Home Studio Setup: 6 Essentials for Beginners

Over the past few months, if the pandemic has proven anything, it’s that self-sustainability is EVERYTHING! The access and tools to control when navigating this industry are vital, if not imperative, for a smooth journey. We should always do our best to make sure that we put in place systems that will continue our developmental growth and successes as music artists. 

 One of the many investments we can and should make in this process is investing in a Home Recording Studio. I am not saying that we should only record in our living spaces, but having tools to create at your comfort level will always benefit you in the long run. Whether it be demos you’re recording to lay down rough ideas to take to a bigger budget studio or if you’re trying to transition into making your own home a studio, budgeting money towards gear is almost always worth it.  In this article, I’ll explain the necessities for getting started with your home studio setup. This music equipment can range from as cheap as $200-$400 and as high as $800-$2000. It all truly depends on what you’re planning to do and what you’re willing to spend.

 There are several options to purchase this equipment, many of which have options to help artists afford professional quality. Sweet Water and American Musical Supply allow for artists to put equipment on a payment schedule and get it immediately. This helps break down some larger budget pieces of equipment into incremental payments that fit what you can afford. There’s also Reverb that allows you to buy/ sell equipment second hand for cheap, and they also have customer service in case you’re unhappy with your purchase or an item is defective. Lastly, you have Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, which works for buying equipment for the low, but there are no guarantees that shit could end up being trash.🤷🏾‍♂️

 Let’s get into the list of what you need to get started with a home studio.

artwork by Jake Standley

1. A Good Computer

   Now I’m not going to get into a debate on what computer brand is best for your music setup, whether that be Windows or Mac, Desktop, or Laptop. Those two categories come down to preference and what you plan to do as an artist. If you like to be mobile, get a laptop; if you plan to be at home, sit still, and get a desktop.  What I will tell you is the basics needed to run your operating system smoothly when working. 

   • CPU (Processor) is the heart of your computer and studio setup. I recommend you have the latest version of a processor and one that holds multiple cores for processing speed. Most music software recommends I7 or I9’s for optimal workflow. I also recommend it have multiple cores 6/8 thread but at least four cores.

   • RAM(memory) is important when working with extensive plug-ins / VSTs and the overall computer speed.  RAM should start with at least 8GB and range from 16, 32, and the somewhat unnecessary amount 64GB of RAM. 

   • Storage (drive space) when saving sessions, having sound kits, and also using plugins, storage space is essential and a lot of it.  Always make sure to BACK Up all your music files and sessions in some form of storage. You have multiple options for this, whether you choose a board SSD drive, an external drive, or cloud storage. When it comes down to this, I recommend 1 to 2 TB of storage onboard and external or cloud. That leaves you enough room to start, and as you grow your collection of audio files, you’ll want to look into more space.

2. DAW

   A DAW or Digital Audio Workstation is the application or software you produce. All of them have different needs for whatever you’re looking for, whether it be strictly instrumental producer work or music recording and mixing and master. 

   Here is a list of commonly used DAWs for both those task

   • Production - Ableton, FL Studio, Maschine, Reason 

   • Music recording - ProTools, Logic Pro, Studio One

3. Audio interface An audio interface is integral to the home studio setup in terms of recording and sound.  An audio interface works as a designated control for vocal volume levels from the microphone and audio output levels to your monitors(speakers) or headset. Once again, there are many audio interfaces with different features and built-in microphone preamps for recording vocals. Having a good audio interface also helps with receiving quality recording takes and a clean signal.  Here are a few commonly used audio interfaces 

   • Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen

   • Audient Evo 4

   • SSL 2+ audio interface

   • Universal Audio APOLLO TWIN MKII

4. Microphone 

   A good microphone is an essential part of any recording process. Picking the right microphone in your recording setup makes a difference in how your recordings sound. Sometimes you’re looking for a clean microphone to take down a demo and get your records started. There are also occasions where you want to record songs through the microphone you have altogether. One of the important things about choosing the correct microphone is to make sure that it suits your vocals. If you tend to have a higher tone to your vocal, make sure you have a microphone that can catch those frequencies clearly and not sharp. If you have more bass, avoid microphones that have a lot of low-end frequencies. Your audio could end up sounding muffled. Make sure to always research microphones before you commit to which one you want to buy. 

   Here’s a list of commonly used microphones in home setups

   • Rode NT1

   • Aston Microphone

   • Shure SM7b

   • Blue Bird SL microphone 

   • TLM 102 or TLM 103

   • WARM AUDIO WA -87

5. Monitors & Headphones

   When playing back your music or producing, you always want to make sure you hear it with clarity, and that’s when monitors (speakers) and headphones come into play. When picking monitors, you want to make sure that they are of high quality and fit your setup. If you’re working in a smaller place, you probably don’t need large monitors; it could end up being misleading. Sometimes you won’t play your music because of neighbors and thin walls, so a pair of headphones always comes in handy. You will also need a pair for when you’re recording vocals.

   Here are some options for Monitors

   • JBL 3 series MK II

   • PreSonus Eris

   • KRK G4 

   • YAMAHA HS SERIES

   • ADAM Audio

   Here are some options for Headphones 

   • Sennheiser HD280PRO

   • Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

   • Yamaha HPH-MT5 

6. Cables & accessories

   These are the final pieces you have to collect for your home studio setup. Cables for the microphone, monitor, and computer should be bought in multiples, so you have backups. Make sure to look into proper treatment or reflection shields that can also drastically change your sound in your recordings. Pop screen filters for your microphone and a mic stand are also crucial in the layout of how you record.

Investing in a home studio might be daunting at first. With proper practice and time, you can easily see the upside to having your recording setup. Hopefully, this was helpful to stay safe and healthy, y’all.🖤

-solo