What equipment would I need to have a home recording studio?

What is the equipment that i need to start a home recording studio?

• Answer:

  The required equipment for your recording studio will vary depending on the type of recording as well as the style of music you will be recording …and your budget of course. Audio technology along with audio production software is constantly changing, which compounds the difficulty in recommending specific software and equipment for your particular application. I’ll try my best to give you a fairly general set of guidelines that should help you get started. For more detailed information please take advantage of the resources below. First things first you will need a multitrack recording device. Popular multitrack recording equipment uses either a specialized tape format (such as Alesis’ ADAT) or is hard-disk based. At the high-end there are turnkey platforms from companies such as Digidesign, which are extremely popular with professional producers, composers, and musicians. There is a large selection of significantly lower-cost equipment from which to choose as well. Most musicians, composers, and producers are using a piece of equipment commonly known as a (computer-based) digital audio workstation or DAW, as their primary piece of equipment to create, edit and record music. You basically have two choices when it comes to DAWs: purchase a turnkey system or platform (such as Digidesign Pro Tools®, etc.,) or assemble and/or configure your own DAW. If you choose the latter, which is very often the less costly approach, you will need a fairly powerful personal computer outfitted with one or more high-performance, professional grade (multi-channel) audio cards along with one or more outboard digital interfaces, and most importantly the required audio and music production software. Make sure that you take the time to find the best software that will do what you need without exceeding your budget. (Note: I highly recommend using one or more high-resolution, flat-panel monitors that are at least 24- to 27-inches in size for use with your digital audio workstation/virtual studio.) After you’ve selected the platform or software for your DAW you will need to select a compatible control surface, which in large part will be influenced by the specific software and/or platform you will be using, and/or a mixing console. If you will be recording any type of vocals you will need the appropriate microphones - often several to do the job properly. Depending on whether you will be recording musical performers or creating digital, electronic music—with or without the need of a recording space, respectively—you may also need direct boxes, microphone preamplifiers and/or splitters where applicable. If you’re purchasing one or more microphones you will need good quality, heavy-duty shielded mic cables along with adjustable microphone stands (often fitted with shock-mounts and, in some cases, windscreens.) Another very important item is monitoring equipment. You will need either near-field or mid-field studio monitors—powered or passive (the latter requires an outboard power amplifier)—or a set of high quality headphones/earphones. I highly recommend that you not skimp when it comes to budgeting for your monitoring equipment. These are the items you will need to form a basic home recording studio. Beyond these basic items you may (eventually) want to add a few outboard audio and effects processing units, including equalizers, compressors, limiters, noise gates, delays, etc., to supplement the standard assortment of audio plug-ins commonly used with audio production software. In addition, I highly recommend that you use high quality AC power conditioners for all of your audio equipment in addition to basic TVSS protection for your entire recording studio. You should also closely examine the electrical system, especially the grounding, in the building where you will be installing your studio. You should also make certain that the building’s electrical system is up to the latest electrical codes. Better yet you may want to consult an electrician experienced in sensitive power applications, such recording studios, in order to make sure that your electrical system is optimal for critical audio applications. It is always best to be proactive when it comes to mitigating hum and noise in your audio environment. There are a few final items from which you’ll likely benefit: professional equipment racks for any rack-mounted audio equipment, patchbay(s) and/or signal routing units, discs of high-quality, digitally sampled sounds and music, and test and optimization CDs and DVDs (along with a player to play the discs) to help configure and periodically optimize your audio equipment. As I mentioned above, for more detailed information please have a look at the resources I’ve provided. I highly recommend that you print-out the list of books I’ve provided below and visit your local library and/or bookstore to acquire one or more of the books on the list. This will provide much greater detailed information on the subject, which will be very beneficial when it comes time to deal with retailers. One final note, you should check with your local trade school(s) or community college(s) to see if they offer courses in audio or music production or technology; if so visit the facilities. This should help you to quickly gather the necessary information—from both the students and the instructor—that will assist you in creating your own home recording studio. (You may also want to consider enrolling in an audio and music production program. For many people the learning curve can be fairly steep and taking one or more classes will expedite the learning process.) To find online retailers I recommend that you start by checking each manufacturer’s list of authorized dealers. The resources I’ve listed below, such as Ken’s Links from ProSoundWeb as well as the various (online) magazines, should be helpful. Three of the largest, most popular online retailers are Sweetwater, Sam Ash and zZsounds. For local retailers check your local telephone directory for musical instrument dealers. If there are any local musical instrument dealers in your area they will likely stock a variety of equipment needed to get started; and in some cases you may get lucky and find a competent and helpful salesperson that will take the time to help you get started. ######## MEDIA AND PRESS ######## Computer Music http://www.computermusic.co.uk Digital Producer http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com Electronic Musician http://www.emusician.com EQ Magazine http://www.eqmag.com Future Music http://www.futuremusic.co.uk Mix Magazine Online http://www.mixonline.com Pro Audio Review http://www.proaudioreview.com Pro AV Magazine http://www.proavmagazine.com Pro Studio & Live Audio http://www.prostudio.com ProRec http://www.prorec.com Recording Magazine http://www.recordingmag.com Resolution http://www.resolutionmag.com Sound On Sound http://www.soundonsound.com ######## RESOURCES AND LINKS ######## YouTube - How to build your own recording studio at home http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQKp6PVjSbk Audio Recording and Production Facilities Information Music Engineering - University of Miami http://mue.music.miami.edu/facilities.php Choosing an Audio Platform http://www.prorec.com/Articles/tabid/109/EntryID/260/Default.aspx Choosing a World Class Microphone http://www.prorec.com/Articles/tabid/109/EntryID/96/Default.aspx 5 Steps To Building Your DAW http://www.sweetwater.com/feature/daw/ How to Set Up a Home Recording Studio Expert Village Videos http://www.expertvillage.com/interviews/recording-studio.htm Computer Music - Tutorials (PDF) http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=cm_tutorial_pdfs http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs Digital Audio Workstation - Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation WikiRecording's Guide to Digital Audio Workstations http://www.wikirecording.org/Digital_Recording List of MIDI Editors and Sequencers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_MIDI_editors_and_sequencers Belden Cable Basics http://www.belden.com/03Products/03_CableBasics.cfm Belden Technical Reports http://www.belden.com/03Products/03_TechReports.cfm Belden Technical Information http://www.belden.com/pdfs/TechInfo/techinfo.htm Belden Technical Papers “Wire, Cable, and Fiber Optics” http://www.belden.com/pdfs/Techpprs/wcfsbetp.htm “Digital Studio Cable Guide” http://www.belden.com/pdfs/Techbull/TB65.pdf StudioTech Entertainment Furniture “Keeping Your System Cool” http://www.studiotech.com/knowledge_base/how_to_articles/keeping_your_system_cool/heat_buildup_and_your_components.html Digital Content Producer “Hot Stuff: Thermal Management Inside Equipment Racks” http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&urlID=18978186&url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/avinstall_hot_stuff/index.html University of California, Santa Cruz, Electronic Music Studios http://arts.ucsc.edu/ems/music/ An Introduction to Recording Studio Design http://www.ahisee.com/content/rsdpart1.html Paul White Workshops http://www.amgard.net/PWWrkShops.htm How to Build a Personal Recording Studio on Any Budget - Part I http://emusician.com/tutorials/emusic_build_personal_studio/ The Project Studio Handbook http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com HomeReccers: The Art and Science of Home Recording http://www.prorec.com/Articles/tabid/109/EntryID/90/Default.aspx Acoustics Tutorials → Recording Studio Design http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_info/studio_design/ Acoustic Treatment and Design for Recording Studios and Listening Rooms http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html Orion Sound Studios - Studio Construction http://www.orionsound.com/studio_construction.htm Mix Magazine: Recording Facility Design Applications http://mixonline.com/studios/design/ Mix Magazine: Studio Monitors - Basics http://mixguides.com/studiomonitors/Basics/ Mix Magazine: Studio Design - Product Features http://mixguides.com/studiodesign/product_features/ Mix Magazine: Studio Design - Basics http://mixguides.com/studiodesign/ ________________________ Digidesign® Pro Tools® http://www.digidesign.com Apple - Logic Studio http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/ Sony Creative Software Vegas, Sound Forge and ACID http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com Cakewalk DAWs & Sequencers http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/DAWs.asp Steinberg Media Technologies - Nuendo and Cubase http://www.steinberg.net Sound On Sound - Directory of Manufacturers http://www.soundonsound.com/directory/1-manufacturers.htm Audio Links from BackstageWorld.com http://www.backstageworld.com/Audio_Links.html Ken’s Links from ProSoundWeb http://links.prosoundweb.com Audio Engineering Society http://www.aes.org/sustaining_members/ ________________________ Digital Home Recording - Updated & Expanded, Second Edition Jon Chappell ISBN-10: 0879307323 / ISBN-13: 978-0879307325 Backbeat Books http://www.backbeatbooks.com/feature/viewProduct.do?itemId=330984 Home Recording Studio Basics: What You Need to Know to Build a Home Studio ISBN-10: 1575605635 / ISBN-13: 978-1575605630 Cherry Lane Music http://www.cherrylane.com/clprint/book.cfm?getbook=70390 The Ultimate Personal Recording Studio Gino Robair ISBN-10: 1-59863-210-8 / ISBN-13: 978-1598632101 Cengage Learning / Course PTR http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?&isbn=1-59863-210-8 Mastering Music at Home Mitch Gallagher ArtistPro Publishing / Course PTR ISBN-10: 1-59863-392-9 / ISBN-13: 978-1598633924 http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?&isbn=1-59863-392-9 Home Recording Studio - Build It Like The Pros Rod Gervais ISBN: 1598630342 / ISBN-13: 978-1598630343 ArtistPro Publishing / Course PTR http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?&isbn=1-59863-034-2 Basic Home Studio Design (The Basic Series) Paul White ISBN-10: 1860742726 / ISBN-13: 978-1860742729 Sanctuary Publishing Ltd http://www.amazon.com/dp/1860742726 Building a Recording Studio Jeff Cooper ISBN-10: 0916899004 / ISBN-13: 978-0916899004 EAN: 9780916899004 Jeff Cooper Architects / Synergy Group http://www.jeffcooper.com/bookstore/bookstore.htm Home Studio Clinic: A Musician’s Guide to Professional Recording Emile Menasché ISBN-10: 1423418077 / ISBN-13: 978-1423418078 Hal Leonard http://www.halleonard.com/item_detail.jsp?itemid=331466 Modern Recording Techniques, Sixth Edition David Miles Huber and Robert E. Runstein ISBN-10: 0240804562 / ISBN-13: 978-0240806259 Focal Press http://www.modrec.com http://www.focalpress.com/Book.aspx?id=824 Understanding Audio: Getting the Most Out of Your Project or Professional Recording Studio Daniel M. Thompson ISBN-10: 0-634-00959-1 / ISBN-13: 978-0634009594 Berklee Press http://www.berkleepress.com/catalog/product?product_id=3099564 Recording In The Digital World Thomas Rudolph and Vincent Leonard ISBN 0-634013246 / ISBN-13: 978-0634013249 Berklee Press http://www.berkleepress.com/catalog/product?product_id=11392 Recording and Producing in the Home Studio: A Complete Guide David Franz ISBN-10: 0876390483 / ISBN-13: 978-0876390481 Berklee Press http://www.berkleemusic.com/store/product?product_id=1632167 http://www.berkleepress.com/catalog/product?product_id=1632167 Digital Audio Workstation Colby Leider ISBN-10: 0071422862 / ISBN-13: 978-0071422864 McGraw-Hill Professional http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071422862 Recording Studio Design Philip Newell ISBN-10: 0-240-51917-5 / ISBN-13: 978-0-240-51917-3 Focal Press http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/677724/description http://books.elsevier.com/us//fpaudio/us/subindex.asp?maintarget=&isbn=9780240519173 http://www.amazon.com/dp/0240519175 The S.M.A.R.T. Guide to Mixing and Mastering Audio Recordings Bill Gibson ISBN: 1-59200-698-1 / ISBN-13: 978-1592006984 Course PTR http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?&isbn=1-59200-698-1 Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science, Second Edition Bob Katz ISBN-10: 0-240-80837-1 / ISBN-13: 978-0-240-80837-6 Focal Press http://www.focalpress.com/Book.aspx?id=1094 http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/712920/description Pro Tools Bible: The Complete Digital Music Production Reference David Leathers ISBN-10: 0071412344 / ISBN-13: 978-0071412346 McGraw-Hill Publishing http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071412344 http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/html/0071412344.html The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook, Second Edition Bobby Owsinski ISBN-10: 1-59863-251-5 / ISBN-13: 978-1598632514 ArtistPro Publishing / Course PTR http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?isbn=1-59863-251-5 Sound and Recording: An Introduction, Fifth Edition Francis Rumsey and Tim McCormick ISBN-10: 0240519965 / ISBN-13: 978-0240519968 Focal Press http://www.focalpress.com/Book.aspx?id=1284 Recording and Production Techniques Paul White ISBN-10: 1860744435 / ISBN-13: 978-1860744433 Sanctuary Publishing Ltd http://www.amazon.com/dp/1860744435 Critical Listening Skills for Audio Professionals F. Alton Everest ISBN-10: 1598630237 / ISBN-13: 978-1598630237 ArtistPro Publishing / Course PTR http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?isbn=1-59863-023-7 http://www.amazon.com/dp/1598630237 Sound Studio Construction on a Budget ISBN-10: 0070213828 / ISBN-13: 978-0070213821 McGraw-Hill/TAB Books http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/html/0070213828.html How to Build a Small Budget Recording Studio from Scratch F. Alton Everest and Mike Shea ISBN-10: 0830629661 / ISBN-13: 978-0830629664 McGraw-Hill/TAB Books http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?cat=112&isbn=0071409653 Acoustic Design for the Home Studio Mitch Gallagher ISBN-10: 1-59863-285-X / ISBN-13: 978-1598632859 ArtistPro Publishing / Course PTR http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_detail.cfm?isbn=1-59863-285-X Master Handbook of Acoustics F. Alton Everest ISBN-10: 0071360972 / ISBN-13: 978-0071360975 McGraw-Hill Professional http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?cat=113&isbn=0071360972 ________________________ Thomson Course Technology - Music Technology http://www.courseptr.com/ptr_catalog.cfm?group=Music%20Technology BackBeat Books Online Recording/Audio http://www.backbeatbooks.com/feature/viewFeature.do?featureId=1790006 Mix Books http://www.mixbooks.com Focal Press http://www.focalpress.com Hal Leonard Corporation http://www.halleonard.com Music Books Plus http://www.musicbooksplus.com audioXpress (Audio Amateur) http://www.audioxpress.com Recording Org http://www.recording.org Home Recording http://www.homerecording.com Resources for Musicians, DJs and Home Music Studio Users http://www.studioathome.com Record Production and Studio Recording Engineer http://www.studiorecordingengineer.com Recording Engineer Bob Clearmountain http://www.bobclearmountain.com Jim Hurn’s Sound Engineering Site http://www.sound-eng.com Acoustics Discussion Forum http://forum.studiotips.com Bob Hodas http://www.bobhodas.com