Are you looking to create a home music studio?
The music industry continues to grow. Records show that the music industry isn’t slowing down and is, in fact, growing in revenue. It’s a sure sign that it’s becoming an opportunistic time for all musicians and music producers.
Keep reading if you want to learn how to record music at home. Below, we have a list of the basic equipment you need to build a recording studio at home.
1. Get a Powerful Computer
When you set up a home studio, you want to make sure your computer can do the job of recording.
When choosing between a laptop and a desktop, you always want the desktop. They won’t die out on you, have more processing power, and have more storage. They also last longer than laptops because they overheat less when you’re working on them.
You’ll also need to decide between a PC and a Mac. The ideal computer for a recording studio is the Mac. Even professional music studios use Mac computers in their recording studios.
This is because Macs have superior performance when it comes to recording music. They crash less and often have first dibs on updates and bug fixes on recording software.
Don’t worry if you only have a PC at home. Recording software will still work on them. Remember that your audio interface and software are compatible with your computer.
2. Choose a Digital Audio Workstation
Your digital audio workstation or DAW is what will power your home recording studio. This is the software that you use to record, playback, and manipulate the audio on your computer. To produce great music, you need quality DAW.
By quality DAW, we don’t mean that some sound better than others. Remember that all digital audio workstations sound the same. What you want to look at instead are its options and tools.
Which one best aids your creativity and workflow? The best way to find out is to try each one out. Most DAW brands offer a free trial version for you to test and play around with.
Don’t take too long deciding on one that suits you best. You only need to find one that’s most comfortable for you. You can still work on even a basic DAW and create good music.
3. Get the Best Audio Interface
If you want to learn how to record music at home, you need to get the right audio interface. It’s the heart of your home recording studio. It’s where your mics, speakers, and headphones get plugged in.
When you go shopping for interfaces, you’ll see a wide variety of them. Remember, it’s most important that your interface is transparent. This means it doesn’t add any noise or distortion to the sound.
However, you’ll often find this in high-end interfaces. With that said, focus on the quality of your interface over the number of mic preamps. More doesn’t mean it’s better and cheap often never has quality.
Take note of the number of mic preamps of your interface as well. The more you have, the more mics you can record at once. Before you pick on, consider what you’ll be recording.
If you only want to focus on vocals, one is enough. If you’ll record with instruments in stereo, you need at least two. If you’re adding drums and more instruments, choose interfaces with four or more mic preamps.
4. Buy a Microphone that Gets the Job Done
Even if you don’t plan to record your vocals, you need a microphone for your studio. It helps you create new sounds you can’t find in samples or presets. While it’s easy to find any microphone in the market, you need to find the right one.
To find out which microphone type you need, start by asking yourself some questions. What will you record most often? What is your recording environment like?
There are different mics for amping up electric guitars and acoustic instruments. If you want a well-rounded mic that’s for recording everything, you can also find one. Your ideal mic also depends on your singing and preference, which you need to experiment on.
The ideal mic for a baritone male vocal and breathy female vocal will differ. A rapper’s words will come out best with mics that aren’t too sensitive to loud plosives. If you have an aggressive vocal style, you want a mic that can handle high SPL and intense transients.
5. Bring in the Right Studio Monitors
No home recording setup is complete without monitors or speakers. These are different from the home surround sound system you have in the living room. Studio monitors are speakers designed for a home recording setup.
The key difference of studio monitors is they’re neutral and uncolored. That means they won’t boost your bass or do any other fancy thing to your sound. They’ll sound dull and bare every aspect of your music.
This is how they bring out your creativity and resourcefulness.
When you choose a studio monitor, take note of a few things. First, find out if it’s active or passive. Active means that it already has a built-in amplifier and passive means you need a separate power amp for it.
You also have a choice between near-field and mid or far-field monitors. Near-field monitors are the best for a home setup. The latter choice is best placed far from your ears and in large spaces.
6. Don’t Forget Your Headphones
You can’t have a recording setup without a good set of headphones. Like your speakers, they need to be neutral and uncolored. This way, you can listen to all the aspects of your music.
Make sure they’re comfortable, especially since you’ll wear them for most of the day. They also need comfy foam padding. Note that the best ones rest over your ears and not on them.
You also have to choose between open-back and closed-back headphones. The best choice for recording is a closed-back pair of headphones. They isolate your sounds and prevent them from escaping.
7. Set up Your Room and Learn How to Record Music at Home
When recording, you base every decision on what you hear. Thus, it’s essential to fix a setup that gives you accurate sound. Otherwise, you make the wrong decisions in your recording that can lead to terrible music.
We understand that it’s exciting to start setting up your home recording studio finally. However, it crucial to put everything in the right place. Plus, it’s also best to invest in acoustic treatment panels to even out the acoustics in the room.
Finally, once you start recording, don’t forget to take breaks and talk to your loved ones. A happy workplace is a productive one. Learn more about creating a happy workplace and boosting your creativity levels.
Chase Your Passion
Now, you know how to make the perfect setup for your home recording studio. It’s time to get in the groove and create music. Sing and record for yourself and success may follow you soon after.