5 absolute essentials for setting up your own home studio
Creating music is more accessible than ever, from the price of gear to the quality of the software and plugins, so having a decent home studio is more achievable than ever.
But setting up a home studio goes much further than just buying the gear, it helps to know and follow a couple of steps before doing anything.
Understanding some key principles will mean the difference between an expensive yet unfunctional studio and an affordable studio that actually works!
Let’s have a look at some of those aspects…
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Monitoring
What is it:
Monitoring is arguably the most important aspect of any sound studio; a decent pair of monitors won’t be cheap – however it’s important to save up and make sure you’re getting an accurate representation of what your music ACTUALLY sounds like.
Why is it essential:
Like a viewfinder is to a photographer – it’s important to be able to hear your sound without any colouration from sub-par speakers, headphones or even the room.
Good beginner options:
There are various models and brands, depending on the size of your room and your application. Some popular options to check out are KRK RP series and Yamaha HS series. I usually recommend monitor speakers as a first choice, however check out these studio headphone options.
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Audio Interface
What is it:
The audio interface is the device that transcodes audio data from analog into digital and vice versa. Often audio interfaces will also include microphone preamps, so for anyone who is recording – this is tantamount.
Why is it essential:
Imagine plugging in your American Fender Strat or Neumann microphone, recording a fantastic take – only to realize that the quality has been seriously bottlenecked by a poor preamp or converter!
Good beginner options:
PreSonus and Focusrite both have some great affordable options in various shapes and sizes.
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DAW
What is it:
The DAW is the computer system and software that you will use to record/produce your music with. There are a ton of hardware and software options available, stability and performance need to be your focus here. As a general rule of thumb, I try avoiding laptops for music – as they’re often full of “bloatware” that may hamper performance, although there are some good options. I also advise investing in a bunch of external hard drives to backup your sessions.
Why is it essential:
An unreliable machine or software setup can result in months of work suddenly being rendered useless, I have seen this many times before.
Good beginner options:
We’ll leave the hardware choice up to you, in fear of sparking the age old Apple vs. Windows debate, however here is a list of some good choices for software to get you going.
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Correct Placement and Treatment
What is it:
You know the saying “You’re only as strong as your weakest link”? It couldn’t be more apparent than it is in setting up a sound studio. There’s no use having the best monitors in the world, if they’re not placed correctly in a treated room.
Why is it essential:
The room plays the biggest role in the colouration of the sound coming out of your speakers, an empty concrete room will obviously result in a terrible frequency response.
Good beginner options:
Invest in some free-standing stands for your studio monitors, make sure they’re placed in an isosceles triangle (with your head being the third corner), and check out the Sonarworks Reference 4 system – we did a review on it here.
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Comfort and Ergonomics
What is it:
It’s surprising how many studios I have been in where the keyboard and mouse are balancing on top of piles of gear. It may just be that I use the keyboard and mouse more than others in my workflow, but it’s important to thoughtfully arrange your equipment so you don’t have to strain any muscles just to reach it!
Why is it essential:
You will probably end up spending a lot of time in your studio, it needs to be a space that is conducive to both work and creativity.
Good beginner options:
Get some keyboard stands to free up desk space. Invest in a decent chair, you’re going to be sitting on it for a few hours at a time! Arm rests are great as they reduce the impact on your wrists when using the mouse or keyboard.
A well-balanced scale…
I like to think of a functional home studio like a well-balanced scale, as long as the process is thoughtfully carried out, and equal attention is paid to each step – it can mean the difference of thousands and thousands of Rands.
Resist the urge of plugging everything in as you get it; think about how often it will be used and the best placement of that particular item.
Don’t go out and max out your credit card on a synthesizer when you don’t have monitors to hear what it’s actually doing.
The secret to having a home studio that works for you is all about knowing what counts most.
Happy music making 😊
