{"id":485623,"date":"2019-05-08T19:30:50","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T01:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/?p=826428"},"modified":"2019-05-08T19:30:50","modified_gmt":"2019-05-09T01:30:50","slug":"3-portable-accessories-songwriters-use-to-record-on-the-fly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/music-news\/3-portable-accessories-songwriters-use-to-record-on-the-fly\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Portable Accessories Songwriters Use to Record on the Fly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mark Foster has spent countless hours working on music in the studio, but lately, the Foster the People<\/a> frontman says he\u2019s been trying to take his songwriting<\/a> to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe past couple of years, it\u2019s been a goal of mine to capture inspiration when it strikes,\u201d says the singer and guitarist, who has also set a goal of releasing a new track with the band every month, as they complete work on their fourth album. \u201cWhen it\u2019s flowing, I push through and try to write lyrics right away so I can get the finished vocal right away while it\u2019s still new, fresh and exciting. Otherwise,\u201d he says, \u201cit\u2019s impossible to replicate that initial spark.\u201d<\/p>\n

With technology making everything easier and more accessible these days \u2014 from ordering food to booking travel \u2014 it was only a matter of time before these modern conveniences began to shake up the music industry as well.<\/p>\n

These days, Foster is among a number of musicians who are increasingly eschewing the traditional recording process to compose, record and mix tracks on the fly. Though he\u2019s spent countless hours in the recording studio<\/a>, Foster says some his favorite tracks with Foster the People have been recorded on a tour bus or in a hotel room, citing \u201cDoing It For The Money\u201d off their 2017 record, \u201cSacred Hearts Club,\u201d<\/a> and closing track, \u201cFire Escape\u201d off the band\u2019s sophomore release, \u201cSupermodel,\u201d<\/a> as examples.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack in the day,\u201d Foster says, \u201cyou could make a decent demo with a decent vocal and a tape recorder, but you couldn\u2019t program drums and multitrack and add synthesizers with different sounds like we can now. Today,\u201d he says, \u201cwe have access to thousands of synthesizers and drum machines with devices that fit in your pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the quality of true studio recordings remains unmatched for now, Foster says technology is catching up to where portable recording devices could eventually replicate studio sound. And the guy whose father bought him an 8-track mixer and a stack of cassette tapes for his 13th birthday says he\u2019s intrigued by what these new mobile, digital devices can deliver. \u201cSongwriting has evolved and you no longer need to sit in the studio and be surrounded by heavy equipment and tons of technology,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a certain type of creativity that\u2019s required to lay down a track using the boundaries of mobile technology, and I\u2019m excited to see where we can take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while audio quality remains paramount to his creative process, Foster, who recently directed the band\u2019s music videos for \u201cStyle<\/a>\u201d and \u201cWorst Nites,<\/a>\u201d says the new slate of portable recording devices also allows for spontaneity \u2013 something that can\u2019t be done when you need to reserve a room and wait for your designated studio time. In Foster\u2019s world, \u201cI can\u2019t control when something\u2019s flowing or not,\u201d he says, \u201cI just have to be there to capture the magic when it does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re the lead singer of a Grammy-nominated band, or just an aspiring musician uploading your tracks to social media, we\u2019ve rounded up three of the most popular interfaces for recording, mixing and sharing music on the go.<\/p>\n

1. iZotope Inc. Spire Studio<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"izotope<\/a><\/p>\n

Courtesy Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Spire Studio is audio technology brand iZotope\u2019s easy recording kit for iOS and Android, letting users record, edit, mix, and share songs from one simple, portable device. The Spire lets you track vocals and instruments in hi-fidelity, with built-in technology that works to enhance both audio resonance and pitch.<\/p>\n

The kit includes a built-in mic, plus additional inputs for say, your guitar or bass. Reviewers say they\u2019ve also used the Spire to lay down drum tracks with surprising clarity. Control everything from the simple LED touchscreen or pair the Spire wirelessly with your phone (and the Spire app<\/a>) to mix tracks, adjust volume and set recording levels. The app lets you mix up to eight audio tracks at once, and add effects like reverb and delays. Spire Studio\u2019s patented \u201cSoundcheck\u201d feature, meantime, helps prevent distorted recordings by listening to a performance for 10 seconds and then setting ideal recording levels for the on-board mic or any instruments that are plugged in.<\/p>\n

\"izotope-spire-studio-review\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Courtesy Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Once your song is done, a simple tap sends it straight to social media or SoundCloud (or as an audio file to a collaborator).<\/p>\n

What we like: the Spire weighs less than two pounds and fits easily in your bag. The included rechargeable battery gets you up to four hours of use before needing to be plugged in. Purchase: $349 on Amazon.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Universal Audio Arrow<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"universal-audio-arrow-review-photo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Courtesy Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Universal Audio Arrow puts album-quality recording onto your lap or desk with a notebook-sized interface that lets your track your vocals and instruments with surprising depth and clarity (for audiophiles, the Arrow delivers a solid 24-bit\/192 kHz audio conversion).<\/p>\n

The unit includes two 1\/4-inch connections for mic\/line sources, a 1\/4-inch input for your guitar and bass, and an output for your headphones. It also comes with a number of popular plug-ins from Universal Audio, which emulate some of the best original hardware to give your digital tracks an analog feel. Note: you\u2019ll need a Thunderbolt 3 connector<\/a> to pair the Arrow with your computer.<\/p>\n

Great to travel with, many artists also use the Arrow for their home studios<\/a>, praising the system\u2019s easy setup, near-zero latency performance, and powerful processor. The unit\u2019s durable, metal construction holds up to accidental dings and drops on the road. Purchase: $499 on Amazon.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Zoom H6 Six-Track Portable Recorder<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"zoom<\/a><\/p>\n

Courtesy Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If you\u2019re just looking for a solid voice recorder and don\u2019t need the editing software on hand, consider picking up the Zoom H6 Portable Recorder. Used by everyone from reporters in the field, to documentary filmmakers, to musicians, the H6 gets you six tracks of simultaneous recording and four mic\/line inputs. Record directly onto SD, SDHC or SDXC cards for easy file transfer.<\/p>\n

The Zoom delivers 24-bit\/96kHz audio in WAV or MP3 format, and comes with both X\/Y and mid-side stereo mics. Users say the device is incredibly intuitive and easy to use, and they like the input controls that can be adjusted to filter out ambient noise and direct your mic to pick up more focused, accurate sound.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What we like: the palm-sized package weighs less than a pound and runs on four standard AA batteries. One of the best-selling portable voice recorders online, the Zoom H6 currently holds a 4.6-star rating from hundreds of reviews. Purchase: $399.99 on Amazon.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Editorial products are independently selected. If you buy something from our links, PMC may earn a commission.<\/em><\/p>\n

via:: Rolling Stone<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mark Foster has spent countless hours working on music in the studio, but lately, the Foster the People frontman says he\u2019s been trying to take his songwriting to go. \u201cThe past couple of years, it\u2019s been a goal of mine to capture inspiration when it strikes,\u201d says the singer and guitarist, who has also set […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-485623","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-music-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-18 22:13:52","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KQZR - The Reel","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=485623"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/485623\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=485623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=485623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kqzr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=485623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}