1. Multi track recording without a multitrack

You don't even need a 4 track to start multitrack recording at home. Before I bought my Tascam I used to record onto one tape deck and then play that and overdub onto another cassette deck….the best way to describe this is to show you the little illustration I made for one of my best friends a year and a half ago -

It's kind of primitive but you can get some really nice warm sounds from this technique…

2. Thrashing the levels….

There is no point recording a beautiful acoustic guitar if you can't hear it on the mix down. When you're recording, push the levels as far into the red as you can - don't assume it will distort, just turn your headphones up to ear damaging levels and if that isn't distorting then the signal on tape won't be distorting either. Obvious but worth noting…

3. Guitar effects aren't just for guitars

Plug your vocal mic/drum mic/ acoustic guitar mic into your fuzz pedal or delay or what ever before plugging into the multi track - it can sound shit but it can sound great, with vocals sounding like another instrument.

4. Flip the tape over for instant psychedelia

You don't have to have a huge studio to do what the great psych bands of the past (and the Beatles and Stone Roses) did - just turn your tape over and remember that track one becomes track four, 2 becomes 3, 3 becomes 2, and 4 becomes 1. Backwards guitar suddenly is within your grasp! Also helpful if a song sounds shit - turn the tape over, and it will probably sound better backwards.

5. Cheaper pop shields

No need to spend £50+ on a pop shield: just get a coat hanger, bend it into a circle and then stretch the foot end of a pair of tights over it - ét voila!

6. Record vocals without a microphone

You don't need a microphone to record vocals and you can sometimes get really cool results by using other things. Headphones are really just microphones in reverse (though I have never tried using a microphone as a speaker - perhaps I should!) - turn your gain up as far as you can go and sing into them, to hear what it sounds like. Likewise a humbucker pickup:plug your guitar into a fuzz pedal and then plug it straight into the 4 track then sing into the pick up - it works!

7. Evil fuzz

To get a really really vicious fuzz plug the guitar via a fuzz pedal straight into the 4 track or (this doesn't work with digital gear) and then turn all the levels up till the recorder itself distorts…evil sounding!

8. Record a whole band with stereo drums and 2 vocals WITHOUT bouncing down!

Yup, you can do this on a normal 4 track and here is how….

9. Big amp sound without a big amp

Want a loud guitar sound without annoying the neighbours? Simple. Plug in that practice amp you haven't used in years, stick a mic right in front of the speaker, turn it up and then throw a duvet over the whole thing. It will sound ace.

10. Want female backing vocals? No female friends? No problem!

Simply use the pitch control to slow the tape down by about 4 or 5% and then sing your backing vocals - when the tape goes back to normal speed you will notice your voice is a higher and kind of girlie sounding. Warning, slowing the tape down too much will make you sound like a fucking chipmunk.