The Gear You’ll Need to Build a Home Studio
A home studio doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to build. With just a few pieces of essential gear, you can set up a studio in your own home and start making great recordings right away. Here’s a look at the essential gear you’ll need to create a basic home recording studio.
Computer
Your computer is the most important tool for building your home recording studio. You’ll need a powerful computer with plenty of RAM, fast processors, and tons of storage space. Most home recording enthusiasts use Macs for their recording setups since they offer fantastic graphics and processor speeds, but Windows computers can also work just fine. Make sure you choose a computer that’s powerful enough to handle the demands of high-end audio recording.
Audio Interface
An audio interface is an essential piece of gear for a home recording studio. It’s a hardware device that connects your computer to the rest of your audio equipment and allows you to record high-quality audio. Audio interfaces come in a variety of sizes and styles, but most home studio recordists choose something like an MBOX 2, Presonus Firepod, or Apogee Duet. Any of these will give you excellent sound quality and give you multiple inputs and outputs for recording multiple instruments and vocals simultaneously.
Microphone
A good microphone is one of the most important components of your recording studio. It’s the piece of gear that captures all the sounds you’re recording. For most home studios, a good condenser microphone will do just fine. Look for a model with a wide frequency response and low noise floor. Shure SM57 and SM58, AKG C414, and Rode NT1 are some of the most popular and versatile microphones on the market.
Monitors
Studio monitors are essential for accurate mixing and mastering. You need a pair of good quality monitor speakers so you can hear what you’re recording in its true form. Look for monitors that offer flat frequency response, good low-end extension, and stereo imaging. Some popular models include KRK Rokits, Mackie HR824s, and Yamaha HS80s.
Pop Filter
For vocals, a pop filter is an essential piece of gear. It’s a mesh screen that sits in front of the microphone and reduces plosive sounds like ‘p’ and ‘b’, as well as sibilance (‘ssss’), to give you a cleaner vocal recording. Most home studio recordists opt for the classic look of a windscreen and pick up a basic model made of foam or metal for around $20.
Cables and Adapters
Cables and adapters are an often-overlooked part of setting up a recording studio. You’ll need a variety of cables and adapters to connect your audio interface, microphones, keyboards, and other gear to your computer. Look for cables with a good balance of length and flexibility. Make sure you get all the right connections for your particular setup. A good set of cables and adapters will last you for years and ensure that your recordings have the highest possible sound quality.
With these essential pieces of gear, you can build a basic home recording studio and start making great music. All you need is a computer, an audio interface, a microphone, studio monitors, a pop filter, and some cables and adapters, and you’ll be ready to record.
