If you and your entire family have a thing for music, then we suggest opening a home studio. Imagine that you think of a song, and boom! There is a music studio right there in your home. “But aren’t home studios really hard to make?” Well, they aren’t if you know how to make one. For many people, the process and what to buy are more complicated than actually assembling the studio. On the other hand, some people are utterly oblivious to what to buy. If you want to make a music studio in the house, there are simple steps to set up your own music studio.
Let’s discuss them in detail:
Keep Everything Simple
Many people think that getting every single piece of equipment can get you to become a better musician. This couldn’t be more wrong! It is possible to start with a simple studio, but in fact, it is more preferable and advantageous to get a simple one. Having a complicated studio will make you overwhelmed and if you don’t know how to use certain items – possibly discouraged. You can always get more equipment and expand your studio. Still, overcrowding on a beginner level causes way too much stress on people and eventually causes them to quit recording music. If you want to avoid wasting money and space in your house, the best way is to start simple and then progress your way.
Invest in A Good Laptop
Now every house has a good laptop nowadays. Instead of connecting and disconnecting your work laptop, again and again, consider devoting one laptop for music purposes only. There are plenty of options available in the market, but you should opt for the fastest one in your budget. You can always start with the one that falls quickly in your budget with upgrades later on. MacBook’s offer the best quality of operations if you want to record and edit music without getting stuck or simply give private voice lessons.
Audio Interface
A DAW or Digital Audio Workstation is software to record, edit and mix different music on your computer. In contrast, the audio interface is the hardware that connects your computer with other equipment. You can either purchase these two things separately or in a combination. Most sellers offer good deals on prices, tech support, and the quality of the product if you buy a combo. They will also recommend the best one for your level of understanding and also demonstrate the work.
Consider Tools for Recording and Making Music (DAW)
Every good single starts with a lot of ideas and techniques. You will need a proper way to record and store your ideas. There are a lot of computer-based tools like Logic and Cubase that people use to record. You can pick and purchase a device that meets your requirements. For instance, are you only looking for a tool to create remixes, or do you need something to help you in identifying new tunes? There are many tools in the market, and they all allow you to increase your options for making good music and experimentation.
Buy A MIDI Keyboard
A mini electronic keyboard or MIDI is an important part of your home music studio. You don’t need to be an expert on pianos to use MIDI. As a matter of fact, it is just to test the various sounds in your music and to add the use of instruments in music. There are plenty of MIDI boards in the market, but the Korg microKEY25 is the best one for those who are just setting up their home studio. You can also consider purchasing a board that is compact and portable.
Speaker Monitors to Hear Yourself When Recording
A decent pair of speaker monitors will help you hear your voice when recording. You can actually improve your tone and maintain balance without rerecording again and again. Due to the increase in demand, most models are not just affordable, but they are also miniature-sized and postable enough to fit a standard table. KRK is known to introduce high-performance yet extremely affordable speakers that help you gain sound clarity in the medium to the high-frequency range. You will be required to connect these speakers to the audio interface. For that purpose, a pair of balanced 1/4 inch TRS cables are just going to do the trick.
Buy A Microphone That Suits Your Music Type
You may need different types of microphones as your studio improves. But let’s just leave it for the future. For starters, only one or two microphones are enough to get your work started. The type of microphone you use depends on the type of music you are planning to record and the type of instruments you will use. For example, the Rode NT1A is a perfect choice if you want to record classical music. It comes with a large-diaphragm that helps you record those long notes without any distortion. On the other hand, Shure SM57 is perfect for recording bass guitar, kick drums, and different low-frequency instruments. AKG C 414 XLS is an ideal microphone for those who plan to record in-home violin lessons – there is no single mic that suits everyone. When you purchase, discuss the type of music you are planning to produce along with your budget and space. They will give you the perfect microphone according to your requirements.
Buy Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Just like microphones, every headphone also has a different purpose. For instance, you need loud but water-proof or sweat-resistant headphones for a workout, mellow but clear ones to talk and hear. Similarly, when recording music, closed-back headphones are a perfect addition to your home studio equipment. Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is a great pair as it delivers solid frequency and creates an accurate copy of your sound. They also eliminate the external sounds and other distortions and just help you synchronize with the music. The purpose of these headphones is to minimize bleed from external sources, so always place your requirements in front of a seller before purchasing something.
Pop-Filters Are Not a Must-Have, But They Do Work
Oh, we all have seen these. Do you remember those scenes from some movies where a pop star is recording record-breaking music with a suspiciously attractive screen/filter near her face? We all have seen it, and honestly, it does look quite attractive. Other than just giving you really cool vibes, a pop filter is known to remove any unpleasant vocals from your recording. Although this is not a complete must-have and your life most certainly won’t be over if you don’t have one, they do help in improving the quality of music. If you have the budget, opt for an affordable one.
Conclusion
Building a home studio is a dream for many aspiring artists. It becomes really easy to record and publish music if there is a studio a few steps away from your living room. To make a home studio, you need certain equipment. Even if you are able to invest in just basics – do that. You can improve and upgrade with time, but a minimalistic approach prevents the beginners from getting overwhelmed and eventually quitting music.
