7 Things You Need to Know About Creating a Home Recording Studio
You don’t have to be a professional sound engineer to design and install a home recording studio that works. However, you do have to pay special attention to all the finer details of the space, and be ready to roll up your sleeves (or at least roll out your pocket book) for some hard work. When creating a home recording studio, keep these things in mind:
The Equipment You’ll Need
To set up a fully functioning recording studio, you will need some basic equipment. This includes a recording (you may use your computer, along with sequencing software for this), a high-quality microphone, an audio interface, a synthesizer (or MIDI controller), headphones, and monitor speakers.
Your Furnishings Do Matter
They are not just about visual aesthetics. Soft furnishings are actually great sound absorbers, so you should choose your furniture accordingly. Think overstuffed couches, padded foot rests, and lots of pillows.
Deciding What to Spend on Recording Equipment
You don’t have to go all out on recording equipment if you are just starting. It is possible to fully equip a recording studio for anywhere from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, so you should shop around for your recording equipment before deciding what’s best for your circumstances.
Keeping Sound In
When many people think of acoustics, they think of keeping noise out. However, it is also important that you keep your sound in, in order to avoid two things–dampening crisp sounds that you need, and disturbing your neighbors. You’ll want to use soundproofing materials like green glue tubes, mass loaded vinyl, and/or a combination of techniques to ensure you aren’t disturbing others.
Acoustics
Sound proofing is not just about keeping sound in or out, either. It’s also largely about acoustics, especially in a recording studio. Acoustics refer to quality of sound, and if you want to get clean and crisp recordings, you will have to prevent sound wave reverberation by ensuring that your space is completely sealed and using bass traps, if necessary.
Combining Materials
There are a variety of soundproofing materials available to you. They all serve their own purposes, and sometimes in unique ways. Additionally, they all require different installation considerations. To soundproof your home studio, you will have to use a combination of materials, depending on your individual circumstances.
The Ideal Space
Very few people with home recording studios have the option of creating their dream space; instead, they must work with the space they have. That means finding the ideal space, within the confines of a home. Your best bet is to use a small room that has as few windows and doors as possible, and that is preferably already well insulated.
You can create a home recording studio, even if you don’t have previous experience with this type of project. Keep these considerations in mind when planning your home recording studio.
