How to Get that Awesome Home Studio

Have you been dreaming of having your own home recording studio? A place where you can unleash your creativity and produce great music. If you’re like me, you might need a space to sneak away from the daily grind and unwind. My home studio has become my oasis, where I go off and soak up everything there is to know and learn about music production.

But how do you create a fabulous home recording studio? What equipment and software do you need? How do you choose the best room and set up your studio monitors? How do you balance your budget and your goals?

In this blog post, I will answer these questions and share some tips and advice on how to set up a home recording studio that suits your needs and preferences. Whether a beginner or a hobbyist, you can create a simple, functional, affordable home recording studio to record and mix your music at home.

Develop a Plan

Do your research

Before buying anything, you must research and learn home recording basics. You need to understand what each piece of equipment does, how it works, and how it affects your sound quality and workflow. You must also know what software is needed to record, edit, and mix your tracks. 

Many online resources, such as blogs, videos, podcasts, and courses, can help you learn the fundamentals of home recording. You can also join online communities and forums where you can ask questions and get feedback from other home recording enthusiasts.

 Set a budget. 

Home recording can be an expensive hobby if you are not careful. You don’t want to spend more than you can afford or buy things you don’t need. That’s why you must set a realistic budget and stick to it. You can start with a basic setup that includes the essentials, such as a computer, a DAW (digital audio workstation), an audio interface, a microphone, headphones, and studio monitors. 

When you’ve graduated from newbie status, upgrade or expand your studio as you go along, depending on your goals and preferences. You can also sell or trade items you outgrow or don’t use anymore.

 Choose the right equipment and software. 

You will need different equipment and software depending on what kind of music you want to record and what instruments you play. For example, suppose you record guitars, keyboards, synths, or other instruments. In that case, you will need different microphones, cables, stands, pedals, MIDI controllers, etc. 

You will also need to choose a DAW that suits your workflow and style. There are many options available for different budgets and levels of experience. Some popular DAWs are Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Reaper, etc.

What You Need to Get Started

Computer

A powerful computer is the hub of your home recording studio. You can choose between a Mac or a PC, depending on your preference and compatibility with your software. 

Some benefits of using a Mac are more stability, lower latency, better security, and better compatibility with most DAWs. Some drawbacks are higher prices, fewer customization options, less storage space, and less compatibility with some hardware devices.

If you want to use the latest Apple processors (M1 or M2), which offer faster performance and longer battery life than Intel processors (the ones used in most PCs), you must buy a Mac. However, remember that some DAWs or plugins may not be compatible with these processors yet. So make sure to check the compatibility of your software before buying a new Mac with an M1 or M2 processor.

Some benefits of using a PC are lower prices, more customization options, more storage space, and more compatibility with some hardware devices. Some drawbacks are less stability, higher latency, more vulnerability to viruses and malware, and more compatibility issues with some DAWs.

⇒Some popular computers for home recording studios are:

1. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Pro) – $2,499
2. Microsoft Surface Book 2 15-inch – $1,999
3. Dell XPS 15 7590 – $1,499

DAW and Audio Interface

A DAW software allows you to record, edit, and mix your tracks on your computer. An audio interface is the hardware that connects your computer with your microphones and instruments. It converts analog signals into digital signals that your computer can process. It also provides phantom power for condenser microphones and headphone outputs for monitoring.

⇒Some popular interfaces for home recording studios are:

1. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio Bundle – $269
2. M-Audio AIR Complete Recording Bundle – $219
3. PreSonus AudioBox 96 Studio USB Recording Bundle – $249

⇒Popular DAWs include:

1. Ableton Live 11: $99 (Intro), $449 (Standard), $749 (Suite)
2. Apple Logic Pro X: $199
3. Cockos Reaper 6: $60 (discounted license), $225 (commercial license)

Studio Monitors

Studio monitors are speakers designed to reproduce sound accurately without coloration or distortion. They allow you to hear your mix clearly and make adjustments accordingly. They are essential for creating professional-sounding recordings at home.

⇒Some popular studio monitors for home recording studios are:

1.   KRK Rokit RP5 G4 – $179 each
2.   Yamaha HS5 – $199 each
3.   JBL Professional 306P MKII – $149 each

Microphone & Microphone Stand

A microphone is a device that captures sound waves from different sources (such as vocals or instruments) and converts them into electrical signals that can be recorded by your audio interface. A microphone stand is a device that holds your microphone in place at the desired height and angle.

There are different types of microphones for various purposes: dynamic microphones are suitable for loud sources (such as drums or guitar amps), condenser microphones are ideal for detailed sources (such as vocals or acoustic guitars), ribbon microphones are suitable for warm sources (such as brass or strings), etc.

⇒Some popular microphones for home recording studios are:

1.  Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone – $99
2.  Rode NT1-A Condenser Microphone Bundle – $229
3.  MXL R144 Ribbon Microphone – $99

⇒Some popular microphone stands for home recording studios are:

1.  On-Stage MS7701B Tripod Boom Microphone Stand – $29
2.  Gator Frameworks Short Weighted Base Microphone Stand – $39
3.  K&M Tabletop Microphone Stand – $19

Headphones: 

Headphones allow you to listen to sound in private without disturbing others or being disturbed by external noise. They help monitor your sound quality and levels while recording or mixing.

There are different types of headphones for various purposes: closed-back headphones isolate your ears from external noise and prevent sound leakage that can bleed into your microphone; open-back headphones allow some sound to escape and let some external noise in; semi-open headphones are somewhere in between.

⇒Some popular headphones for home recording studios are:

1. Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Closed-Back Headphones (250 Ohm) – $159
2. Sennheiser HD 650 Open-Back Headphones (300 Ohm) – $399
3. AKG K240 Semi-Open Headphones (55 Ohm) – $69

Quality Audio Cables: 

Audio cables are wires that connect your equipment together and transmit sound signals between them. They are essential for ensuring good sound quality and avoiding interference or noise. 

There are different types of audio cables for various purposes: XLR cables are balanced cables that connect microphones to audio interfaces; TRS cables are balanced cables that connect studio monitors to audio interfaces; TS cables are unbalanced cables that connect instruments to audio interfaces; RCA cables are unbalanced cables that connect consumer devices (such as CD players) to audio interfaces; MIDI cables are digital cables that connect MIDI controllers (such as keyboards) to audio interfaces; USB cables are digital cables that connect audio interfaces to computers; etc.

⇒Some popular audio cables for home recording studios are:

1. Mogami Gold Studio XLR Cable (15 ft) – $54
2. Hosa CSS-110 TRS Cable (10 ft) – $8
3. GLS Audio TS Cable (10 ft) – $13

External or a Backup Hard Drive: 

An external or backup hard drive is a device that stores data outside of your computer’s internal hard drive. It helps save space on your computer’s hard drive, back up essential files in case of data loss or corruption, transfer files between different computers or devices, etc.

⇒Some popular external or backup hard drives for home recording studios are:

1. Sandisk Extreme Portable (4TB) – $799, but on sale for as low as $269
2. Western Digital My Passport Portable External Hard Drive (4 TB) – $99
3. Samsung T5 Portable SSD External Solid State Drive (500 GB) – $79

Choose the best room and acoustics. 

The room where you set up your home recording studio can significantly impact your sound quality and comfort. Ideally, you want a room with a solid wood door, few windows, and a carpeted floor. These features can help reduce unwanted noise and reflections that ruin your recordings. 

You also want to avoid rooms that are too small or too large, as they can cause problems with frequency balance and reverb. Pick a room with an irregular shape and varied surfaces to create a more natural sound.

You can also improve the acoustics of your room by using acoustic panels, bass traps, diffusers, and other acoustic treatment devices. These devices can help absorb, diffuse, or redirect sound waves to create a more balanced and controlled sound environment. 

You don’t need to cover every inch of your walls with acoustic treatment; focus on the areas where sound is most likely to reflect or build-up, such as corners, behind speakers, and opposite walls.

⇒Some popular acoustic treatment devices for home recording studios are:

1.  ATS Acoustic Panel (24 x 48 x 2 Inches) – $54
2.  Auralex LENRD Bass Trap (4 Pack) – $199
3.  Primacoustic London 8-Room Kit – $249

Set up your studio monitors and headphones. 

Studio monitors and headphones are essential for hearing and monitoring your sound quality and levels. You need to set them up properly to get the best results. You want to place studio monitors at ear level on stands or isolation pads at an equal distance from each other and your listening position. You also want to angle them slightly inward so that they form an equilateral triangle with your head. This way, you can create a sweet spot where you can accurately hear your mix’s stereo image and frequency balance.

You want to use closed-back headphones that isolate your ears from external noise and prevent sound leakage that can bleed into your microphone. You also want to use headphones with a flat frequency response so they don’t color or distort your sound.

⇒Some popular studio monitor stands and isolation pads for home recording studios are:

1.   On-Stage SMS6000 Adjustable Monitor Stands (Pair) – $79
2.   IsoAcoustics ISO-155 Isolation Stands for Studio Monitors (Pair) – $109
3.   Auralex MoPAD Monitor Isolation Pads (Pair) – $49

 Test and tweak your setup

Once everything is in place, you must test and tweak your setup until you are happy with your home recording studio’s sound quality and performance. You can compare your well-known reference tracks with your recordings and mixes. 

Tools such as spectrum analyzers, level meters, phase meters, etc., are great for diagnosing any problems or issues with your sound. You can also experiment with different mic placements, settings, effects, etc., to find what works best for your music.

⇒Some popular tools and software for testing and tweaking your home recording studio setup are:

1. Room EQ Wizard (Free) – A software that measures and analyzes the acoustics of your room and suggests corrections
2. Sonarworks Reference 4 Studio Edition with Mic – A software and hardware bundle that calibrates your speakers and headphones to deliver accurate sound
3. iZotope Ozone 9 Elements – A software that helps you master your tracks with professional tools and presets

Conclusion

Have fun and be creative! The most important thing about creating an excellent home recording studio is to have fun and be creative! Don’t let technical details or limitations stop you from making music that you love. 

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to record music at home; it all depends on your goals and preferences. So experiment with different sounds, styles, genres, techniques, etc., and find what inspires you.

One final tip: Realize that you can grow as you go. You don’t need to have everything perfect from the start. You can always learn new skills, improve your equipment, upgrade your software, etc., as you progress in your home recording journey. The most important thing is to start somewhere and keep going.

Please let me know your thoughts!