Six Essential Items for Your Home Recording Studio
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Whether you want to be a full-time musician, you have a killer hobby, or you want to get into music as a side hustle, one of the most important things to have at your disposal is a way to record music.
Nowadays, anyone with an iPhone and GarageBand thinks they’re automatically a musician, but the reality is, you won’t be taken seriously when you record using rudimentary tools. If you really want people to hear your music (especially if you want to make money), you need to invest in the equipment that will give you high-quality recordings.
Plus, when you own a recording studio, you can rent it out for other musicians to use, too.
Thankfully, it’s not impossible to build a recording studio in your own home. Doing so can save you money, and it’s easier than you might think!
With that in mind, let’s look at five essential items you’ll need to start putting your studio together the right way.
1. A Fast Computer
If you’re going to splurge on one piece of equipment for your recording studio, make it a quality computer. If you already have a computer for personal use, you might be able to get away with using it for a while. But, make a commitment to invest in a fast computer as soon as possible, and use it just for the studio. That way, it won’t get bogged down with personal files and it will stay faster, longer.
2. An Interface Combo and DAW
Having a computer is important for recording and mixing, but you’ll need the right interface and DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to get the job done. The DAW is what you’ll actually be using to mix and edit the music you’ve recorded on your computer. The audio interface helps to connect the two.
If these particular pieces of equipment sound confusing, they’re not. In fact, you can purchase them as a combo in many cases, making them easy for beginners to use. Sometimes, you can even find “plug and play” versions that really just hook up to your computer and allow you to record, edit, and mix almost instantly.
3. Quality Microphones
Don’t skimp on quality microphones for your studio. The right microphone will pick up every nuance and subtlety of instruments or vocals. If you’re a rapper using a DJ Service Pack to rhyme over, you want your audience to hear every word. If you’re in an indie band, you don’t want the guitars to overpower other instruments, etc. Good microphones will always sound clear and make it easier for you to find the perfect balance when you’re mixing your songs.
4. Headphones
Having speakers that will let you hear clearly in your studios is important, especially if you have multiple people listening to the playback. But, it’s even more important to have high-quality headphones. Even if it’s just you doing the recording by yourself, being able to listen back with headphones will allow you to hear things clearly that speakers simply won’t be able to provide.
Headphones will help you to pick up on the smallest details of a recording. Maybe you turned a page of lyrics and that needs to be removed. Maybe you were just slightly flat or sharp. Listening back to your recordings with headphones will allow you to create perfection, every single time.
If you can’t afford a pair of expensive headphones right now, at the very least use a pair you already have, or even a pair of earbuds. They aren’t the same as studio-quality headphones. But, they will help to hear things more closely than speakers or monitors, so you can pick up on subtle mistakes. When you’re finally able, invest in a good pair of studio headphones, and you’ll be blown away by the difference they can make.
5. Pop Filters
When you take the time to research microphones and finally invest in one (or more!), don’t forget to buy pop filters, too. They are a simple, inexpensive addition that will make a big difference in how you, or anyone who records with you, sounds.
Chances are, you’ve seen a pop filter before. If you’ve ever seen videos of someone in a recording studio, have you noticed a small mesh screen in front of the microphone? That’s exactly what you need.
Pop filters live up to their name. They help to reduce the ‘pop’ sounds that can come from singing certain words, especially those that start with “P” or “B”. It’s a normal thing that people do when they speak or sing, but it can be very obvious in a recording and distract from the song. A pop filter helps to eliminate that problem, leaving the recording clean and consistent the whole way through.
6. Creativity
You might be hesitant to invest in a home recording studio because of the cost. But, you really have full control over the cost. You might end up spending a few hundred dollars, or a few thousand. If you’re just getting started, you can actually put together a decent studio without breaking the bank.
What you do need, though, is something money can’t buy. You need to be willing to be flexible, adaptable, and to showcase your creativity everywhere. If you’re really trying to create a studio that sounds professional, whether it’s for yourself or to rent out to others, you’re going to need to think outside of the box in order to do that.
Keep these items in mind as you work toward building your own home recording studio. The good news? You don’t need a lot of space to do it. Pick a simple room and start off by soundproofing it and stripping it of everything that isn’t needed. From there, you can start to build your studio from the ground up. You might not end up getting all of the equipment you need overnight. It will come with time, and you can start to collect more and more high-end gear. Be patient, be creative, and never be afraid to follow your passions.
