Build a Home Studio for Computer Based Music Recording

Making and recording music is a fun and rewarding experience. The only prerequisites to this tutorial are having a computer and the willingness to learn. You don't even have to know how to read or play an instrument, most hit producers and film composers don't even know music theory.

Steps

Building a home studio

  1. Write a plan of what you want to do. Do you want to build a recording studio? Is it a singing booth? Is it an engineering booth? Is it for computer-based music production? Knowing what you want before you start can help you decide which equipment you will need. Doing extensive research will help at this stage. Try to find a specialist at PC World, or your local Apple shop, take notes and then find more information on the Internet.
  2. Acquire the appropriate equipment. This will include such items as amplifiers, microphones, mixers, electric instruments, cables for connecting it all together. A modern computer built or purchased within the past three years should be sufficient.
    • If possible, acquire a working high-quality soundcard, such as an M-Audio Fast Track Pro or Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini. Creative Labs does have a Pro Music line called EMU. A 1212M PCI system is ideal if you were going to go that route.
    • Monitor speakers are helpful if you are looking to stick with this for more than a hobby. The M-Audio Studiophile BX8a's, KRK RP-8 Rokit work well, and if you've got money to burn, the Mackie HR824 Studio Monitors.
    • If you're into hip-hop, techno, or dance music, a set of turntables will be needed to record your sets or scratches on the fly. You can also use DJ software such as Traktor or Serato and a USB DJ controller to try out your mixes.
    • A midi keyboard will be useful if you want to use midi software (which you can use to write bass lines, piano parts, and drum beats). Nothing fancy is needed, but each person will have their own preference. There are many advantages to having a midi keyboard because it will give you the tactile feel of a real instrument, which can greatly aid creativity.
  3. Buy or download music-editing software for your PC.
  4. Connect everything up. This is where most of the genius (and perspiration!) comes in. In general, keep it as simple as possible. For best playback quality run from the sound card into a mixer or amplifier and then to your monitor speakers. For best recording quality, run instruments/mics into a mixer(make sure you are getting a perfect signal) then run from the mixer into the sound card.
  5. Learn how to record a sound from an input line and how to arrange pre-recorded sounds. Also learn how to turn an arrangement into a .wav or .mp3 file. (After all, eventually we want to make a CD with all this awesome music!)
  6. Select a room in your house. Sound-proof it if possible. If not, try to use special carpet or insulation that can at least reduce external noise.
  7. Start writing simple tracks. Start off with a drumbeat. Add a bass line or piano or vocal track. Start mixing. Explore! It's all about experimentation. At the beginning, you don't have to write a masterpiece - just focus on having fun!
  8. If you have trouble with any of the above, pick up a Mixing / Studio Book. It will help you understand the underlying concepts needed to keep you going for a lifetime.
  9. Once you've learned the basics, start breaking it down. Lay a bunch of tracks together. Experiment with processed effects. Experiment with plugins, loops, new hardware and anything else you can get your hands onto.

Building a basic studio for recording on a budget

  1. Obtain a suitable computer, preferably a Mac. It must be installed in the room you want to create music.
  2. Get an audio interface, mic and sound output. For a few hundred dollars or pounds, you can pick up the Focusrite Scarlett Studio, with a 2i2 interface, CM25 mic and HP60 headphones.
  3. Plug it in. The Scarlett Studio comes with all the cables included.
  4. Start your Digital Audio Workstation program. PCs are best with Cubase, Macs with GarageBand or Logic Pro X.
  5. Get a MIDI keyboard . Plug it in.
  6. You have a basic studio. Enjoy!



Tips

  • If you don't have the money to throw at all of this right away, start with the basics. That way, you'll be completely familiar and comfortable with the setup by the time you have all the equipment you need.
  • Don't be afraid to use YouTube for video tutorials! Most people are always afraid to look up video tutorials because some think that what they want to learn won't be discussed.
  • Good quality equipment, while expensive, will help the overall quality of the sound. Do your homework, and buy the best quality that you can afford.
  • Get advice from your local music shop specialist. Contact a local recording studio and ask what they have and then try to reduce down the costs to what you need.
  • Use DI boxes where applicable to cut down on noise and interference.
  • Be patient, it will take time for it to come together.
  • Get an extra hard drive, either internal or external and don't use it for anything except sound recordings. Quality, uncompressed digital sound files take up a lot of space.
  • Remember, your system is only as strong as the weakest link. When looking to upgrade equipment, work out what the most important piece of equipment is for your system. Is it the sound card, the mic, the software or the computer itself?
  • It's also helpful to have.Wav editing programs. The best ones, such as Sound Forge, Adobe Audition, Pro tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Acid are expensive, but Audacity has most of the features you'd be looking for and it's free. These programs are also great for creating final 2 track mixes of your creation which is normally bounced to .mp3 for internet file sharing and was for music projects such as Albums, film scores, jingles etc.
  • If you are using instruments like the electric guitar with your DI box or plugging it straight into the sound card but really want the sound of your amp, see if you can get your hands on a microphone. Put the mic in front of the amp and plug the mic into the computer instead. If noise is an issue, most amps will also let you run a direct line from the amp into the computer, too.
  • The first few recordings will not sound very professional. No matter what recording software you choose, you will have to play with the quality settings as well as learn to mix your music to achieve the sound you want. The best way to do this would be to purchase good studio speakers (which are called monitors). You'll have to play music, movies and any other media based things through them so that you learn the monitors and get used to how things sound coming through them.

Warnings

  • Make sure you turn on the monitor speakers after you turn on everything else. This is to avoid the sudden occurrence of transient noise caused by significant variations in the signal path (like turning on the mixer). Such noise is potentially harmful to your speakers as well as your ears.
  • Make sure you turn off phantom power before you unplug mics. You can ruin the mic and the preamp.
  • Make sure the mixer's main line isn't too hot! You'll blow your freaking eardrums out if you're not careful.
  • As with all electrical equipment, exercise caution with live cables, wires, and speakers. Discharge static electricity when necessary.

Things You'll Need

  • Money
  • Computer
  • Soundcard or audio interface (USB/firewire)
  • Condenser microphone; cheap direct plugin mics won't give you good results
  • Speakers (studio monitors)
  • Software
  • Studio headphones (look for flat responses)
  • Cables
  • MIDI controller

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