So you want to build up a home studio but don’t know what to buy? You have money to spend but no clue how to spend it? Well thankfully, this post is dedicated to home studio budgeting basics. In this blog post I will discuss useful ways to spend that money and some common misconceptions that can keep you from spending more than you have to.
Basic Equipment:
First let’s talk about what you need to get started. A computer is key for smaller project studios. Most home studios run off some sort of DAW software inside a computer. With that being said let’s talk about software. There are many options when it comes to DAWs. There is Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, and Cakewalk. Those are the top level DAWs that are recommended by professionals. There isn’t much difference between them in terms of functionality. The difference comes down to the user interface and what you feel comfortable with. So download some demos and try them out. A common misconception is that you need a separate piece of software for various tasks. For example, Pro Tools for audio tracks and Reason for digital music. This is incorrect. All the professional level DAWs can record audio and produce digital music. You really only need one DAW. Then you can purchase third party plugins and virtual instruments to beef up the capabilities of that software. So pick a DAW, and purchase a simple interface. Something with 2-8 channels is acceptable for a small home studio. This interface will allow you to record audio into your DAW.
The next thing you need is a microphone. Purchasing thing an external preamp is not necessary right out of the gate but I get a lot of people asking about this. They want to know what to spend more money on; a mic or a preamp. A good preamp can make a bad mic sound decent, but a cruddy preamp will make an awesome mic sound like trash. So it is always better to invest in clean preamps. You can purchase a good preamp and then get a mid-level microphone. That’s a winning combination right there. A great budget mic is the Rode NT1A or the Blue Bluebird. I have been using both of those for years and love their sound.
What about monitoring?
The last piece of basic equipment you need is something to monitor with. So get yourself some speakers or headphones. When it comes to headphones you want as flat of a frequency response as possible. This means NO BEATS HEADPHONES!!! Beats headphones emphasize the lower frequencies and boost some highs, so this makes them terrible for mixing. You want headphones or speakers that will give a good representation of the audio as it sits in the mix. So shop around and make sure to look at the response curves in the specifications.
So hopefully you now have some idea of the basic equipment you need to get your home studio up and running. Some next steps may include buying plugins, virtual instruments, more microphones, or external gear. As always, have fun with it.
-Jon
Sources:
http://bluemic.com/bluebird/
http://www.rodemic.com/mics/nt1-a
http://lifehacker.com/5853193/how-can-i-set-up-a-home-recording-studio-on-the-cheap
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/determining-what-you-need-for-your-home-recording-.html
Great post. You really pointed out a lot of things that anybody could overlook when it comes to building a studio. Everything from the software that you use, to the microphone and headphones that are used for recording is of importance. A lot of people tend to think all it takes is a computer and beats by dre headphones. I'm glad you emphasized that it takes more than that to make an effective studio. The post really was an eye opener.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what you said. I work as an Assistant Manager at Guitar Center and my home department is Professional Audio. I deal with both of the microphones you listed above, as well as many more. I also recommend any microphone made by Sterling Audio. Guitar center is closely associated with this brand, therefore they get these items at a very low cost. When these items go on sale, you can often save hundreds of dollars. At these discounted prices, these microphones are a great option for someone on a budget.
ReplyDeleteI will also recommend another DAW for beginners called Studio One. This brand was formulated by two previous workers for Cubase and Reason. These two workers left their companies and came together to create a new DAW based on their knowledge. Studio One was created and was quickly bought by PreSonus. This DAW is relatively user friendly while remaining powerful enough for professional use.
Thanks for sharing!
Jared Sieberkrob
Just wanted to add that i really like the ideas you post on your blog. However, the layout could use something to bring out the blog more. Maybe more pictures, colors, or any other type of visuals. Great blog though.
ReplyDelete