Michael Kostal is a Chicago-based jack of all trades, creating music as a solo artist and also as a part of the Americana-influenced band All Things Lucid. He's been quite busy this year with the band but managed to slice some time out of his schedule to talk to us about home recording:
Q: How long have you had a home-recording setup?
Almost as far back as I can remember. My dad built a studio in my folks' basement that had a rack with effects, a sampler, EQ, etc., that you could send to a four track TEAC reel-to-reel. I never really figured out how to use anything but the four track. I didn’t actually start using it until college when I was just recording nonsense with my friend Dave “we only play the same song once” Scanlan. I moved on to a little Tascam 414, which had more flexibility before moving into the digital world.
Q: Could you describe the room you record in?
I have a portable studio, so the room can change. For my current project I’ve been recording mostly in my apartment bedroom, which has tall ceilings and wood floors. It sounds nice for vocals, which is really the only thing I need to be concerned with because so much of the sound is direct-in from an electric instrument or the drum machines of Reason. I’ve also recorded in my living room; the acoustic guitar sounds a little better out there because the space is bigger.
Q: What sort of equipment do you use?
I record on a Macbook Pro with Mackie Tracktion. Tracktion came bundled with my Tapco USB Interface (with Mackie preamps) and is also the software I learned on the fly during my band's first record. I didn’t do much but watch and occasionally man the helm, but I digress. Everyone else now uses Protools but I like Tracktion because it’s simple and easy to record, edit, and use plug ins. I use a handful of VST plug ins, Amplitube is pretty neat. I have a Groove Tube condenser mic that I use for pretty much everything acoustic (though I have a Shure SM57 lying around somewhere too).
Q: What is the one piece of equipment or software you couldn't live without?
Aside from my instruments it would definitely be the computer software/interface. I think I could get by with pretty much any DAW as long as I could easily cut, nudge, punch in and otherwise edit tracks. Making audio a visual experience is immensely helpful and it really aids in my song writing process. Recording in general allows me to arrange songs without having to bring lines of ledger into it.
Q: What is the one piece of equipment or software you could get rid of without consequence?
I have a pretty bare bones set up, so it’s not so easy to say. I suppose once I track down that SM57 it would be that microphone.
Q: What one piece of advice would you give home-recording artists?
Always be open to try something out. It doesn’t matter if it’s silly or weird. That’s how some of the best effects and tricks are discovered. Also, subscribe to Tape Op.
You can find music and more from Michael at both www.michaelkostal.com and www.allthingslucid.com
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