Build A Home Recording Studio
Okay guys, today were going to take a look at the basic setup of a mixerless home recording studio. I'm going to take you step by step through the setup process and show you exactly what you'll need to build a home recording home studio.
1. Computer
The first thing on your shopping list will be to get a decent computer. Recording music can use up a lot of ram and memory so you need to make sure you have a sufficient amount of both. At bare minimum I would recommend at least 1gb of ram but ideally 2gb if you can afford it.
There is also the question of which computer platform you prefer, MAC or PC. Both are great and have there advantages and disadvantages so it really is up to yourself to try out both and pick the one you feel most comfortable with. If you want more information on the pro's and con's of each check out my article; home recording studio computer, MAC or PC?
When it comes to disk space I suppose it is just a matter of getting what you can afford, I personally have 800gb which is more than enough, but you want at least 120gb (music files are BIG!).
Some other things to take into consideration are your processors speed, 1GHz or higher is a good starting point and also what type of ports does the computer have i.e. FireWire, USB 2.0, s/pdif etc. I recommend using FireWire if possible as it tends to have less latency issues than usb.
2. Sound Card (a.k.a. Audio Interface)
The built in soundcards your computer uses are just not good enough for recording instruments and vocals. You need to spend the money on a decent one! There are a lot of different sound cards out there to choose from, you need to pick the one that will suit your requirements best.
For instance, if you plan on just recording one instrument at a time then there would be no point buying an audio interface with 10 inputs. You would just have no use for them! So take your time and do a bit of research first and pick one that fits your needs exactly.
Here's some questions for you to ask yourself before buying:
- How many inputs/outputs?
- What inputs do I need; XLR, 1/4" balanced, 1/4" unbalanced, S/Pdif?
- Does it use USB or FireWire?
- Does it have phantom power?
3. Recording Software (a.k.a. DAW - Digital Audio Workstation)
This is the software package you will run on your computer to record, edit, mix and master your music. Getting the right software is another one of those decisions you'll need to explore and decide on your own. Each bit of home recording software essentially does the same thing; record, edit, mix and master your music. The differences lie in areas such as; the user interface, the different features, variety of plug-ins etc. So at the end of the day it boils down to which one you prefer.
I personally use Pro-Tools but have also had cubase and sonar in the past. As I said they all do the same job it's just a matter of how they do it, Pro-Tools is just what I found to be the easiest to use.
4. Studio Monitors
Now just like I said you shouldn't use your computers built in soundcard I'm also saying the same for your computers speakers (monitors). There just not good enough! You can get a decent pair of studio monitors anywhere from $200 upwards. I use Genelec because I love the clarity you get with them but shop around and HEAR what you like.
5. Keyboard Controller
The next thing you need to get is a midi controller. Now depending on your requirements you can spend anything from $50 to $2,000. Obviously when starting out you want to try and get the best you can for the budget you have. I would recommend the axiom 25 which you can pick up for a couple of hundred bucks.
6. Headphones
When mixing and recording vocals you need to use a decent pair of headphones.
7. Microphone
So when it comes to choosing the right microphone for your home recording studio you have two different types to choose from; a dynamic microphone or a condenser microphone.
- Condenser Microphone - A Condenser microphone needs 48v to run. This is also referred to as phantom power. What this does is pass a little static electric charge across the diaphragm of the microphone which in turn makes it more sensitive to vibrations and sounds.
- Dynamic Microphone - Dynamic microphones aren't as sensitive as condenser microphones which means that you don't get the same clarity as you would with a condenser.
Well there you have it, that is your basic list of what you'll need to get in order to build a home recording studio. Think of it as your shopping list. Now obviously the prices vary depending on the quality of equipment you want to get but if you shop smart you really can set up a decent studio that will rival the big boys for around $500.