After you’ve taken the time to build a creative musical space, take some time to make sure you have all the functional aspects in place. Think of the tasks you’ll be doing in this space, then decide what tools you need to have available. There are three main things you should be ready to do in this space:
- Write music: You may write with a pen and paper, on a computer, tablet, or something else. Of course I recommend using LyricWell for this!
- Record music: this could be a simple setup with a PC, a mic, and Audacity or other simple recording software. It could be more advanced with a DAW (I use AV Linux/Ardour) or a setup that involves video recording. It’s best to leave the everything set up so you can just turn it on and go. Of course you need your instruments ready as well.
- Listen to music: this could just be your PC that you use for recording. You may like a record player or other physical music player. This is helpful for getting ideas, comparing mixes, or just enjoying some of your favorite music.
While it’s good to have some form of this available at all times, you need these in your creative space. You may even want to have designated tools like these that are left in your creative space and never used anywhere else.