The home studio has become one of the best work tools for any musician or performer in the composition or musical production phase. Having a recording studio at home is something quite accessible nowadays and we want you to know in detail all the elements that will allow you to record your songs, edit and process digital audio while you develop your ideas, and enhance your creativity by producing music in your own home.
Essential equipment for a home recording studio
Computer
The most important component is undoubtedly a computer. We will need one powerful enough to manage the sound and production programs. When purchasing a new one we have to make sure that it has a powerful processor along with a hard drive and extensive RAM to be able to work quickly, with high quality output, and with enough storage space. A computer with a solid state drive will be ideal as it will help speed things up significantly.
Choosing between Mac or PC has always been one of the most controversial decisions for any music producer. In any case, currently, the two well-configured platforms can be used effectively and if you consider it necessary, you can always change the system later.
Investing in a higher quality sound card will allow us to make more precise recordings in our home studio thanks to better analog/digital (A/D) conversion and better mic preamps.
Headphones
There are two types of headphones depending on their purpose:
- Closed pre-listening headphones. They offer isolation from the outside noise which is very useful when recording voices with microphones but with less real sound quality.
- Open headphones for mixing. They have less insulation from the outside but provide higher sound quality more naturally.
Editing software
You will need software to record or create the music, mix, edit, and master your creations. These programs have many plugins and resources that will help you capture your digital works.
There is a wide variety of them, so decide on the one you feel most comfortable with and know best. Some of the most popular programs are Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Studio One, Cubase and Reason.
Audio interface
An audio interface provides the basic connections for sending music into the computer when recording and out during playback.
Cables and connectors
When creating a recording studio you will find a lot of cables everywhere with all the accessories and accessories you will need.
However, what you will need to produce your music are only these fundamental cables:
- XLR cable to connect the microphone to an audio input.
- Two JACK cables to connect the interface to the speakers.
Speakers
A good speaker will help you hear the final result of the music you create and have a clearer reference to the sounds and the entire production process. You will need one that emits a completely flat or neutral frequency that allows you to hear the defects to make the corresponding adjustments.
Microphones
Before choosing a microphone we must know if we are going to use it to record an instrument or a voice. There are two common types of microphones: dynamic and condenser.
To record voices, it is recommended to purchase a classic condenser microphone with a large diaphragm. This microphone is more sensitive and gives better quality recordings. On the contrary, dynamic microphones are used to record instruments or use them live. A microphone pop filter is useful for eliminating noise as well.
You will also need a microphone stand to help support the microphone when recording. On the market, you can find many shapes and sizes designed for the function you need.
