So, you want to build a home recording studio on a budget.
Whether you’re recording your own music, your friends’ music, or you’re looking to start bringing in some paid clients, there are certain essentials that you’ll need before you can hit record.
For example, you’ll need a computer to record onto and a microphone to record with. That much is obvious but these alone are not quite enough to get your studio up and running…
“But how much is all of this going to cost me?!” I hear you ask…
Sure, audio gear can be expensive, and it’s important not to go
too cheap if you’re aiming to record and produce music long term. However, while certain gear is essential, we don’t need all the gear straight
away to build a home studio on a budget.
I’ve split this into three sections –
In this video, we’re going to go over the essential gear – the minimum I suggest that you need to start your home studio. If you want to record, edit and mix audio, you’ll need this equipment.
Let’s get started!
It’s so easy to build a home studio on a budget these days – there really is no better time to start a home studio than now.
To help you on your journey, I highly recommend subscribing below and I’ll email you over the Ultimate Home Studio Gear Guide.
In this guide I go into more detail on each piece of gear you need to get your studio off to a flying start. A checklist is also included so you can track your progress throughout your journey.
Your recording studio awaits!
Room Characteristics
If the room is rectangular, it’s best to put your workstation and monitors on the short side, so that the monitor speakers can project over the length of the space. Use sound-deadening materials such as carpets, curtains, and a soft couch to absorb sound and minimize annoying reflections that can interfere with hearing the music properly. Acoustical foam can be fixed to the walls for additional absorption of sound.
Of course, there is no “perfect” space for recording, and the room you have will likely present some challenges, even under the best circumstances. The trick is to make the most of what you have, by putting some thought into how you place your gear, plus using some effective acoustical treatments to minimize any undesirable acoustical characteristics.
The answer to this question really depends on your needs and what is available to you. If you want to record a full band or use live drums, you need a bigger space than for electronic music or recording vocals and one to two instruments.
If you have a large basement with a high ceiling, this might be ideal. Hopefully it’s dry, has good (and quiet) ventilation, some natural light, and can be outfitted with some acoustical treatments to mitigate annoying sound reflections and isolate instruments for recording. A garage might work as well.
You also need to consider your neighbors, and whether they will complain about the sound that leaks out. In a similar way, sound from outside could leak inside and mar your recordings, if you live next to a major highway, busy city street, or construction site, for example. There are always ways to mitigate negative spillover effects.
Some of the top hits of the day have been recorded in a home studio, or even a bedroom. With electronic music production, it’s possible to make recordings in a tiny space. You will need to find ways to make the most of any space you have, to record good musicYour computer is the foundation of your studio. It should be the first piece of gear you get, and you should make sure to get one that will last you in the long run and get the job done. It’s also the single most expensive piece of your recording gear. Since today’s computers tend to be quite powerful, there’s a chance that the computer you have is already workable.
Items to consider when buying a computer:
Mac or PC
Desktop or laptop
Hard Drive capacity
Amount of RAM
Processor capacity
Before you buy, do some research to find out what will be sufficient for your specific intended recording workflow and process, and to avoid overspending on features you don’t need and won’t likely use.Get started today with building your home music studio.
Learn what you’ll need to begin, the kind of space you’ll need, about acoustical treatments, needed equipment, the costs, and more. We’ll give you the rundown on how to get the most out of your budget, answer the most pressing questions, and point out some common mistakes.
If you are thinking about setting up a home recording studio, this article will give you all the basics in an easy-to-understand way. From A to Z, we are here to provide the key information you need to get started right away with setting up your dream rig to make recordings right at home, wherever you live. Let’s get started.
In a nutshell, you will need to find and configure a space, get a reliable computer (MAC is preferable to PC but more expensive), install Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software, acquire some microphones, headphones, monitor speakers and other gear such as MIDI controllers and cables, stands, and hardware.
Then you will need to set up the room to your liking. Experiment with acoustical treatments of the room, and maybe even the lighting, for getting in the right mood. Then tweak your gear to find the right workflow and creative process for the styles of music you want to create.
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