How to setup a home recording studio

For beginners as well as for experienced musicians, it is important to be ready to record as soon as inspiration knocks at the door. This requires having the right equipment. The good news is that these days, it's very easy to set up a comfortable recording studio at home without blowing your budget. You can record your own music at any time on good equipment and let your inspiration flow!

It's often hard to know where to start when it comes to installing a recording studio at home and it's easy to ask yourself 1,001 questions. What equipment should you buy first? At what price? Can you install them yourself? We have created a short list of equipment you will need to compose on a computer and record your voice and instruments.

• An audio interface (sound card)
• Digital audio workstation (DAW) software (Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Ableton...)
• Professional monitor speakers
• 1 to 3 microphones
• A pop filter
• A microphone stand
• Quality headphones or monitoring headphones
• Various multi-function cables

The location doesn't really matter, as long as you feel inspired and ready to record. You can choose a bedroom or even a basement room. You'll still need to make sure there isn't too much outside noise or interference from other electronics. If in doubt, you can always install acoustic foams that are suitable for all configurations. Acoustic foams have many advantages and will not only protect you from outside noise but will also prevent sound pollution to neighbors, all while ensuring high-quality sound!

Obviously, it all depends on your budget. You can use a computer you already have, or you can buy a more state-of-the-art one that will be dedicated entirely to music production. Whatever you decide, most of today's computers are fine, and there is always time to invest in a more powerful computer later. The key is to establish the basics first and invest in more expensive equipment as you go along.

The audio interface/sound card acts as an intermediary between the sounds that go into the computer and the sounds that you hear. You will find all sorts of affordable possibilities in this area. Remember: a basic audio interface will do just fine!

You'll find lots of information about all the possible mics for different instruments, sounds, and effects. But the easiest way to start is to choose a multi-functional microphone that is versatile, meaning that can use it on several different instruments. Where you need to be more careful is in the choice of the mic you use to record vocals.

The recording software (or DAW) is a very personal choice depending on how you approach composition. It is best to start by testing a few. There are also trial versions and free versions like Logic Pro X or Ableton Live that will allow you to test the operation and the interface to see what you prefer. If you are still unsure, read our article on "The best free music composition software" to make your choice.

Although headphones are now widely used to record music in the studio, traditionally, mixing has always been done with speakers. Monitor speakers give a flatter frequency response than consumer speakers, for a more neutral sound, which allows for a more objective judgment of the mix. Although they can be expensive, it is important to invest in good speakers, many of which are easy to use, and affordable, even for beginners.