So you’re just starting out in the music industry and you have no idea what to do? Well, this blog post will hopefully give you some ideas on how to save money when setting up your home studio. Whether it’s a low budget home recording studio or just a simple low budget home studio, there are plenty of things that can be done to maximize your savings while still achieving the quality of sound that you desire. This article is for anyone who wants an affordable way to get their feet wet in the music world!
Table of Contents
How to get started
One requirement for a good home recording studio is that it should have a room designated as a space. That way, the audio engineer can control factors like acoustics with proper insulation and furnishing. Other ideas include making sure that all electrical outlets are easily accessible and able to accommodate every instrument; having sound-absorbing panels on walls and ceilings; soundproofing windows; and using soundproofing panels on doors.
What you need
What you need is the right equipment and knowledge to make your own home recordings. You will also need to decide whether or not you want a computer-based recording studio with interface, digital or analog mixing board, sound card, preamp, analog outboard gear (reverb/equalizer), cables, and recording software or if you prefer going “instrumental” by making a cassette tape recorder your primary equipment. Your favorite band in high school may have made some of their best music on tape recorders, but it remains to be seen how enthusiasts will react when they hear new albums release by major artists on cassette disc.
Recording and editing equipment
For a low budget home recording studio, the interface is going to be your most expensive piece. The best way for you to find out what your budget will allow for is to get on craigslist or newegg and look around. You can also check Amazon or Craigslist ads in your city. If this sounds too complicated, it might be worth looking into analog gear like mixing boards and tape recorders as it may give you some savings in the long run if you want to have an easier time mixing later on since they leave artifacts in that make it easier for you to audibly separate things.
You will also want a computer. You can go as cheap or expensive as you like with this but the minimum would be an Intel Core I-series CPU and Windows XP, Vista, or Win Seven. Or if you are looking to save some money try using a laptop that is newer than 2011, it will cost less but still do the work.
Software for recording and editing
You can use Audacity which is free and open-source software that runs on Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems.
Starting with a budget of $0 for recording software and then adding some items that may be purchased at your local electronics store or online will get you started with a minimal cost.
Other low budget home studio recommendations:
MuseScore (free) – allows the user to score music, make simple changes to notation, and saves as MIDI.
Cubase LE (paid) – a popular piece of software for multitrack audio recording, sequencing, editing, and mixing projects.
Recording gear (microphones, speakers, etc.)
The absolute minimum to get started is a microphone, which you can find for around $100-200. A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) (used for recording, editing, and mixing audio files using various effects) will also be needed in order to record the sound into your computer. The few that I know are Reaper, Audacity, or FL Studio.
Some stand-alone speakers are available for just over a hundred dollars as well and can be great at lower volumes where many people may want to listen to something simultaneously.
Studio accessories (music stands, headphones)
Studio accessories are necessary to simplify the recording process. For a low budget, they’re important because reducing some of the home engineer’s duties will add up and have a positive effect on the final sound quality.
Studio accessories like music stands and headphones ensure that recordings for listening later come out in high quality, but they’re also an affordable alternative to expensive studio gear.
In conclusion, the home studio owners’ goal is to make sure that their equipment allows them to produce a high quality recording without any need for post-production. A low budget home studio should allow for this so long as it has all of the basic necessities and some accessories too!
