If you’re unable to afford the large costs that come with recording your music in a professional studio, don’t worry! It is more than possible to set up a recording studio in your home and on a budget. This is how many independent musicians start out, and, in addition to being cheap it’s also convenient. Even large bands and musicians like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bruce Springsteen and Billie Eilish have repurposed their basements and bedrooms so that they can record from the comfort of their own homes.
If you want to know how to set up a home recording studio on a budget, keep reading.
1. Choose the Right Room
First of all, you need to choose the right room. Unless you live in a mansion it’s possible that you won’t have a lot of rooms to choose from, and if this is the case, don’t worry too much – there are ways to still make it work. The main thing here is that you want to try and choose a space that does not have too much noise interference. Larger rooms are best, and you’ll also be better off choosing a space that is not an exact square. Small spaces and square rooms can both cause noise interference. You also want to consider the amount of outside noise. While you may not notice a lot of noise in everyday life, everything from birds chirping outside to the air conditioning unit will be picked up on a microphone so the quieter the space you have, the better.
2. Treat the Room
Once you have a room, it’s time to set it up so that it will be a good space to record in. This means making a few home improvements. Sealing gaps in the windows and doors and adding dense building materials will help to prevent any noise from leaving the room – thus angering the neighbors. This will also enable you to play or sing loudly without worry. However, on top of this you’ll also want to treat the room acoustically – this will help you to make better recordings by reaching the correct frequency balance. Diffusers, acoustic panels and bass traps are all important here and will all help you to achieve professional recording studio quality.
3. Choose the Right Equipment
Finally, you want to choose the right equipment for your space. While professional recording equipment can cost thousands of dollars, there are ways to achieve what you want on a budget. Take your mic, for example. You can purchase any mid level mic and then use the microphone modifications effect offered by Antares to make it sound like a much more expensive option. When it comes to your computing equipment, rest assured that any recent laptop or desktop computer should be up to the job. And, with most DAW software offering free trials, there’s no need to spend a lot upfront here either. The one thing we do recommend spending money on – if you can afford it – is a good pair of headphones. This will help to prevent ear fatigue.
As you can see, it is possible to set up a recording studio in your home and on a budget.
