If you're looking for a basic guide to what you need and how to start recording vocals, instruments or making beats in your home you came to the right place! From equipment to software and plug ins I'll give you a to the point and accurate run down on how to set up your digital home studio.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How To Choose Your Home Recording Studio Space
How To Choose The Right Home Recording Studio Computer
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
Midi Controller
Headphones For Your Home Recording Studio
Audio Interface
Monitors For Your Home Recording Studio
Microphones
How To Choose Your Home Recording Studio Space
If your fortunate enough to choose a spot to start your home recording you're going to want to choose a room or basement with enough space to work and to keep creativity flowing. Also the sound in the area should be considered. Obviously you wouldn't want to record next to loud equipment like a furnace or air conditioner etc.
If you're building a professional studio, you will want to look further in to acoustically treated rooms.
If your like many musicians your starting your first studio in the only bedroom available. Don't worry you can still make some great recordings in a bedroom studio!
Choose an area and set up a computer desk near plenty of outlets.
How To Choose Your Home Recording Studio Computer
The most important decision you'll make is what computer are you going to use. This will be the main brain to your entire studio. This is where you will create, record and save all your projects. You will need to decide if you are going with a Mac or PC.
Mac or PC?
Although Mac is the industry standard and a great choice there are also some good advantages to PC.
Mac has been the first choice for musicians with good reason.
Macs are usually safer as far crashes and bugs.
Every musician has either lost some data or had the constant fear of losing data and knows the value of a secure file system.
With that being said Macs are a bit more expensive and that may influence your decision.
I've personally produced music with a PC for many years and have never had any issues with crashes or loss of data.
Having good file management and backing up your work is mandatory.
Laptop Or Desktop?
The next thing you'll need to decide is if you want a Laptop or Desktop computer.
A laptop is going to be best if you are doing a lot of mobile producing in different locations. One thing you will want to keep in my mind is you will definitely pay more for less if you go with a laptop. As far as a "home recording studio" I definitely recommend a desktop computer. You'll get a much bigger bang for the buck and also better monitor, external hardware and upgrade options.
You will be putting heavy work loads on your computer so you will need a pretty heavy duty machine. You will want a good processor and a lot of hard drive space.
Specs will depend on what computer you decide on and the type of work you plan to do. For example if you plan to do a lot of video editing you will need a better processor and more space. Talk to the dealer about exactly what you want to do with your computer.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
When Choosing a DAW or DAWS you'll want to try out different ones before committing to one because it's likely you will spend a lot of time working with them.
Most DAWS can do the same things for the most part but each have a different type of workflow and specialty of work.
Depending what your main focus is and kind of work you do will decide which software you use. Protools is the leading software for recording and editing. Although Protools can sequence midi and create beats Its not it's specialty so if that is your focus you might want to do that on a DAW like FL Studio or Abelton Live which also have their own specialty's so is a good idea to try them out. Most DAW's have trial versions available.
I personally love FL Studio for creating music and Protools for recording and editing.
DAWS to check out:
Protools
Logic
FL Studio
Abelton Live
Digital Performer
There are many more good DAWS but these are some of the most used and also the ones I have the most experience with and enjoyed the most!
Midi Controller
A Midi Controller is what you will need to play sounds and soft synth instruments in your computer.
You will be able to play any sound you want with a midi controller.
Midi Controllers can come in many forms such as keyboards, drum pads, drums, guitars, etc.
They do not store or play any internal sounds.
Most newer midi controllers will plug and play with a USB cable. Older controllers will use a midi cable.
Headphones For Your Home Recording Studio
You will be using your headphones, for recording, mixing and playback. If you plan to record a second person you will want a second pair. You will be wearing them for long periods of time so I recommend trying some on and finding some that are comfortable for you.
open back headphones usually sound better
so are great for mixing but some sound can escape from the back and may be picked up by your microphone so not so good for recording.
I personally only use close back headphones.
My advice is no matter which ones you choose, learn the way your headphones respond and get very familiar with them.
From using the same headphones for many years I have a pretty good idea of what my music will sound like on different types of speakers and systems when I listen on my headphones.
Studio Headphones can range anywhere from $50-$500 but if your on a budget I dont think you need to go crazy here. There are some very good studio headphones in the $50-$150 range.
Audio Interface
Ok so you have your computer set up, DAW installed, Midi Controller plugged in and can hear it on your headphones.
At this point you can sequence midi patterns, chop up some samples and mess around with the pre installed instruments and features of your software.
If your a vocalist, guitarist or any other instrument player you want to know how to get your sounds into the computer.
That's where the interface comes in to play.
It's the interface between your instrument or audio and your DAW.
Plug your audio into the input on the interface and record tracks in your software.
Most interfaces have built in pre amps and will have outputs for your headphones and monitors.
Monitors For Your Home Recording Studio
Monitors are speakers for recording studio.
You will use the to playback and mix your recordings.
Monitors (like studio headphones) are designed to be a natural representation of your sound. They have a flatter sound.
Home stereo and theater speakers will sound a bit nicer due to added effects which distract from your actual mix.
Studio Monitors come powered or non powered. (active or passive)
Powered or active monitors will come with an amplifier built in and passive monitors will not.
Near-field monitors are used in close quarters, like most Home Recording Studios.
Mid-field and far-field monitors are used farther away from your ears, and are better for larger spaces or areas. You'll more than likely want to use near field monitors unless your studio is in a big area.
Microphone For Your Music Recording Studio
There are many different types of microphones.
Dynamic mics, Condenser mics, Ribbon Mics, USB Mics, Stereo Mics.
There are many different different uses for mics like recording vocals, guitar amps, drums, voice overs, interviews etc. You will want to research what type of mic is best for what you are doing.
If you are looking for one microphone for vocals and all around you will want a
large-diaphragm, cardioid condenser microphone.
Large Diaphragm cardioid condenser mics are great for picking up high and low frequencies like vocals and hi hat sizzle while blocking out unwanted side sounds and noise.
Cables, Stands & Misc.
XLR CABLE to connect your microphone to your interface.
USB CABLE to hook up your interface to your computer.
1/4 CABLE or RCA's (depending on what monitors you choose) to connect your monitors to your interface or amplifier.
A MIC STAND for your microphone.
SPEAKER STANDS for your monitors.
A POP FILTER for your microphone. (attach's to mic stand)
Well there it is! To The Point and Accurate As Promised!
This should give you a pretty good idea of what it takes to get started with your Home Recording Music Studio.
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