By Jotham Lloyd
If making music is your passion and you’re currently looking to invest in your own recording studio at home, we’re here to help. Setting up your studio takes time, but it will be one of the most exciting parts of the beginning of your musical journey as an artist.
It can be costly to build your own music studio because of the many pieces of equipment needed to produce good results. However, it is not impossible to make your own home studio. If you're on a budget, then you’re in the right place. Here are some items to consider while putting together your home studio
Microphones
This was probably obvious, but a good mic is the most important part of getting started if you’re thinking about recording at home. Depending on the type of recording you intend to do, you can purchase a variety of microphones for your studio. If you’re just getting started, we recommend investing in a good condenser microphone, such as the MXL Mics Condenser Microphone. A condenser microphone sounds more broadcast-ready than regular microphones. You can record voice-overs, warm vocals, and acoustic instruments such as violins and guitars for your tracks.Audio Interfaces
It is critical to select a high-quality audio interface. An audio interface is essential for producing professional-quality music and connecting your speakers, microphones, headphones, and so on. When creating music, your audio holds everything together. The majority of people chose to use a USB audio interface for convenience and ease of use. You can connect the microphone, speakers, and headphones to your computer using this piece of home recording studio equipment. One of our favorites is the M-Audio AIR|HUB - USB Audio Interface. The air hub features 24-bit/ 96kHz resolution so you can be certain you’re hearing every subtle nuance of your mix.Accessories
XLR and Patch Cables - You must connect everything correctly to get the best audio quality possible. When connecting your microphone to your audio interface, XLR cables such as the Mogami CorePlus XLR Cable come in handy. XLR leads are occasionally used to connect your speakers. Still, they are typically only used to connect your microphone to your audio interface in a home studio setting.
Microphone Stands – Regardless of what you're recording, a flexible mic stand is handy. The Xpix Tripod Boom Microphone Adjustable Floor Stand is a budget-friendly, yet versatile mic stand for live sound, recording, and rehearsal. Positioning your microphone correctly is critical when recording vocals, guitar performances, percussive sounds, or foley samples. The placement of the microphone can drastically alter the tone and texture of the recorded audio.
Pop Filters - If you're recording vocals in your home studio, you'll need a pop filter. Pop filters are primarily used to remove "pops" and "clicks" from vocal performances. Fortunately, pop filters like the XPIX Mic Pop Filter are relatively inexpensive and simple to set up and use.
Studio Headphones
You'll need a good pair of headphones that can represent sound as accurately as possible without coloring it if you want to monitor while recording or mix and master on the road. It is suggested to use "closed-back" headphones when capturing audio. This means that when you're recording audio, the track playback from your headphones won't bleed into the microphone. There are a lot of studio headphones in the market today, but if you're looking for affordable ones but with high quality, the Artesia AMH 122 Studio Monitoring Headphones are great. Artesia’s AMH-122 studio monitoring headphones produce an extremely wide dynamic range with their highly efficient transducers that deliver spectacular detail and amazing sensitivity.
Keyboard / MIDI Controllers
Unless you have a MIDI controller, you will be unable to play virtually thousands of instruments when composing music on your computer. For novices, keyboard MIDI controllers are preferable to pad controllers. It is a much more familiar/musical feeling to load up the chosen instrument and physically play it in real-time. There are two types of MIDI controllers in the market: keyboard MIDI controllers and MIDI pad controllers. Keyboard MIDI controllers are pricey. However, low-cost options are available, such as the Novation Impulse 49 USB Midi Controller Keyboard.
Studio Monitors / Speakers
Studio monitors are a must-have piece of studio equipment if you want professional-sounding audio. They are meant to be as flat-sounding and accurate as possible in reproducing your music. If you're serious about making music, one of your first purchases should be a good pair of speakers. Using a faulty speaker arrangement to mix your recordings can produce dramatically erroneous results compared to the original audio file. Samson MediaOne M30 Powered Studio Monitors are a compact, full-range speaker solution for all your desktop and multimedia application. It is an affordable option for a home studio on a budget.
Making Your First Purchase
Finding all of the right equipment is the most exciting part of creating your own home studio! It may seem like a lot at first, but just remember to focus on products that are high-quality, at an affordable price. For tips on how to set up your new gear, check out our YouTube channel or catch up on our other blog posts.