog studios of the past could do, and a lot of things they couldn’t!”.
Now what does average keyboardist do? He interprets this as “you can make a record that sounds JUST as good as the professionals…with a N30,000 interface…and a N1,000 microphone from the market.”
What our average keyboardist doesn’t realize is that technology, while playing a huge role in his ability to create, has nothing to do with talent and ability.
Now imagine that we picked up average keyboardist and plopped him down behind a huge Analogue console in 1982, introduced him to a nice young man named King Sunny Ade and said, “Steve, we need you to engineer this young fellow’s next album called The Message.”
What would happen? Would our fearless hero be able to achieve Late uncle LAK Adeniran-like results? Would the album still become the best-selling album of all time?
The answer is a resounding NO. But you may say, “Well, he has all the same technology that Uncle LAK had, surely he could make it work.”
That’s like saying, “Hey, here are all the colors and brushes Michelangelo used on the Sistine Chapel. Why don’t you go ahead and paint a version for us, okay?”
Let us not forget the importance of Knowledge through proper education, and God-given ability. Just because you can record a hundred original songs in your bedroom doesn’t necessarily mean you should without the technical knowledge. If the songs are bad, or if the recordings sound awful, what’s the point?
I firmly believe that technology was meant to enhance creativity, not replace it.
So if you are already making great recordings but you're not getting anywhere with them, an educational knowledge in this profession can help.
What Audio Engineering courses can do for you is take you through all the elements of sound and recording, fill in any minor gaps in your knowledge, and show you exactly where you are going right, and how to avoid going wrong in any way in your productions.
The knowledge will give you the confidence to succeed. And once you have placed your first track, the floodgates of success will be open!
Don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not saying you have to be an insanely amazing engineer or musician before you are allowed to dabble in recording. That’s the beauty of technology. You don’t have to land a record deal before you can record your music. You don’t have to work for a big studio to become a recording engineer.
Becoming a good engineer or producer takes time. Everyone has to start somewhere, and technology has made that a relatively inexpensive endeavor.
So if you want to become a music producer, or successful recording engineer, you will need help.
Music is one of the most competitive industries there is. It's true that some people can make it alone. But most of us need help, and even if you don't need help, you'll find your success a lot sooner than if you have to find your way on your own.
Keep in mind, though, that this is all about the audio recording. Be careful not to sacrifice creativity on the altar of technology. If you produce the most technologically advanced album, utilizing all the latest fancy digital trinkets and do-dads, and yet your music is lifeless and lacking any emotion, you have failed. Technology wins.
Don’t let that happen. Get educated in the field of audio engineering and music technology.
Thanks Guys and always remember to keep the creativity perfected.
... Steve Aluko
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