Blog #6: Home Studio Essentials - Building a Budget-Friendly Recording Setup

For an indie artist and songwriter, having a good recording set up and dedicated space is like your lifeblood. A place to hide away from the world and create. And, while professional studios offer top-tier equipment and more, creating a home studio is an accessible and cost-effective alternative - and also really common these days. We see hits made in bedrooms and living rooms regularly. In this guide, we’ll explore the essentials to build a budget-friendly recording setup that will enable you to explore your creativity from the comfort of your own space.

Understanding Your Needs

Before diving into equipment recommendations, it's crucial to understand your specific recording needs. Are you a singer-songwriter looking to record vocals and acoustic guitar? Session drummer who offers remote recording? Or, a producer focused on electronic music? Clarifying your needs will guide your equipment choices.

Selecting the Right Space

The first step is to identify a suitable space for your home studio. Ideally, choose a room with minimal background noise and good acoustics. If you're limited in space, consider using gobo dividers or acoustic curtains to create a makeshift isolation booth for recording.

Essential Equipment

1. Microphone:

A good quality microphone is really important for any recording setup. For vocals and acoustic instruments, a large-diaphragm condenser microphone is a great and versatile choice. Brands like Rode, Audio-Technica and MXL offer affordable options with decent sound quality. For guitar amps and snare drums, see the universal Shure SM57. My first ever large-diaphragm condenser I bought was a Rode NT2A, and I still use it to this day.?

2. Audio Interface:

This device connects your microphone to your computer and converts the analog signal into a digital one. Look for an audio interface with enough preamp inputs for your needs. Most singer/songwriters only need 1-2 inputs to start, while drummers will usually need a minimum of 8 channels. The Focusrite Scarlett and PreSonus AudioBox are popular choices for entry-level interfaces, while the UAD Apollo Twin is a great choice for an upgrade with some added processing power.?

3. Headphones:

Closed-back headphones are great for accurate monitoring while recording, while good open-back headphones are often preferred for mixing. Sony MDR-7506 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are well-regarded options that provide clear sound isolation. Sidenote, be careful of headphone volume levels over long periods of time. Especially with closed-back headphones. They can cause major ear fatigue and hearing damage.?

4. Studio Monitors:

Studio monitors provide a clearer representation of your audio than regular speakers. The KRK Rokit, Presonus Eris and Yamaha HS series offer affordable options for home studios. I personally am using a pair of Focal Alpha 6.5” monitors. They were very affordable (slightly above entry level price) and were beating out more expensive monitors, so it was a no-brainer for me.?

5. Computer and DAW:?

Computer: Your computer is going to be the hub of your entire setup, so a computer with enough processing power and memory is essential. Whenever I upgrade, I tend to try to get more processing power than I immediately need (processing headroom) in order to future proof for a few years. The last studio computer I bought, for example, was a maxed-out intel Mac Mini 2019 model which still goes strong.?

Digital Audio Workstations: (DAWs) like Audacity (free) or Reaper (affordable), are great options for people getting into audio for the first time. While programmes like Logic Pro X, Cubase, Pro Tools, Studio One and Ableton Live are industry staples for professionals. In reality, though, you can really learn the foundations and principles of audio and recording with any DAW. The workflows and specifics of each program are the only things that change. I personally bounce between Ableton Live and Pro Tools for various tasks.?

6. Acoustic Treatment:?

Basic acoustic treatment will improve sound quality by minimising reflections and echoes. DIY options like foam panels or bass traps can be cost-effective ways to greatly improve the sound of your space. I’ve even used mattresses as make-shift vocal booths, with great success. Soft and dense materials = sound absorption. Couches, pillows, mattresses, duvets and curtains are all common home items which can be very useful in this regard.?

Setting Up Your Home Studio

1. Tame those acoustics:

Position your equipment to minimize room resonances. Experiment with microphone placement to find the best sound in the space. Using a reflection filter behind the microphone can help reduce room noise, and placing absorption materials behind and around the thing you're recording (vocalist, acoustic guitar etc) can also be very advantageous to getting a great sound.?

Pro studios do this all the time: Drums in a large open live-room, with big absorption baffles and gobos surrounding the drum kit to deaden the room reverb, creating a tighter drum sound in the microphones.?

2. Isolation:

Ensure that the recording space is as quiet as possible. Turn off fans, minimize external noises, and close windows and doors. Even pay attention to things like your studio computer fan. Is it loud? Try getting the mic positioned so that it’s pointing in the opposite direction to your computer (if it is making noise) so that it’s in the microphone’s null-zone, thus giving a cleaner vocal recording with less room noise, etc.?

I’m sure we’ve all had to pause recording for a moment to let a car drive past, or wait for the birds outside to stop.?

3. Audio Interface Setup:

Most interfaces are really easy to install, and require minimal steps to get up and running in minutes. Drivers are easy to find, and there are tutorials on Youtube for just about anything.?

4. Monitoring:

Ideally, you want to create an equilateral triangle with your listening position and the monitors. This means: being able to draw or measure a perfect triangle between your head and the two speakers. This is important for a stereo image and phase coherence between the two monitors. It’s also good practice to either have speaker stands for your monitors, or have isolation pads for them if they’re going to be on a desk.?

Side note: Set appropriate levels on your headphones or monitors. A good rule of thumb for monitoring volume is around general talking volume. While it’s fine to increase the listening volume for short periods of time, sustaining that higher volume for long periods of time will cause ear fatigue and even hearing damage. I know I said this before, but it can never be said too much. Tinnitus SUCKS.?

Extra Recording Tips

1. Mic Placement:

Experiment with microphone positioning to achieve the desired sound. Moving the microphone closer to the sound source often results in a more intimate sound and more exaggerated frequency response due to proximity. Placing the mic farther away will even out the frequency response, as well allowing for more of the ‘room’ in the signal.

2. Input Gain:

Setting proper input gain ensures that your recordings are clean and noise-free. Adjust the input gain on your audio interface to achieve optimal signal levels without clipping. Too loud and you peak, creating digital distortion. Too quiet, and you end up with a high signal-to-noise ratio when turning up the signal in the mix. What does signal-to-noise ratio sound like in the real world? Annoying hum and grit, although sometimes that’s desirable depending on what you want - but that’s a topic for another conversation.?

Conclusion

Building a budget-friendly home studio is a rewarding challenge that empowers you to create music at your convenience. By knowing your needs, selecting the right equipment, optimising your recording space as much as possible, and mastering some basic recording techniques, you can produce good quality tracks without the need for a professional studio. Practice, repetition and some experimentation go a long way to help you refine your skills.?

Here’s a list of some equipment I recommend if you’re unsure where to start: (Full transparency, as an Amazon Associate I earn from any qualifying purchases)

Interfaces:?

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2: https://amzn.to/47P4aBX

Presonus Audiobox: https://amzn.to/3Pqe4TD

UAD Volt 176: https://amzn.to/47LBFFr

(My preferred pick) UAD Apollo Twin USB: https://amzn.to/3OMRh2E

Microphones:?

Rode NT1A: https://amzn.to/3qOQlTo

AKG C214: https://amzn.to/3PhzjXF

Audio-Technica AT2020: https://amzn.to/3YRMO3p

MXL 990: https://amzn.to/3qOsraA

Headphones:?

Sony MDR-7506: https://amzn.to/3qTXEJx

Sennheiser HD 569: https://amzn.to/3QUlOyf

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: https://amzn.to/44soZjJ

Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@sickhews?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Wes Hicks</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/MEL-jJnm7RQ?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>