How should I go about getting my music copyrighted as a musician and producer? And also whats the best equipment to use for recording?
Out of these two questions, copyright info is the easiest to answer, so I’ll address that first.
I’m not a lawyer, so I strongly recommend getting legal advice from a lawyer that specializes in the music business and/or copyright law in your country. I can only answer with what I know for the USA and our copyright laws.
From my understanding, and what I’ve read from many others on the subject, as soon as you put down a creative work in some tangible form, then you own the copyright. That’s automatic. Nothing that you have to do, as long as you have something tangible (lyrics on paper, music recorded to tape/CD, etc.).
The problem is when there is a dispute over potential copyright infringement, then you must be able to prove that your version was created first. The best way to do that, and the one that would have the most merit in a court of law, is to register your works with the U.S. Copyright Office. That way you have legal proof at least of when you registered the work. Then, if somebody creates something that infringes on your copyright, after you have already registered, you would have a much better chance of winning the case (although you also have to show that they had access to your work, and purposely copied it).
More info on copyright and registration can be found here:
https://www.copyright.gov/registration/
whats the best equipment to use for recording?
The short answer to this is that there is no “best” equipment for recording.
The longer answer is that “it depends”.
- What are you recording?
- How many simultaneous inputs do you need to record at once?
- What kind of budget do you have?
- What styles of music will you be recording?
- What is your preferred workflow?
- Do you prefer analog or digital?
- Do you like Mac or PC (if going digital)?
- Which of the many different software DAW systems makes the most sense to you and fits your workflow?
There are simply too many variables and too many choices to give a simple “this is the best system” type of answer. If you have millions of dollars to spend on a high-end custom built studio, my answer would be a lot different than if you are someone buying pre-made beats and trying to record rap vocals in your apartment on your notebook computer.
What I like may not be what you like. Some people like Macs, and some like PCs, and many of them are very vocal about claiming which is best. But, if you are going to go with a software based system, you should go to a music store that has all the most popular choices, and try them out in person to see which interface makes the most sense to you and fits your needs, then build a good system around that.
There is so much more to it than computer and software, though. Acoustic treatment, good monitors, microphones, stands, and accessories all cost money as well, and come in a staggering number of options and price ranges.
Sometimes the “best” way to go is to start small and simple, and work your way up. Adding more and better gear as you can afford it and as you master what you already own. Be careful, though, it can quickly become a money pit!
