Regardless of whether you are an aspiring musician or producer, being able to have an inexpensive home recording studio to set up and use is priceless. With advances in technology, a good recording studio no longer depends on hardware, but on software. A computer today can do the work of various parts of expensive audio recording equipment.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the room for study
Step 1. Choose a room in your home that is comfortable and has a heating or cooling system
Select a room or part of a room in your home to set up the recording studio. Choose a room where you can be comfortable for several hours. In addition, it is important that you can control the temperature throughout the year. For example, unless you can control the temperature in your garage or basement, these locations may not be good for your recording studio.
- Consider the type of recording you will be doing and select an appropriately sized room.
- For example, if you are only recording one person, a closet will suffice. However, if you want to record an entire band, you will need a larger room.
Step 2. Decorate the room with furniture covered with fabric to absorb sound
Add the furniture you need or want for your recording studio, if it is large enough. At the very least, you will need a desk or table for the equipment. If you can fit more furniture, choose those that are covered with fabric, since they will absorb sound rather than distort it.
You can add a sofa or comfortable chairs for the guests, as well as stools for the vocalists and musicians
Step 3. Reduce sound reflection with a hard floor mat
Place one or more rugs on the studio floor if it is hard, such as tile or hardwood. Make sure one of the rugs is directly under the desk and chair. If your living room has wall-to-wall carpet, you can skip this step.
A hard floor reflects sound waves, as do walls and ceiling. Unfortunately, it is not possible to install absorption panels on the floor, but you can make most of it carpeted
Step 4. Purchase an acoustic treatment material to reduce sound reflection
Purchase a broadband absorption kit, four bass traps, and two isolation pads at a music store or online. The Broadband Absorption Kit comes with approximately 30 panels that can be placed in the room, once the equipment is installed. Absorption panels, bass traps, and diffusion panels are designed to prevent sound from studio monitors from being distorted by flat walls.
- Bass traps absorb low-frequency sound, allowing you to hear the bass properly in audio recordings.
- Absorption panels prevent sound waves from reflecting directly onto walls, while diffusion panels redirect sound waves in different directions.
- For a beginner studio, you may not need broadcast panels.
Part 2 of 3: Get the Right Equipment
Step 1. Get a powerful computer to mix the music and sound
This step will already be complete if you have a computer that is only a few years old. Buy a new or remanufactured computer if you don't have access to a newer computer or have the budget to buy a desktop computer specifically for the recording studio. Use a laptop if you need it for other activities, or a desktop if you don't need to carry it.
- While there is some debate within the recording industry, both Mac and Windows computers make for a home recording studio.
- If you need to upgrade only one part of the computer, upgrade the amount of RAM as much as you can afford.
Step 2. Download free trials of audio recording software to try
There are many audio recording programs on the market. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, and its fans and critics. To find software that works for you, download trial copies of different options. Try each one and determine which one best suits your needs.
Some audio recording programs are open source and the full version can be downloaded for free. Try these options, as you may find free software that meets all your needs
Step 3. Get a pair of studio monitors to listen to the playback
Two of the most important items in a studio are monitors (i.e. speakers). Select the best pair of studio monitors that you can afford within your budget. However, keep in mind that you can always buy additional monitors, should you need them.
If your budget doesn't currently allow you to buy studio monitors, you can get by with headphones. However, it is not a permanent replacement for monitors
Step 4. Invest in a studio microphone for the best sound
Buy a new studio microphone to include in your recording studio. If you are confident that you will be recording more than one voice or acoustic instrument at the same time, buy more than one microphone. Do not forget to buy a support for each one. Microphones generally do not include their bracket.
- Studio microphones don't need to be expensive. There are very good options at affordable prices.
- Make sure you buy a pop filter that you can use with your specific microphones for voice recording.
Step 5. Get an audio interface to link all the equipment
Buy an audio interface that is compatible with your computer and that allows at least three inputs (microphone, headphone, and studio monitor). Make sure there is an input port for each microphone you have in the studio, or you will only be able to record one at a time.
Consider purchasing an audio interface with an ADAT (Alesis Digital Audio Tape) connection. This type of connection will allow you to connect multiple interfaces as the studio grows
Step 6. Make sure you have all the necessary cables to connect everything
Not all equipment you buy will include the necessary cables. Take all the equipment to the recording studio and set it up as you prefer. Lay the cables on the floor between the various pieces of equipment to determine which ones you have and which ones you have to buy. Buy the cables you need.
Do an online search or visit a music store to buy used cables and accessories to save money
Part 3 of 3: Assembling the Study
Step 1. Install layers of vinyl to soundproof the room
Visit a music store or do an online search to purchase a loaded vinyl material for soundproofing, which usually comes in rolls that are 1.2 m (4 ft) long. Install the vinyl on the walls, ceiling, and floor of the room where you install the recording studio. Attach the vinyl to the walls with nails or staples, with the help of at least one friend.
Ideally, install the vinyl under the walls, between studs and drywall. However, unless you plan to renovate your home, you can install it directly to the drywall
Step 2. Install the bass traps in the four corners of the room
Add a trap in each corner of the room, at ceiling height. Use spray adhesive to adhere the traps directly to the wall. If your trap has mounting brackets, follow the instructions provided with it to install them.
- On the off chance that your room is not square and has more than four corners, purchase additional bass traps for the additional corners.
- Technically, bass traps are installed on the floor, rather than the ceiling. However, installing them close to the floor will take up usable space in the room.
Step 3. Set up a table or desk to organize the equipment
Bring at least one table or desk into the recording studio room and proceed with the setup. Place all the equipment (computer and accessories, studio monitors, audio interface) on the table or desk, arranging them as you prefer. Plug in all the cables for such equipment.
- Place the chair on the table or desk and take a seat. Make sure the equipment you have installed is accessible from the chair position.
- Keep in mind that the rest of the study will be installed depending on where you put the chair. If you are unsure about where the table or desk is, try a few options before setting up everything.
Step 4. Install studio monitors at ear level to hear the mix properly
Sit in the chair and check that the studio monitors are at the same level as your head. Raise them up with supports if they are too low. Make sure the two monitors and your head form an equilateral triangle (for example, all three at the same distance from each other).
For example, if you've placed your studio monitors 10 feet (3 meters) apart, your head should also be the same distance from each monitor
Step 5. Place sound-isolating pads under the monitors to reduce amplification
Put the two isolation pads you purchased under each studio monitor. If the pad raises them too much, you will have to lower the monitors (for example, remove them from the shelf or stand) or raise your head to be at the same height as the monitors.
Isolation pads prevent table or desk surfaces from amplifying sound from monitors
Step 6. Install the microphone on the stand and place it near the desk
Assemble the microphone stand, if necessary. Place the microphone on the stand and install the pop filter. Set up the stand so that the microphone can be placed directly in front of your mouth while sitting at the desk. In this way, you will be able to work on the computer at the same time as you do voice work.
- The microphone holder will allow you to move it (up, down or sideways). If someone else records the vowels, you can turn it towards him.
- The microphone stand must be movable to some extent. If the room is large enough, you can move it around the room as needed.
Step 7. Plug in all the equipment with the corresponding cables
Plug the optical cables (or optical interface) from the studio monitors into the audio interface. Plug the microphone and headphone cable into the audio interface. Use a USB or PCMCIA cable to connect the computer to the audio interface. Install the keyboard and mouse. If necessary, use a VGA or Thunderbolt cable to connect one or more video monitors to the computer. Plug your computer, video monitors, and studio monitors into a power outlet.
Purchase and use momentary surge protection for all recording equipment. In addition to making sure you have the necessary number of plugs, you will ensure that a power surge does not damage your equipment
Step 8. Use the mirror trick to find the best place for the absorption panels
Sit in the place where you will make the recordings at home. Have someone stand with a mirror against the wall, on the right side of the right monitor, at the same height as your head. Have the person move slowly along the wall, all over the walls of the room until they are on the left side of the left monitor. Look in the mirror from the chair and turn as you watch the mirror go around the perimeter of the room. At any time where you can see at least one of the monitors in the mirror, have your helper make a mark on the wall.
Audio monitors direct sound outward, past you, and toward the rear and side walls. The sound is then reflected back towards you, distorting the sound
Step 9. Hang absorption panels in predetermined places
Go around the room and add absorption panels to the wall at each spot you've marked with the mirror trick. Use spray adhesive to adhere the panel to the wall. Hang only the panels at ear level on each side wall of the room.
The absorption panel kit you have purchased may have different panels of different shapes. It doesn't matter which panels you hang on the wall in different places. Also, they don't have a bottom or top
Step 10. Install absorber panels in front, behind and above the monitors
Use spray adhesive to add more absorption panels to the walls behind the studio monitors and the chair (even though the wall behind the chair is a bit far away). Hang the panels on these walls above and below ear level, as well as at ear level. Use the same spray adhesive to add multiple wicking panels to the ceiling, directly above the chair.
Do not cover these two walls entirely with absorption panels. It only covers a maximum of 50% of the space with panels
Advice
- You can also buy something called a DAW audio interface set. It includes recording software (DAW stands for English digital audio workstation) and an audio interface. This option is generally cheaper than buying each item separately. In addition, if you buy everything together, you will be sure that both elements are compatible and that you can receive technical support for both at the same time.
- Many laptops and desktops no longer include a CD or DVD drive. If you need to transfer the recordings to a CD or DVD, you will have to make sure that your computer has such a drive or you will have to buy an external one.