Introduction
Whether your are just beginning your musical career, or you have been at it for awhile, having a well-equipped recording studio is essential to producing the best possible sounding music. There are many items which are quite important, and this article will briefly describe the top 10 you should consider adding to your recording studio if you don’t already have them.
- Computer
First and foremost you will need a computer. If you are just starting out, a cheap computer may be best to help keep you within your budget, but certain types of audio recording software will work best with higher end computers. You will want a laptop computer for your recording studio if you plan to be on the go a lot, or to do a lot of listening and editing of your music while you are away from the studio.
- Microphone
There are two main types of microphones. The two main types are called condenser microphones and dynamic microphones. Condenser microphones tend to work better when recording instruments such an acoustic guitar. Dynamic microphones work better for heavier music with drums such as rock or metal.
- Headphones
The headphones you select are quite important because you want to hear your music the way that most of your listeners will be hearing your music. Closed headphones are usually used in recording studios due to their ability to cancel out noise from the outside environment.
- Studio Monitor
Studio monitors can be quite expensive but are very important when creating your recording studio. The size of the studio monitor you get should reflect the size of your studio. Don’t purchase a large studio monitor if you have an extremely small recording room and vice versa.
- Digital Audio Workstation Software
Certain computers come with free digital audio workstation (DAW) but generally you will need to upgrade to the paid version in order to be able to use many of the functions within the DAW. A DAW is the software that is used to record, edit, and actually produce your music. Try the free version of a few different DAWs to get a feel for which one you like best. Logic Pro is an example of a highly used DAW. These systems will cost around 100-200 dollars but can be more expensive.
- Audio Interface
The audio interface acts as the “middle man” between your computer software and the microphone that is taking in the music that you create. Audio interfaces can come in different sizes but the important thing to note if you can purchase them with either a single XLR mic input or multiple XLR mic inputs. If you plan on having multiple microphones, you will want an audio interface with multiple XLR mic inputs.
- Acoustic Foams and Panels
When thinking about your budget for your recording studio, make sure to leave space in it to purchase acoustic foams and panels. Acoustic panels and foams play an important role in how your music sounds because it helps balance out the sound is being reflected throughout the room. It is important to note that adding acoustic foams and panels are play a different role than “soundproofing” a room.
- Cables and Adapters
Cables and adapters are probably some of the least exciting items to purchase when creating your recording studio, but you can’t record your music without them. You will need them to connect items such as: your computer and audio interface, audio interface and microphone, and your studio monitor to your computer. There are many other adapters and cables that you may or may not need depending on your set up. You will also want to make sure you purchase cases or a box to place all of your cables in if you need to take any of your equipment on the go.
- External Hard-drive
External hard-drives are storage devices that can come in many different sizes. You want to have one of these purchased to have a centralized location to store all of your recorded music. These files can end up being quite large so generally purchasing a 1TB Hard Drive is a good idea. These will run around 50-70 dollars but will help you not use up all the storage on your computer or laptop. Storing too much of your recorded music on your computer can eventually cause it to become less efficient.
- VST Software
Virtual instrument software works hand in hand with your DAW. It can’t run without it, but your DAW can run without VST software. VST software will give you a number of options for instruments to mix in to your music that you are producing as well as numerous sound effects. A VST software will help you to be able to produce music independently that has a full, complete sound due to the variety of instruments and noises that can come with the software.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many more items which you will likely want to include when having your own recording studio. At least 10 items that you will want to make sure you include right away are a computer, a microphone, headphones, a studio monitor, a digital audio workstation software, an audio interface, acoustic foams and panels, cables and adapters, an external hard-drive, and VST software. If you live in the Brisbane area, there are a number of options to visit if you want to see a Recording Studio Brisbane.
