Building out own music-recording studio is quite challenging since you need to consider many factors, such as the place, equipment, software, etc. The best starting point would be finding a good receiver, that may become the heart of your studio. Please, consider checking HelpToChoose to find the best stereo receivers under 200. However, that is not the only thing you need to consider.
Find the right place and prepare it
You need to find a room where you are going to place all the audio equipment. It would be easier if you have a basic understanding of how acoustics works. The room you need should be quite large, because:
- More space for musicians
- More space for equipment like drums, guitars, microphone stands, etc.
- Bigger rooms have better acoustics (like high ceilings)
The perfect solution that would be a room with high ceilings, asymmetrical walls and irregular walls, which is difficult to get especially you have a limited budget, but make sure you get the best option.
The preparing stage includes removing unnecessary elements – clear off the floor space, take everything off the walls (like pictures). Do not forget to remove anything that may vibrate. Enhance the acoustic characteristics by adding acoustic panels made of foam.
Enhance the acoustic characteristics by adding acoustic panels made of foam.
The important factor you need to remember is that you should do everything to avoid any environment noises, caused by cars, birds. The point is to create a place where the only source of sound is the equipment you have. Do not forget about the floor as well. Hard flooring like hardwood, tile or even concrete is a great option. Remove a carpet if you have one. A carpet will absorb high-frequencies, which may distort the audio.
The best option is a basement. As you can see, everything matters when it comes to recording, since all kinds of noises cause a negative effect. You may place small carpets under certain instruments (like drums) to avoid floor damaging. A small carpet will not cause any negative effect.
Plan the room carefully. You should be able to reach any element without any difficulties. Do not forget about the place for musicians and their instruments.
Hardware
That is where you should spend as much as you can. Check receivers reviews to find the best one for you – pay attention to the features they support, various audio enhancement technologies, the total power output, input types and a number of ports.
Another important element of your studio is a computer. Get the best one you can – a model with a fast processor and a large amount of RAM and a good HDD – you need to store all audio tracks in lossless formats. One large monitor would be a perfect starting point.
You also need a reliable audio interface. It is used to connect your computer with the equipment you have.
Do not try to save up money buying cheap cables – you will get noise. Consider buying several cables to connect everything you have. Usually, music studios have many cables of different types. Keep everything organized — labeling your cables. It will help you connect everything quickly if you change your setup.
You should also consider buying equipment for musicians. Try to get a good condenser vocal microphone with a large diaphragm. To record “high-frequency” instruments you need to get a small diaphragm mic. Therefore, you may need around four microphones of different types to start (if you want to work with different instruments, like guitars, bass guitars, drums).
Consider spending some amount of money on good headphones as well. There are two major types of headphones:
- Closed back headphones – good isolation but the sound quality is not perfect
- Open back headphones – good sound quality but the isolation is not great
Open back headphones would be a perfect option, but closed back headphones may become a perfect starting point.
If you still have some budget to spend – buy pop filters for microphones.
Software
There are many software solutions for audio recording, editing, mixing, etc. Freeware software is a great option and it may be a great way to save some money. You can always upgrade to commercial software in the future, which may have many features and various add-ons, filters, and plug-ins.
Apart from equipment and software, you need to understand the nuances of audio processing, so consider checking online guides or buying some books. You need to understand clearly what challenges you will have to deal with, how to configure audio equipment, how to achieve the required level of quality, etc. You should also spend some time learning how to use the software you have installed.
Solid skills and equipment let you earn money with your studio, which you may spend upgrading your equipment or room. However, you should not expect for an immediate commercial success.
If you want to start earning money with your studio, do not ignore the promotion campaign – ask your friends to tell other musicians about your studio or use social networks. At the same time, you should clearly understand the latest music trends. You need to know how to get the sound that your client wants.
