Typically, the recorded performance of a musical work protected as a phonogram under copyright law. is the legal term for a recorded In the context of music, when a musical work is played live or on a sound recording. of a An original musical composition with or without lyrics.. That recording could be made in professional and home studios, live, or elsewhere. The sound recording is usually then made available on Something tangible. and Formats that store music in computer-readable files using binary code, such as WAV, MP3, and FLAC. for streaming and download platforms, for radio, or physical retail stores.
Example of how a sound recording may be made, and which roles may be involved at which stage. Note: All roles can be performed by the same person. There is no fixed way to do this.
How is a sound recording made?
There are different ways to make a sound recording, and there can be many different roles involved. The process will vary from Anyone who contributes to creating or performing a musical work, a live performance, or a sound recording. to creator. For example, it could be performed or recorded by:
One of its creators, such as a A person who makes an original contribution to the creation of a musical composition or lyrics.
In the context of music, a creator playing a musical work live or on a sound recording., such as A person who plays a musical instrument. or Usually, the main artist or performer who performed on a sound recording. or both
or:Given as written or The musical notes, scores, bars, text, annotations, and lyrics written or printed documenting a musical work. It may also include instructions about how the musical work should be performed. to one or a group of musicians to record
Recorded as a An initial, typically incomplete, recording of a musical work. to be given to a recording artist to perform and re-recorded
Sometimes, A part of an existing sound recording used in a new recording. of an earlier recorded musical work can also be included in the making of a sound recording.
Once the sound recording is made, it is typically sent to a A person who blends separate recorded parts of sound recording together to create a cohesive and balanced sound. and then the A person who makes adjustments to enhance the final mix of a sound recording and prepares it for distribution. to The original sound recording. it. This is usually the final step in creating the A term used to describe a sound recording in its final stages of audio processing and adjustments, aka mixing, before mastering. ready for release as a The term "song" does not have a legal definition. It is frequently used to mean "musical work” – the composition and lyrics (if any) created by songwriters and composers. However, it could also refer to a “sound recording” (a specific recording of a musical work), or a “performance” (a live performance of a musical work).. But Not affiliated with any other entity or company. creators may do it differently. There is no right or wrong. Head over to our Mixing and Mastering topic to learn more about this.
This type of recording is intended for various purposes, such as distributing it commercially to be streamed and downloaded, playing it on the radio, or synching to a TV show or movie.
During studio performances, creators can be recorded together in one room or separately in different booths/studios to produce a high-quality sound recording of a musical work. Recording separate sound sources, often at different times, can then be used to create a single sound recording. Within this process, each instrument or voice is recorded onto an individual track, which provides greater flexibility.
An example of this would be recording a performer's vocal on its own and afterward recording the accompanying drum beat for that same sound recording. Both parts would then be combined during the mixing stage.
There are a few different techniques creators can use during recording sessions in a studio to best capture performances.
For example, multiple microphones could be used to capture different angles of a performance, and The process of blending separate recorded tracks together to create a cohesive and balanced sound recording. and The term used to describe the final process of adjusting levels, tone, compression, spacing, etc., to enhance the overall sound of a sound recording before release. tools can be used to adjust levels, add effects, and create a final mix that is balanced and polished.
Each sound recording can also be mixed to the correct volume through a mixing desk, and a variety of audio effects, such as Short for reverberation, an audio effect used to add depth and dimension to sound recordings., An audio effect that plays back duplicate of sound to create echoes or depth, An audio processing technique used in recording and production to control the dynamic range, which is the difference between the loudest and quietest parts of a sound or a mix., etc, can be added during the process, which offers creators and Sometimes called a studio producer or record producer, a person who typically helps a recording artist record a musical work. They are usually responsible for the entire recording process. an opportunity to simulate natural acoustic environments and manipulate different qualities of the sound.
There are a number of advantages to a Separate recordings (tracks) that represent an individual line of recorded performance, such as a vocal, drum, guitar, keyboard, or bass performance. recording, including:
If a performer makes a mistake during a recording, you can re-record a new part to fix any errors
Being able to use only the best performances from each band member
Recording individual sections of a musical work with multiple takes, if necessary
Individuals can record independently of one another
It's faster and easier to edit individual performances than an entire live band recording
Performances are most often recorded with the intention of later editing the different vocal and instrumental parts of the recording, also known as Individual tracks or recorded pieces of performances that make up a sound recording, for example, separate recordings of drums, guitar, or voice performances., and polishing them into a professional final product.
Another type of recorded performance can be a live recording. This could be a recording of an acoustic performance or a live performance of a larger group, and sometimes in the presence of a studio audience.
Because studio performances are often used for Intended to make money. purposes, they're also subject to laws and agreements that govern the ownership and The controls creators or rights holders have over what they have created or produced and over their identity and image. in the sound recordings.
Image credit: Tiffany Orvet