It doesn’t take much these days to create music while traveling. Everything you need for basic music creation can be stuffed into a small backpack to be fit “underneath the seat in-front of you” on an airplane. Of course, if you don’t mind checking a bag, or two that contain some of your music gear, then you can certainly take EVERYTHING you need to create music… However, this post primarily tries to cater to the “Carry-On” bag approach…
Why try to take a recording studio on a plane anyway?
Well, there are a couple of reasons you might want to take a little more that your cell phone with you while traveling in-order-to create some music while you’re away…
For starters, maybe you’re collaborating with another musician, or group of musicians, and are getting together to work on a piece of music. You can polish up an idea, or two while in the hotel prior to getting together the next day, for example…
Perhaps you’re making music for television (or other similar type gig) and have been given a very short deadline. Your day job (or family, or what, or whomever) have you traveling at the same time. In-order-to stay in good relations with that entity that needs the music, you will probably want to continue working on it while you’re away from your home studio.
examples of a portable music studio
Just below, I’ll give you a few examples of what you will need to be able to create music while on-the-go – one completely geared-up and with a guitar, and one with the absolute minimum requirements. Keep in mind, that when taking a guitar by air (if you’re traveling by air) you have to consider the potential challenges you may face along the way. For example, will my guitar fit in the over-head compartment or under the seat? If not, is there a storage compartment up-front where they’ll allow me to store it? Traveling by air with a guitar (especially a travel-size guitar) isn’t all the bad. My trips have been positive so far. It’s just that, for each flight that I took during one particular trip, there was never a “guaranteed” storage option. I always feared from plane-to-plane that it might get valet-checked at some point, but it never happened.
OK, on with the examples…
Example #1: “Fully-Loaded with a ‘Taylor Travel Guitar’ at your side.”
- Travel Guitar and case
- Laptop (favorite DAW / Other instruments installed)
- audio interface with all necessary cables
- 25-Key MIDI keyboard with usb cable
- Microphone(s) with cable(s) and desktop stand
- Headphones
- USB speaker(s)
external hard drive with usb cable (if you need the space, or if that’s where your favorite instruments are located)
NOTE: (This may be a given for most of you reading this, but…)… When packing these items for airline travel, I generally DO NOT pack them in their original boxes, but instead, wrap them in a t-shirt if I think I need the extra cushioning help. It would be nice to keep some of these items (like the audio interface) in its original box with all the Styrofoam, but will probably not work for a small, or medium sized backpack, unless you sacrifice a few other items, or you decide to check another bag, or two…
Example #2: “Bare-Bones+.”
- Laptop (favorite DAW / Other instruments installed)
- 25-Key MIDI keyboard with usb cable
I called this one, “Bare-Bones+” because, all you really need is a laptop loaded with all your favorite software. You can program midi via the piano roll, or play it on the “qwerty keyboard,” but I DO NOT prefer either method, so a keyboard of some sort is a must for me… The reason for the, “+.”…
Example #3: “No computer, No Problem.”
Although, this one “might be” a little harder to fit in a small backpack… But, you can still spread the items out over a couple of bags if you don’t mind checking one, or two. …
- 8-16x digital multi-track recorder with power cord (some hand-held recorders have multi-track features – example, the ZOOM H4N.
- Microphone(s) and cable(s) and desktop stand
- Drum machine of your choice with power cord
- 25-Key keyboard with built-in sound and usb cable
- Travel Guitar and case (if you prefer)?
With any of the above options you will have more-than-enough gear to create great music. You may also consider filling any extra space left over with some of the following accessories:
- Pad and pencil
- Extra guitar picks
- Another external hard drive with cable
- Another mic or instrument cable
- Pop filter for microphone
- Hand-held digital recorder
- CD/DVD burner with CDs / DVDs
- Capo for guitar
- Extra towel, or t-shirt(s) for padding
- Instrument tool kit, or multi-tool
Your options are limited only by your creativity
Of course, the above options for creating music on the go, are centered on either a laptop, or a multi-track recorder; however, your options are only limited by your creativity. I’m sure there’s, at least, half-a-dozen, or a dozen, or more ways to create your music without needing to have access to a desktop computer, or 24+ track analogue mixing board. New recording gear is being created almost monthly it seems.
You can, at least, captures ideas while on the road
Maybe you’re not in need of creating a full, “broadcast quality” track while traveling and only need to capture a few ideas here-and-there. All you need to do this is your cell phone, but if you want to see the full potential of that idea(s), having a few more pieces of gear with you might come in handy. It might save you some time upon returning home because you will have explored a few different approaches to your music.
Just find something else productive to do
OK, I wasn’t going to throw this part in here at first, but then I thought, “You can just left everything at home until you get back.”… Creating music on the go may seem cool, or fun, but if it isn’t that necessary for you at the moment, just wait until you’re back in the confines of your home studio.
Personally, I think it would be good to take a break (if you can) and come back with a whole new attitude toward your music. But, if you still want to work on some aspect of your music while traveling, then do just that…. Work on some other aspect other than actually recording or playing music…
Try one of the following while traveling instead of actually trying to take your studio with you:
- Read a book on one of your favorite artists (reading, in general will help to possibly strengthen your lyric writing abilities…. Who knows…)…
- Read a book on improving your home recording skills.
- Create video, or photo footage for an upcoming YouTube video (if you have a YouTube presence – I’m trying myself, or will be…), or for bio pics when, or if, they become necessary…
- Write a blog post (hmmmm…..)….
- Email management (save it for when you’re on the road if you know you’re not taking any music gear with you)…
- Etc. etc. etc. ……
In conclusion
Taking a home music studio with you on a play these days is not that difficult. And it can all “fit in the over-head compartment, or underneath the seat in-front of you” on a plane. Your travel options are limited only by your creativity. Just arrange everything you “think” you might need on your bed at home and start carefully packing those items into a carry-on size backpack and see what you get… You might have to sacrifice a few items for the trip, but I think you will find that will be able to take more than you realized…
Until Next Time…
