Just a few years ago, it may have seemed implausible that artists could record professional quality songs on their phones. One of the best things about how quickly the music industry continues to change is that recording technology is more accessible than ever before. You can record music on your iPhone using just a few apps.There are more and more artists making career-launching songs on their phones, and there’s no reason you can’t be one of them.
Rapper Luh Tyler Made His Viral Hit On Bandlab
The virality of “Back Flippin'” trust 17 year- old rapper Luh Tyler into the limelight. Now signed to Atlantic Records, the Florida native has made many of his songs, including another viral hit, “Law & Order,” on Bandlab. He’s since performed at Rolling Loud Miami and released a chart topping album. He’s also set to embark on a North American tour as support for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. Tyler is one of many young artists who has embraced a nonchalant approach to making and releasing music. He’s proof you can launch a successful career with music you’ve recorded on your iPhone.
@jordanrossx Luh Tyler talks about making all his hit songs on his phone #jordanrossx #fypシ
“It starts with a single sound. If there’s something in that sound, then it’s worth continuing.” – Steve Lacy
Grammy Winner Steve Lacy Used Garageband for His Early Work
Thanks to producing and songwriting credits from his work with major artists like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Tyler, the Creator, Steve Lacy is a sought after collaborator. His solo work has earned him a Grammy, in addition to multiple nominations through his work with The Internet. Lacy got his start in the industry fairly young. Even when his success allowed him access to top-of-the line studio equipment, he still chose to record music on his iPhone. His set up included an iRig interface and Garageband, but you’d never know from the quality of his early recordings.
Band Lab Is A Great Tool for Beginners
You can use a smart device to record just about anything on Band Lab. The app’s auto-pitch feature is TikTok famous- and for good reason! There are also features like the song starter, which generates ideas to help boost your creativity. The DAW (digital audio workstation) has the features you’d expect, like automation, snap-to-grid, MIDI overdubbing, and quantizing. When you first get started on the app, you choose which genres best match the type of music you make. Band Lab also doubles as a social media platform of sorts with followers, and trending / featured songs on your feed.
VOLOCO Is Great for Vocal Effects
VOLOCO is a DIY recording app that’s available for both iPhone and Android devices. It mostly acts as a vocal effects app and is capable of adding harmonies, auto-tuning, and vocoding. Whether you’re going for a T-Pain sound or something more in line with Bon Iver, it can be a great app to experiment with. The app has thousands of beats to choose from, and a dedicated curation team that promotes the best tracks from the app.
At $60 a year, VOLOCO can be a worthwhile investment to help expand the number of creative options you have if you’re recording music on an iPhone or Android. Other great apps for phone recording include GarageBand, FL Studios Mobile, Soundtrap, and Harmonicdog.
Pros and Cons of Recording on Your iPhone
If you don’t have access to a professional studio, or even a DIY home studio, there’s no reason to let it stop you from making music. Recording on a phone is likely the most affordable option. Also, there are tons of effects and virtual instruments available on most phone recording apps. Many of these apps have preset sounds so you don’t have to start from scratch. Furthermore, their simplicity makes them less daunting than traditional DAWS like Pro Tools or Logic. There is also the convenience of portability, you get to have a compact studio with you that features percussion, keys, and vocal effects. Many music making apps even have tools that integrate with music video-making.
Of course, there are many advantages professional studios have over phone recording. Bay Eight’s top of the line equipment guarantees you’ll get radio-ready recordings. Meanwhile, phone microphones are more likely to peak or fuzz out at certain frequencies. There’s also the fact that apps like Band Lab aren’t a 100% replacement for professional DAWs. Many of the beats available on apps have to be purchased and are non-exclusive. The best way to fine-tune your sound and get tracks that are truly unique to you is by working with a producer. The lack of mixing and mastering capabilities is also major con of cell phone recording, whereas this service is a built-in part of the professional studio experience. However, there is a workaround for this.
Recording in a professional studio offers the best guarantee that your music will meet industry standards. However, there are many middle road options that can be more budget friendly. Through MyMixandMaster, we offer affordable mixing and mastering services for artists recording music in a home studio or on their phones. Mixing engineers will use their expertise to adjust levels, pan tracks, combine tracks, and add FX. Meanwhile, mastering engineers will add compression, apply limiting, and perform a stereo enhancement. All of these steps make a major difference in the sound quality of your music. If you want to ensure your DIY recorded tracks sound professional, check out our numerous cost effective options for mixing and mastering services.
Conclusion
If you want to make music, it’s best to start with whatever tools you have at your disposal. Recording music on your iPhone is a great way to get started, but saving up to record in a professional studio is definitely worth the investment for any serious musician. Having another professional in the room can do wonders for the creative process. Let’s not forget the connections you can make when you venture into a studio. But until you’re ready to for that commitment, we hope you feel empowered to keep working out your ideas on whatever tools you have access to.
Bay Eight Recording Studios Miami is an award-winning recording studio offering a variety of services; including music production, mixing, and mastering. Contact us today to schedule a tour of our amazing studio!
