How To Set Up Studio Equipment

Building a home recording studio is a HUGE project…isn't it?

It takes months of planning, enquiry, and preparation…doesn't it?

Well about people call back then, but the truth is…

Getting started is far easier than y'all might imagine.

Because REALLY… all you need is a few basic essentials.

And in today'south mail service, I'll testify you exactly what they are…

Every bit I walk you pace-by-footstep through the unabridged process of building a bones domicile recording studio from scratch .

And then let'due south get to it. First up…

Why Simple is Best

The fact is, not only is it possible to start off with merely a simple studio…information technology's actually preferable .

Considering just similar with any hobby, by attempting as well much as well soon:

you become overwhelmed,
yous get discouraged, and…
you eventually quit.

And all the time and coin y'all invest is wasted.

So to avoid this fate, just keep information technology elementary . But you might be wondering…

How cheap is too cheap?

Since dwelling recording tin can exist expensive…grandusicians often search for the cheapest possible solutions to recording their music.

And that'southward fine, except…there is such a thing as " too inexpensive ".

While it is technically possible to build a working studio for as footling as $400-$500…

There are low limits to what tin can be accomplished in such a studio…and I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone truly serious nearly recording their music.

Instead…hither's what I do recommend:

The Perfect Commencement Studio for Newbies

With the following 9 items:

A Computer
DAW/Audio Interface Philharmonic
Studio Monitors
One or 2 Microphones
Headphones
A Few Cables
One Mic Stand
A Pop Filter
Ear Training Software

What you take is a elementary working studio, perfect for anyone just starting out with habitation recording.

And here's why:

It allows yous to start ASAP with a minimal investment in both time and money.
More importantly…it's the perfect foundation to build upon later as your skills mature.

Now allow's talk more nigh each particular on the list…

1. A Computer

When starting a studio from scratch, the calculator is the biggest expenditure by far.

Because equallycommon wisdom states:

Ideally, you want the fastest one y'all can beget.

Simply these days, virtually everyone already has a figurer of some sort. And virtually all computers are fast enough to at least become y'all started.

So in the beginning, regardless of your budget, I recommend using what you have for at present .

If and when yous desire to upgrade later on, here's what I recommend:

The All-time Computers/Laptops for Music Production

Archetype Example:

Macbook Pro – (Amazon/B&H)

Up next…

two. A DAW/Sound Interface Combo

If you don't already know…

The DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is the software used to tape, edit, and mix music on your computer…

And the Audio Interface is the hardware used to connect your computer with the rest of your gear.

These two items can either exist bought separately, OR as a combo. But your get-go studio…I highly recommend the combo.

Here'due south why:

It's one less item on your shopping list.
Information technology's cheaper than buying them separately.
It offers guaranteed compatibility and tech support.

Plus, the companies that offer these combos are among the best in the business: Presonus, Avid and Steinberg.

Presonus offers a gratuitous re-create of their Studio One Artist DAW with the following popular interfaces:

PreSonus AudioBox USB – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)
PreSonus AudioBox iOne (iOS compatible) -(Amazon/B&H/Thomann)
Presonus AudioBox iTwo (iOS compatible) – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)
Presonus Audiobox 44VSL – (Amazon/Thomann)

Avid offers a costless copy of their Pro Tools 12 DAW with the following interfaces:

Pro Tools DUET – (Amazon/Thomann)
Pro Tools QUARTET – (Amazon/Thomann)

Finally, Steinberg offer a copy of their Cubase DAW with the following interfaces:

Steinberg UR22C – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)
Steinberg UR44C – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)
Steinberg UR816C – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)

Personally, I'd recommend the Pro Tools option to those willing to spend that much. Merely for about people, the Presonus options are priced a bit more reasonably for commencement-timers.

Having said that, if yous don't mind purchasing your DAW and interface separately…

At that place are however tons more options to explore, and I cover them all in the following two articles:

The Ultimate Guide to DAW Software
The Ultimate Guide to Audio Interfaces

Upwardly side by side…

3. Microphones

As your studio matures over time…

Yous will eventually amass a collection of dozens of unlike microphones, each for different purposes.

For at present though, all your really demand is i or ii to get started.

And the ones you choose volition depend on the instruments you plan to tape.

Since most people start out merely recording vocals, the "classic" large diaphragm condenser vocal mic I recommend is the:

Rode NT1A – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)

For whatever "loftier-frequency-rich" instruments such every bit audio-visual guitar, piano, or cymbals…the pocket-sized diaphragm condenser mic I recommend for starters is the:

AKG P170 – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)

For drums, percussion, and electric guitar amps, the best mic to start with is undoubtedly the:

Shure SM57 – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)

For bass guitar, kicking drums, and other depression frequency instruments, a great mic to start with is the:

AKG D112 – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)

If yous want to get started ASAP, the iv mics I've just shown you are perfect.

However, as you'll eventually observe, the topic of studio microphones is a pretty huge subject. Which is why I've really defended an entire chapter of this website to just that. Here it is:

The Beginner's Guide to Recording Studio Microphones

Up next…

4. Headphones

When yous're just starting out, most of your time is spent recording by yourself .

Which is why in the offset, all you really need is ane pair of headphones.

For studio purposes, in that location are two very specific designs considered standard:

Closed back headphones for tracking – which offer optimal isolation at the expense of lesser sound quality .
Open back headphones for mixing – which offering optimal audio quality at the expense of lesser isolation.

While open back headphones are considered more of a luxury…for your first studio, airtight back headphones are a necessity .

And in this post I reveal the best options for both:

The Ultimate Guide to Studio Headphones for Abode Recording

Classic Examples:

Sennheiser HD280 – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)
Sony MDR 7506 – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)

Every bit a supplement to your headphones, I likewise recommend an extension cable…since standard headphone cables are always also short.

A word of circumspection though: With THIS cable especially, I highly suggest getting the best ane you lot can beget, as cheaper ones have horrible bespeak problems from the constant movement.

Personally, I similar this ane: Mogami Headphone Extension 25′ – (Amazon/B&H)

Upwardly side by side…

five. Studio Monitors

Despite the fact that many home studios now exercise the bulk of their mixing on open dorsum headphones…

Traditionally, mixing has ever been washed on speakers…

Or as they are commonly known in pro audio: studio monitors , or nearfield monitors .

Compared to consumer speakers, which are designed with diverse tonal "enhancements"…

Studio monitors have a much flatter frequency response, which provides a more neutral, uncolored audio to objectively judge your mix.

And while they can get pricey…in that location are still plenty of affordable options for beginners besides.

These are the height ones I recommend:

The 10 All-time Studio Monitors for Home Recording

Classic Example :

KRK Rokit 5 G3 – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)

Upwardly adjacent…

vi. XLR Cables

One 24-hour interval, your studio volition have a TONS of different cables…

But for now, you only need iii:

1 long XLR cable for your mic, and…
two short ones for your monitors

For a standard project studio in a small 10×10 room, these are the Verbal ones I recommend:

Mogami Silver XLR 25ft (1x) (for your mic)
- (Amazon/B&H)
Mogami Silver XLR 6ft (2x) (for your monitors)
- (Amazon)

Merely before you lot buy those monitor cables, double-bank check that the stereo output of your audio interface has XLR connectors.

Sometimes they apply TRS, in which instance, you'll need these instead:

Mogami TRS/XLRM 6ft (2x) – (Amazon)

As you tin see, adept mic cables can go fairly expensive, so if you're looking for something in a different cost range, or yous just desire to learn more almost mic cables in general…cheque out this post:

The Ultimate Guide to XLR Mic Cables for Stage and Studio

Up next…

7. A Mic Stand

While many beginners assume that all mic stands are the same…

The truth is…a solid mic stand is one of the most worthwhile investments a new home studio can make.

Yet, since mic stands tin can go pricey, and most beginners are on tight budgets…

A cheap reliable stand is more adequate when y'all're beginning starting out.

But if you're looking for something specific,check out in this post to learn more than:

The Ultimate Guide to Microphone Stands for Phase and Studio

Classic Case:

DR Pro Boom – (Amazon)

Up side by side…

8. Pop Filters

You know that "cliche" scene from the movies…

Where a young beautiful pop star is in the studio…

Recording her vocals through some mysterious mesh screen covering her microphone?

Well that, my friend…is a pop filter .

And its purpose (besides looking cool) is to filter-out an unpleasant vocal artifact known as "popping"…

Which is a low frequency boom of air caused by the pronunciation of "P" and "B" sounds.

Is it a " must-have" detail for your studio? Absolutely non .

But they're pretty inexpensive, and they practice help. And for some strange reason, many beginners nevertheless feel they must accept one, which is why I've included it on this list anyhow.

To see which ones I recommend, check out this postal service:

The 7 Best Popular Filters for Recording Vocals

Archetype Example :

Stedman Proscreen XL – (Amazon)

9. Ear Preparation Software

On a typical list of "home recording essentials" that y'all'd discover on the internet…

Ear training software is definitely NOT one of the items normally included.

Because the truth is…you don't technically demand it. Not now, not e'er.

Simply hither's why I've included it on my list:

More than than any piece of gear you lot might purchase for your studio…the One Affair that will make the biggest divergence in the outcome of your recordings is your EARS.

And while you lot might believe your ears are pretty practiced already…

Having a proficient "musician's ear" is not at all the same every bit having a adept "audio engineer's ear".

As musicians, we learn to recognize notes, intervals, and chords. Only as sound engineers, we acquire to recognize bands of frequencies.

And until your ears develop a basic grasp of this skill, yous won't actually know if things are sounding good or not.

Which is why I believe that if you start training your ears from Day 1, the speed at which you amend will skyrocket.

For more than detail on this topic, cheque out this post:

How to Mix Music with the Ears of a Skilled Audio Engineer