12 credit crunch-destroying ways to make music

Free software, homemade guitars and coconuts

Tom Porter, Thu 12 Feb 2009, 5:08 pm GMT

The current global economic crisis might have curbed your spending power, but it doesn't have to curb your creativity. Or enthusiasm.

If you managed to procure a computer, plank of wood, mobile phone - and any one of the following: coconut shell, piece of cardboard or wire coat hanger - before the credit crunch kicked in, there's something here for you.

Here's MusicRadar's guide to making music while laughing in the face of recession…

Go lo-fi. It's cheaper. And cooler

1. Snap, Crackle and Pop (music)

Many of us strive to make our music sound as 'perfect' and pristine as possible, but top-quality (and expensive) production values don't guarantee good music. In fact, a bit of imperfection never did DJ Shadow, Boards Of Canada or Hot Chip any harm, did it? Go cheap: 9 crackly lo-fi production tips.

2. Sample everything, everywhere

Most of us have the tools required to record any sound in any place – even a mobile phone (especially an iPhone) can be used to capture audio – so what are you waiting for? Extreme sampling: 11 ways to create unique sounds.

3. …or, even better: let someone else do it for you

Ever heard of a band called Parts & Labor? No, neither had we, until they pulled this genius/cheapskate stunt: Band make album with hundreds of fan-made samples, "burping electronics, neighing horses and clipping toenails" all included. Amazing.

Recycle: make music, save the planet. Everyone's a winner…

4. Cardboard…

Granted, this cardboard PC might be a bit of a stretch for your average man with a dog and a soldering-iron, but this cardboard laptop stand is a no-brainer, surely?

MusicRadar