Are you planning to make your own home recording studio? You have come to the right place. In this guide we will show you everything you need to set up your own home studio.
Setting up a home studio is possibly the dream of every musician and music producer. But not just a simple home studio, but also a professional one… that is, with decent equipment. That is why in this guide we have put together the best tips for setting up a home and professional recording studio. Many believe that it can be an extremely complicated and complex task, but in fact… it is simpler than it seems. Seriously, if you stay in line with what is necessary, You will see that you are closer than you think.
Contents
Equipment Needed to Set Up a Home Recording Studio1. PC/Laptop2. DAW3. Audio InterfaceFocusrite ScarlettSteinberg URPresonus Studio 26
4. Condenser/dynamic microphone5. Microphone stand6. Studio monitors7. Headphones8. MIDI Controller9. XLR and Jack10 cables. Acoustic panels
Home recording studio budgetProducer Essential Pack 101
Equipment Needed to Set Up a Home Recording Studio
To set up your own studio, this is the list of the necessary components:
- PC/Laptop
- DAW (Digital Audio Station)
- Audio interface
- Condenser/dynamic microphone
- Microphone stand
- Studio monitors
- Headphones
- MIDI controller
- XLR and Jack cables
- Acoustic Panels
Now we will explain in detail which are essential and which you can postpone for later. That is, there will be equipment that is essential for recording and running the studio, and others that you can leave on your to-do list.
1. PC/Laptop
The computer is an essential basis for setting up a home studio. It may seem a little obvious, but it is key to note that it must be a fast computer. The programs you use to record, edit and master will require a powerful computer. As for the requirements, it is preferable to go with computers with more than 8GB of ram, 4-core processor or more and always solid SSD disk. By staying on this line you ensure a fast computer. Another point to keep in mind is that it has to be a silent computer. It is a KEY requirement for a recording studio, since it is essential that it cannot be heard in the recordings. The choice of a desktop or laptop computer will depend on the following:
- Desktop PC: A desktop PC is ideal for those who only produce in their studio. If you only record and edit in your studio, this will be the best option.
Update: Mini PCs are now a better option than large ones. They are quieter than common desktop ones, more compact, can be easily transported and have great performance.
- Laptop (portable): A laptop will be perfect for those who need to move everywhere with it. If your friends often call you to record outside your home, or you have to go record a voice in another studio, these are signs that you need a laptop. It is the most flexible option.
Recommended Mini PC: Beelink T45 (Amazon/Aliexpress)Recommended Laptop: Lenovo S340 (Amazon)
2.DAW
DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), or in Spanish, digital audio workstation, is the base software for recording, editing, processing and mixing multiple tracks together.
They are commonly known as editing or recording programs.
In this program you can record audio, edit tracks, master projects, add VST plugins, effects, processors and much more. It is one of the things that cannot be missing from your list to set up your home recording studio, since without That will not work. DAW software can be purchased separately, but it is also often included in the audio interface. Point that we will see later.
The most chosen DAWs are:
- FL Studio: The FL Studio is one of the most chosen options by music producers, particularly in EDM and Hip Hop. But nowadays, it is also used for many other genres as it allows you to easily duplicate tracks, handle loops and more functions.
- Reaper: Reaper is a great inexpensive program that has a trial function for a few months. It has many benefits and functions.
- PreSonus Studio One: This is one of the DAWs that has grown the most in recent years. Now it also includes new MIDI editors, patterns and more than 70 functions.
- Pro Tools: One of the most professional programs for recording and mastering. Especially in post-production. But the disadvantage is that it is very expensive.
- Ableton Live: One of the differentiating characteristics of Ableton is that it is not only used for recording but also for playing instruments and mixing live.
The Best 10 DAW Software for Music Production
3. Audio interface
One of the essential components for every home recording studio is the audio interface. The audio interface is the equipment that allows you to connect microphones or instruments, and transform their audio into a signal to record on the computer using the DAW .This is one of the devices that you will have to pay the most attention to, that is why we have written a complete guide to audio interfaces.
What to take into account when choosing an interface?
- Channels: The number of instruments/microphones that you will want to connect at the same time.
- Preamps: Good preamplifiers will ensure good, powerful gain levels when recording.
These are the two most important characteristics when purchasing an interface. Then everything else is additional.
The best audio interfaces are:
Focusrite Scarlett
Focusrite’s Scarlett series is one of the best in terms of preamps and build quality. Ableton Live software is included. You can review all models in this series at Thomann. Models vary in the number of channels.
Steinberg UR
Acquiring a model from Steinberh’s UR series is also an excellent option to guarantee good preamps and excellent quality. Steinberg is the company that created Cubase, so as you can imagine, it includes it in this interface for free. You can check all UR series models here.
Presonus Studio 26
Presonus is the company that created the Studio One DAW, so it is included in all its interfaces.
The Presonus Studio 26 is a great option and in recent years it has gained a lot of ground.
4. Condenser/dynamic microphone
When choosing an ideal microphone for your home recording studio, you have two options:
- Condenser microphone: Condenser mics are widely used in recording studios as they capture all the details with precision. They have excellent response at high frequencies and their recording tone is very faithful.
They are ideal for recording vocals, acoustic guitars and general studio uses.
- Dynamic microphone: Dynamic microphones are cheaper due to their low-cost internal mechanisms but have less precision. But on the positive side, having less sensitivity, they do not pick up ambient sounds.
They are ideal for recording loud sounds, guitar amplifiers or acoustic drums.
That is, the ideal is to have both because they have different uses… but the budget also stretches. Generally the best option to start is with a good condenser microphone. Recommended condenser microphone: Rode NT1A (Amazon/Thomann )Recommended dynamic microphone: Shure SM57 (Amazon/Thomann)
5. Microphone stand
It may seem a bit obvious, but along with the microphone, you will also require a microphone stand to hold it. But you should keep in mind that if you choose a condenser microphone, you will need to purchase a special condenser stand. This is because they are heavier and if you place it on a regular one it will break. On the other hand, dynamic microphones can be placed on any type of mic stand, whether in the form of a tripod, stand or table.
6. Studio Monitors
Studio monitors differ from commercial speakers in that they have a flatter, more professional sound.
While commercial speakers are made to listen to music and sound good, studio monitors are all about capturing all the details of the track as faithfully as possible. The term “flat response” refers to a balanced sound and that can capture what is really on the track.. without any accentuations in bass or treble. This is perfect for mixing and mastering with the best precision. In choosing the monitor, you can go for an affordable monitor kit or a professional monitor. Affordable monitors offer great quality to get started with a studio, but if you are looking for the most professional option you will have to invest a little more money.
- Read: Guide to choosing your next studio monitors
Recommended cheap studio monitor: Mackie CR4 (Amazon/Thomann)Recommended professional studio monitor: KRK Rokit 5 (Amazon/Thomann)
7. Headphones
The headphones basically have two functions in the studio:
Monitor: When you are recording an instrument, you will need to listen to a base track or the “click” of the metronome. You can only do this with headphones so that the sound is not heard in the recording. Mixing: It is not the best option… but if you have a short budget you can replace it with monitors to start.
And likewise, there are two types of headphones; closed and open.
Closed headphones are perfect for isolating external sound so musicians who are recording can pay attention to what they hear. It is the ideal option for monitoring. On the other hand, open headphones, since they have less isolation, are suitable for mixing since they have better sound quality.
Recommended closed-back headphones: Sennheiser HD 569 (Amazon/Thomann)Recommended open-back headphones: AKG K-701 (Amazon/Thomann)
8. MIDI Controller
In recent years.. the MIDI keyboard has become a key tool for music producers. This is not an essential equipment on the list, but it is a great utility for producers who handle piano.
Especially if you use VST plugins daily and have to listen to the sound to find the perfect chord pattern or melody you are looking for.
A few years ago it was quite an expensive piece of equipment, but now you can get MIDI keyboards for less than $100.
Recommended MIDI controller: M-Audio Keystation 49 (Amazon/Thomann)
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9. XLR and Jack Cables
When setting up a home recording studio, you will need quite a few XLR and jack cables to connect all the equipment. Studio monitors, instruments, microphones and almost everything you connect will need cables. Providing yourself with additional cables will always be the best option for any unforeseen event.Whether another guitarist comes to record in the studio and forgets his cable, or your card breaks… it is always better to have additional cables. Believe me, this is the factor where we generally fail the most.
10. Acoustic panels
And finally, to improve the acoustics of the studio and reduce resonance, acoustic panels are the answer. When we talk about acoustics, we must differentiate acoustic panels from foam rubber. The foam rubber is what sticks to the wall and is not so aesthetic. The disadvantage is that they are only effective against high frequencies.
On the other hand, acoustic panels can cover a greater range of frequencies and are also more aesthetic.
Many times by placing some panels on the conflict walls, the acoustics are incredibly improved.
You can even try making them yourself with rock wool, wooden straps, fabric and a little ingenuity.
Home recording studio budget
One of the most frequent doubts when choosing equipment is what is essential to reduce the cost. In this list we name the 10 components to build a home recording studio… but some are not essential to build it. For example, if you have a limited budget, you can replace the studio monitors with open headphones. And of course there are other non-essential components such as the MIDI controller, acoustic panels or even the microphone stand (if you know how to find ways to hold the microphone). But to get started, you can stick to the essential equipment and start setting up your next home recording studio.