If you’ve read my post about New Year’s Resolutions, you know I’ve been spending some time putting my home recording studio back together after a long break.
The bare minimum amount of equipment you need to create great digital recordings at home.
Some of it came back to me like riding a bike. Some of it (like Pro Tools) did not! Which brought me, of course, to YouTube, searching for online tutorials — where I found a video that appealed to me for completely different reasons…
Part of the beauty of recording in a small home “studio” (mine is basically just a bedroom filled with gear) is that you can use limitations to your advantage. So I’ve been obsessing lately over the basics, wanting to break my gear, my signal path, and my creative process down to something that allowed for quick tracking and decision making.
One of the “back-to-basics” videos I came across was by producer and audio engineer Graham Cochrane (who runs the Recording Revolution blog and video series). In the video below he does a great job explaining what gear you need, what gear you don’t need, and why.
A couple days after I watched the video, Graham wrote a guest post for the Echoes Blog on the exact same topic. Strange connections! Anyway, I thought I would summarize his points below — and if you want more in-depth explanations, watch the video above or read his full article HERE.
What do you need in order to make great digital recordings in a home studio?
Clearly the theme throughout much of Graham’s advice is to keep it simple, start small, don’t spend too much, get to work, and have fun!
As you record more and more at home, you’ll discover ways to solve problems WITHOUT spending money or adding gear (though a nice preamp does sound pretty good about now). Ahhh! OK. Back to work.
For a similar take on what you need in order to create great-sounding tracks in your home studio, watch the video below:
Do you agree with these recommendations? Did Graham miss any essentials? How do you create your home recordings? What’s your go-to piece of gear?
Let me know in the comments below.
Are you just getting started with your first home recording studio setup? Maybe you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and confused?
Good news … you are in the right place! At Music Repo we have years of experience in helping people get started. In this post, we explain the key components of a music recording studio for beginners so then you are all setup to make real progress with your recordings.
Our mission in life is to guide you step by step and make the learning process as simple as possible so that you succeed and make the most of your home recording studio, even if you are a complete beginner.
Audio recording is a fun, exciting and rewarding activity. And today’s affordable technology means that anyone can have in their home the tools they need to professional sounding recordings. Gone are the days when this was only possible in a multi-million pound studio.
But the problem is that simply buying the tools alone is not enough to do the job. It is essential that you also learn how to setup and use them properly and there is a learning curve. It is a sad fact that too many people get stuck, become frustrated and never achieve their recording goals.
We want to help you succeed! So we take a very simple approach here. Start of with the right home recording studio kit – you only need a few basic items to get going. Then we give the help and advice you need to get it setup correctly.
Home Recording Studio Kit: 7 Essentials for BeginnersThere are 7 main components that should be on any beginner’s home recording studio list. These are the key essentials needed to make good quality recordings at home. But you don’t need them all at once! You can build up step by step and what you choose to buy for your own home studio recording will depend on what you want to achieve.
It may be you can achieve everything you want with a simple USB mic and a set of headphones if you just want to record vocal tracks. Or just a MIDI controller if you are only interested in creating sheet music or learning to play the keyboard or piano.
So pick the items YOU need. But to help you get started here are our top 7 items for the complete newbie.
We will look briefly at each item in turn and carefully explain in plain english exactly what it is, how it works, how to choose the best equipment for you, how to set it up and troubleshoot any problems. Once you have got the basics in place, then we have step-by-step guides on how to use each component to record yourself, edit, mix and master your tracks, to create your own music, or use it to learn how to play an instrument better.
The same techniques will apply whether you are a musician wanting to record your songs or backing tracks, whether you are a video artist looking to make professional audio tracks and voiceovers for your videos, or whether you are a podcaster, coach or hypnotherapist wanting to make high quality recordings of your voice to sell or share.
So let’s get a bit more detail on these 7 basic components of your first home recording studio.
[The following content contains affiliate links. For more information, read our disclosure policy here.]
Your computer is going to be the central ‘hub’ of your recording studio. And although newcomers to home recording fret about the kind of computer they should purchase, if you are just starting out, then start with the computer you have got, and pick peripheral gear that will work on multiple platforms. Once you have got your basic studio together, and are ready to upgrade your computer then we can look at options in detail. But for now, pick an audio interface that will work on PC, Mac and iPad if you can and are not sure which direction your recording is going to take. If you bought a computer or iPad within the last 3 or 4 years it will be more than adequate for recording, mixing and sharing your audio tracks.
An audio interface is probably the first really crucial hardware you will purchase when getting ready to create your first home recordings. This is the equipment that will get your recordings INTO your computer and will also connect to speakers or headphones so you can hear what you are doing. We have two really good guides to help you get started: one will explain exactly what is an audio interface if you haven’t come across this before, and then once you understand the basics, we have another post on how to choose the perfect recording interface for you depending on your specific requirements – and of course your budget!
First of all, if you want to know all about different types of microphones, and what all those complicated spec sheets mean, then you can refer to our ultimate guide to recording studio microphones. Once you have invested in a mic, you have three basic options when it comes to using a microphone for recording on your computer or tablet. You can: connect direct to the external mic port on your computer; record through an audio interface; or purchase a USB microphone. For more details about these three options read our introductory post about how to connect your mic up to your computer. And if you have decided that the USB microphone route is the way to go then you might find it useful to read about how to choose the right USB mic for your own recording situation. If you want some more basic info, then we have a quick guide on what is a USB microphone too.
Is a MIDI controller essential? Not if you are only planning to make straight audio recordings via a mic. But if you want to use virtual instruments (eg create drum, synth and bass tracks), create your own sheet music, or learn to play keyboard then even an entry level keyboard is a must. You can read more if you want us to help you decide if you need a keyboard. If you already own a digital piano or keyboard then you can easily connect it to your computer with a simple interface or USB lead, and save money. If you know you definitely want to buy a MIDI keyboard, then we have a comprehensive guide on how to choose the best MIDI Keyboard Controller which considers everything from number of keys to whether or not you should have additional faders, onboard sounds etc.
Choice of software very much depends on what you want to achieve. If you are looking to do very straightforward recording and editing, then the easiest software to start out with is Audacity Recording Software which is free, and very easy to use when you are starting out. The other software to think about trying is Reaper, which you can use for free for 60 days and is very inexpensive to purchase if you like it. Reaper has full audio and MIDI capability, and is a fully fledged Digital Audio Workstation, whereas Audacity is best for simple audio recordings.
Remember your audio interface, USB Mic or MIDI Controller may come equipped with an entry level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation Software), and if this is the case you will not need to buy any software straight away to start making your first recordings and compositions. So, the important thing is to get your hardware right first whatever you want to do. And you could also check out our post on music making software which looks at the different things you might want to do – for example making your own sheet music, or learning to play an instrument. Maybe you already know you want a flagship copy of Pro Tools, Sibelius, or Cubase. Fantastic! But whatever you want to do, make sure you have the right equipment or you might find the software does not work as well as it should. We keep coming back to the key component of your recording studio, which is likely to be your audio interface
Once you have got the sound into your computer, you need to get it out again! It is no good creating your perfect first recording on your computer if you can’t hear it properly! So at least you will need to invest in some good quality studio headphones and if not straight away, you will also want a good pair of monitors (powered speakers). Studio monitors provide a neutral uncoloured sound so you can perfect your mix and judge it accurately. However, good monitors are not cheap, so if you are on a tight budget, maybe start by investing in headphones. We have an introductory guide which examines which are the best studio headphones for different recording and mixing situations.
The key audio cable types you are going to need are a mic cable, to connect your microphone to your audio interface (unless you have decided to choose a USB microphone) and also the cables to connect your audio interface up to your studio monitors (unless for now you are going to use headphones. Also a mic stand is absolutely essential if you are using a microphone, it is not practical to attempt to record through a handheld mic on your computer and try and operate the software at the same time. USB mics often come with a stand. And you can get away with a sturdy desktop stand rather than a full floor standing boom stand. Just make sure you factor this in when purchasing your mic.
Recording Studios In A Box – A Cost Effective Way To Set Up Your First Home StudioIf you cannot make your mind up on all the separates, then all the best brands do fantastic ‘studios in a box’ which contain microphone, audio interface and headphones, along with some recording software. Absolutely perfect for the complete beginner, because you know everything is going to work well together. Our favourites are below, and if you want to know more, read our full reviews of these all-in-one recording studio software and equipment packages.
Contains high quality condenser microphone, referencing headphones, and Scarlett XLR mic cable
Complete Recording Package for iOS, Android, Mac and PC – The iRig Studio includes a studio-quality condensor microphone, closed-back studio monitoring headphones, iRig recording interface, and cables
Everything you need to start recording in one box: M-Audio M-Track Interface, large diaphragm vocal microphone, studio headphones plus great suite of recording software
Aimed at musicians and producers seeking a portable high quality audio solution, this is a complete mobile hardware/software recording studio in a box that works on iPad, Mac and Windows. Contains interface, headphones and software plus the cables you need. Unbox and go!
All the gear and no idea? Here are a few articles that should help you find your way around your new home recording studio equipment! Music Repo is all about Home Recording Made Simple. These are some of the posts you find most helpful
Digital Audio: A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Successful Digital Audio Recording – there are a few key things you really need to know about digital audio before you make your first recording. This article will help you avoid some of the most common pitfalls.
What is MIDI? Our Ultimate Guide To Music Software’s Most Powerful Tool – if you can get to grips with the difference between MIDI and Audio recording, then you are well on your way to recording success with your favourite DAW
MIDI Connection | How to Connect a MIDI Keyboard to a Computer – whether you want to control virtual instruments in your DAW, or use any MIDI software, the first thing you need to do is get connected. This article tells you how.
Record Your Keyboard or Piano On Your Computer Step-By-Step – one of our most popular posts of all time. If you want to get the sound of your piano into your mix, then this is what you need to know
How To Record Guitar on a PC computer, Laptop, iPad or Mac – and for the guitarists, a step by step guide to how to record your guitar
Useful Books and Guides on Music Recording and Sound
SaleBestseller No. 1
SaleBestseller No. 2
SaleBestseller No. 3 Modern Recording Techniques (Audio Engineering Society Presents)
SaleBestseller No. 7
Bestseller No. 8 Song Mixing Secrets: How To Fix The Most Common Mistakes (Home Recording Studio, Audio Engineering,..
Studio Package BundleThe Mixing Engineer's Handbook: Fourth Edition
Last updated on 2019-07-02 / Affiliate links / Images via Amazon Product Advertising API
So What Next?Hopefully the above list will have given you some idea of how to get started with your first home recording adventures.
As well as helping you to make great recordings, we believe with a passion that if you want to learn a traditional instrument like piano or guitar you can learn so much faster if you make use of home music studio equipment.
We have been helping people like you with home studio recording equipment and music software since 2003. And we want you to succeed. We give free no-frills advice and guidance, and share tips and tricks on home studio recording setup and music software to help you record, learn and create.
You can read our step-by-step guides and tutorials on audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, MIDI controllers, recording software, mics, guitar and DJ gear. We are always working to build this into a comprehensive resource on getting started and helping you make music using technology. If you can’t find what you want here, then please contact us and we will do our best to add the information you need.
We are famous for our friendly helpful advice and our outstanding customer service. We want you to make the right decisions, build your confidence and achieve more in your first home recording studio.
So whether you want to make music on your PC, Mac, iPad or laptop, use music software to DJ, Mix, or for composition, notation, accompaniment, or learn how to play piano or guitar better, we give sound advice on music software and how to select and setup your home studio recording equipment to achieve your goals.
Once you have got your basic studio set up, then make sure you come back for more detailed information on how to get everything working and build up your experience.
The first thing to note when setting up a home recording studio is that while having really high quality and expensive gear and a multimillion-dollar facility is a great asset for making professional recordings, it pales in comparison to how important the actual skills are required to make a great recording and/or mix.
Knowing what you’re doing will trump any piece of gear.
With today’s technology, you can ultimately make an incredibly professional sounding recording and mix with very little money spent on “gear” and in the comfort of one's own home.
This article will address some considerations when setting up a home studio on a budget..
How to set up a home recording studio1. Computer
First of all, you’ll have to own a computer.
You don’t need the latest Mac Pro that’s all decked out with every single possible specification that could power a spaceship and cost you a pretty penny, but you also don’t want to be doing your recording on hand-me-down Windows 95 computer from the 90s.
We recommend a middle of the road currentMac Book Pro, iMac, or even Mac Mini (or any of the PC equivalents—although the greater percentage of creatives in the music business choose Mac).
The computer is going to be your center of operations and is a very important part of the home studio.
Most music biz creatives choose to use a Mac.
2. Digital Audio Workstation
It doesn’t really matter which one you choose, but you’ll need to purchase a DAW (short for Digital Audio Work Station). This “app” is what allows you to record, use virtual instruments (VIs), and mix.
The industry standard is Avid’s Pro Tools, and for complex audio mixing, manipulation and routing, is probably the best for the task.
It used to be very expensive to get a Pro Tools rig running in a home studio, but now for around $100 a year, you can have the exact software that the pros use.
Or, for around $200, you can purchase Apple’s Logic, which is the choice for most songwriters, producers, and musicians both professional and beginners who are just getting into the game of producing, recording, and mixing. If you’ve used Garage Band, Logic is a nice segue into the world of pro audio because it has a similar layout and look.
Ableton Live—which is a bit more expensive if you buy the complete version—is another great option and is the choice for the larger percentage of producers in the EDM, hip hop, and electronic genres because of its excellent MIDI, VST, and song creation workflow.
You can explore other options like Cubase, Reaper, Fruity Loops, etc. – just remember that there is no difference in audio quality between DAWs, and no DAW “sounds” better than any other.
It’s all about the DAW that allows for the best workflow for you, which varies from person to person.
Many of the companies allow for you to demo the software for free, so try them out!
3. Audio Interface
Unless you’re planning to solely use virtual instruments (VIs) and samples in your productions, you’ll need an audio interface.
Not only will an audio interface allow you to record audio such as your voice, guitar, synth, etc. via a microphone or instrument cable, it also will provide you with some quality outputs for a set of speakers—or “monitors” as we call them in the audio world.
You can use the headphone output of your computer, but it is not as good as an interface, it will require adapters, and can generally be a bit of a nuisance sometimes with buzzes and other artefacts of the computer and audio converters.
Sims 4 vampire hunter. Audio interfaces can be as cheap as $100 or can climb into the thousands of dollars.
For most home studio enthusiasts — unless you’re recording a live band/ensemble or desiring to track drums with lots of microphones — you won’t need that many inputs and can thus buy a cheaper interface.
We recommend on the lower end the Scarlett 2i2 (~$150) or on the mid-range end the Universal Audio Apollo Twin (~$700).
If you decide you need more than two inputs, we recommend the Scarlett 18i20 or the Universal Audio Apollo Quad.
If you’re on a tight budget, you can do a LOT with the Scarlett 2i2 — it's a seriously great interface for the money. Age of empires 2 spanish strategy.
Besides the input and output count (I/O) the difference in audio quality between the more expensive stuff and the cheaper stuff is there, but it is not night and day difference.
If you intend on combining some live instruments (such as guitars and vocals) with virtual instruments in your productions, the difference is even more negligible. The high-end interfaces really are geared towards engineers who are recording mostly audio, as opposed to electronic producers.
4. Speakers (Monitors) & Headphones
Being able to hear what you’re recording and mixing in the best of detail is of utmost importance for making a quality record. Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank to get some good monitors and headphones.
Monitors have the advantage of being “flat” as opposed to commercial speakers that are tuned with a hyped EQ curve. While your car audio system or home entertainment HiFi may be fun to listen to music on, you certainly don’t want to mix on those systems as you may make some very faulty mixing mistakes.
For example, if the system has super heavy bass, you may make up for it by mixing your track with less bass, and then when you play your track on a generic car system or listen on headphones, it will be completely top heavy and will lack the necessary low end.
You can purchase some decent monitors for as little as $400. Yamaha HS5s or KRK G2 5s are great for getting started.
You don't need to break the bank when it comes to buying your first monitors.
However, once you get into the midrange cost of monitors, you will definitely notice a difference and the extra money spent will really help you with your recording, production, and mix decisions.
Yamaha HS8s are becoming an industry standard and you can get a used pair for as little as $600.
Monitors from companies like Adams and Focal will cost well over a grand, but are truly incredible and should be considered if you have the budget.
If you plan on recording vocals or any other instrument with a microphone, you’ll need some headphones as it will create feedback and other unwanted noise and phasing if you record while listening through monitors in the same room.
You can get headphones that are fine for tracking for as little as $20-$30. However, if you intend on being able to use headphones for mixing and producing, you’ll have to spend quite a bit more.
One of the industry standards for mixing headphones are the Beyerdynamic DT700s. These are truly incredible, flat, and accurate headphones that you can use to mix.
When it comes to headphones, you get what you pay for.
Historically, there’s been a sentiment in the audio community that “you can’t mix on headphones,” but that’s simply not true as countless contemporary records have been mixed using headphones. As a matter of fact, sometimes it’s better to mix on headphones because if you’re listening to your monitors in “bad” room that has echo, unwanted resonance, and other undesirable room artefacts, you will get a distorted version of what you are recording and mixing. At least on headphones, if you’re using good ones, it will be flat and will always be the same in a neutral environment (right next to your ears)—something you can rely on.
Remember, when you first begin mixing, it’s a good idea to use reference tracks while mixing so you know what truly great recordings sound like on your system. Don’t worry, you won’t be able to copy someone else’s mix completely. Instead, you’ll have a better idea of where things should go in your own mix.
5. Microphones
You’ll need a microphone in order to record vocals or any other acoustic instrument. More than likely, you’ll just need one microphone.
Ensuring that your vocal tracks shine in a mix is the most vital part of your recording endeavor if you’re involved with popular music. Luckily, you can record stellar vocals with a relatively budget microphone.
The Rode NT1A is a great choice.
Paying a bit of homage to the famed Neumann U87, it costs a fraction of the Neumann’s $3,700 retail price tag: $229. Don’t get me wrong, a Neumann U87, U67, Manley Gold Reference, or any other fancy microphone can do wonders on a vocal. But you can still record completely professional tracks with a Rode NT1A.
Getting a great sound is about more than just the microphone.
What will really make a true difference in the quality of your recorded vocal tracks are:
(A) the quality and skill of the singer
(B) the quality of the room you record in.
If you record a so-so singer in a room that has unwanted resonance and noise, your tracks will sound unprofessional. It doesn’t matter if it’s a U87 or a Rode NT1A. If you record a great singer in a room that is free of unwanted noise, resonance, and echo, you will have stellar tracks.
It should be noted that you don’t need to go out and buy the most expensive acoustic treatment for the room you’ll be recording in.
You can buy budget materials or even use stuff lying around the house like blankets, mattresses, pillows, etc. to dampen the room. Bookcases with books really help to diffuse the room.
When I first started engineering, I had my vocalists record in my walk-in closet. I couldn’t charge as much back then because of the way it looked, but now I have a professional vocal booth and can charge a lot more. However, the difference in sound quality between the two is practically non-existent!
If you plan on recording a stereo source, such as a piano, drum overheads, stereo room, etc. either buy an additional mic to match what you already have, or you could buy a stereo pair.
Perhaps if you did buy something like the NT1A, which is a large diaphragm microphone, a stereo “pencil” pair may be a good compliment. The Rode NT5s are a good budget choice.
That’s it! Anything else you buy will be just embellishing the essentials of a fully operational recording studio. Outboard analog gear is fun and can add interesting and beautiful colors to your recording and mixing arsenal, but are not completely necessary. Better yet, purchase a few quality plugins and really learn them.
Below is the equipment for a sample budget recording studio:
Mac Mini: $699 Logic Pro: $199 Scarlett 2i2: $149 Tracking headphones: $29 Rode NT1A: $229 Yamaha HS5s: $400 Total: $1,705
When you have made your home-recorded demo, it’s a matter of turning it into a master track, ready to compete for airtime on major radio stations. The easiest (and the best) way to achieve this is by hiring professionals.
If you’re worried about the costs, don’t be. In the day and age we live in, where everything can be done through online collaboration, hiring a professional music studio is affordable and you get master-quality tracks thanks to A-list engineers, musicians and producers who are now one click away.
Do you have any question about setting up your own home studio? Or any tips for other musicians hoping to start recording at home? Let us know in the comments below.
This is a guest article by Jake Gakovik, a session guitarist, music entrepreneur, and co-founder of www.supremetracks.com, a professional online recording studio where you can get your songs arranged, recorded and mastered by award-winning music professionals.
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