What you'll Need to Get Started with Your Home Studio

Your interest in music production probably stems from a desire to start channeling your creative energies into the field. You can have as much fun building beats as you can setup your own studio space. However, if you're having trouble getting started, that's okay - we've all been there at some point. 

For your convenience, we've created a handy guide for setting up a home studio below. There are a few key, affordable pieces of equipment that every producer should have in their arsenal, from a step-by-step guide to a round-up.

The Room

To start with, you'll need a good studio space. Many producers start their first set-up in their bedrooms. In your comfortable and familiar environment, this is a cost-effective and convenient way to create music. You should always keep as much space between your speakers and the wall as possible when setting up your desk. 

Your gear plays best when you are in a triangle between the speakers and yourself since it puts you in an ideal position for playback. A sofa or shelves with books behind you can work as a replacement for bass traps if you cannot afford to buy and mount these fixtures.

Your Computer

Modern home studios run on computers loaded with software and plugins. MIDI, audio, and mixing are all done on this. It's the brains of your studio. No matter what computer you use, you'll need a good deal of RAM and processor speed. 

Laptops with good specs cost about $500-$1200, while desktops cost about $400-$1300. iMacs are great for home studios and cost around $1299, a MacBook Pro will usually cost you around $1299. By having a laptop, you can create beats on the go, take your tracks to other studios, and DJ with a range of software.

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

There are many excellent DAWs available for you to choose from. The DAW, or Digital Audio Workstation, is your primary computer program to build beats, chop samples, record audio, and manipulate MIDI. Depending on your needs, you may use more than one. Some DAWs available today include Ableton, Logic, GarageBand, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Cubase, Reason, etc., 

But note that Logic & GarageBand are only available for the Mac platform. In addition to soft synths, drum hits, EQs, delays, etc., they all include a lot of plugins to get you started. Logic tends to be priced between $150 - $250 with Ableton, our preferred DAW, coming in at $319 or $539. A MacBook Pro also comes with GarageBand for free.

Audio Interface

When producing music, it is essential to monitor your sound. You can still get professional sound even on an entry-level budget. It's always a good idea to know how many inputs and outputs you have or want. Consider what you want your interface to do. Will it just play your tracks? Will it record? If so, what will it record? 

Are you connecting a microphone, synth, or another piece of hardware simultaneously? Consider the sample rate before purchasing the interface - a higher sample rate will result in a better sound. We recommend Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 as the best interface for a beginner. The quality is great, it's easy to use, and it's sturdy for the price. A mid-budget is $500 to $1000. 

Speakers

Depending on the size of your home studio, select the proper speaker setup depending on the size and placement of your studio monitors. As mentioned before, leaving some space between your back wall and your speakers will help counter any muddy bass congestion. We recommend KRK Rokits as an entry-level speaker. 

There are a variety of models and sizes available at affordable prices ranging from $250 and up. You might want to replace your regular decorative vase with a heavy studio glass vase. You should have the glasses for vase in your studio in excellent condition without chips, cracks, or nicks. Make sure you purchase glass decorative for your home studio that goes through proper quality management.

MIDI Keyboard

If you haven't already done so, you should connect your MIDI controller. With DAWs, you can enter MIDI with your mouse; some even let you use your computer keys as keyboards. However, for those of you who play the piano, this is unlikely to satisfy you. You can control your DAW's inbuilt sounds using MIDI keyboards. 

With the ability to record with one of the soft synths or use the controller as a sampler, you can experiment, increase your production and give your tracks an organic sound. We recommend the Novation Launch Key as a good starting point, as it has 9 faders, transport controls, pads, and more. 

Microphone

Recording vocals, guitar, piano, drums, and other instruments in your studio will require a microphone. The best place to start is with a condenser mic. SM58 is our top recommendation for a first setup. Any mic collection must include this and is ideal for recording diverse instruments.

Connectivity

Once you have your studio gear setup, you will need to consider how to connect it all. There will likely be certain cables you need to connect your new gear, like XLRs or quarter-inch jack cables for your audio interface, and USB for your MIDI controller. If a cable breaks during your studio session, it's always a good idea to have spares on hand so that you don't disrupt your creative flow.

Closing Comments

It is just the beginning for you. After you get your new studio set up correctly, it is time to start recording some music. Installing new software is one of the best parts of the process. In case you're a beginner, don't worry about third-party software too soon. 

You can start with some great plugins and presets in most DAWs! In addition to your acoustics tools, your surroundings play a vital role in getting a noise-free record. Clean up your room for some wide open space with only a handful of noise correction components on the walls and stool.