Making A Home Studio

kaialex · 08-03-2015, 11:05 PM

So I decided that I want to make a basic studio to record my songs
I've looked up online the basic equipment I need. I can't afford too much right now but I can afford a few things. So what are the basic essentials that I can grow on as I go. I have a HP laptop so I don't know what software to download either

Any & all suggestions are helpful!

Guybrush · 08-04-2015, 06:10 AM

Î have a very basic home studio that works for most people like myself who would mainly be overdubbing. It is also relatively affordable and cost me about 5000 NOK, I think, with cables and everything.

I got an external sound card that takes two jacks / XLR inputs. I got Native Instruments Komplete 6 which works fine.

Then I got a studio mic, Røde NT1-A, with a stand :

With that, I can record guitars and vocals (for guitars, I may record tracks from both the jack and from the studio mic at the same time). Then I also got a midi keyboard, an axiom 49 in my case, for recording soft synths and the like (pianos, strings, flutes, saxophones, whatevas).

You don't need a midi keyboard to add such things to your songs, but you may prefer to play it out rather than "program" it in software.

When it comes to Software, there are a lot of choices. I use Reaper myself and find it to be relatively intuitive and simple to use. It also comes with a lot of standard studio effects and things like compression, etc.

Toe · 09-26-2015, 03:47 AM

A fender mustang 1 works quite well for recording. Has a usb out and sounds decent for surf cleans and 90s alt rock distortion. If you are looking for a small amp. I have a mustang amp a sm57 and sm58. I find micing with the 57 sounds best but the usb beats micing with the 58. This is assuming of course you are putting the mics into an audio interface.

Project Passionfruit · 09-27-2015, 07:11 AM

never buy behringer. focusrite or m-audio are easy. plug and play, christal clear sound. easy interface. just ad a reasonable mic, make sure you don't record with much metal around. i've made many mic booths improvised with clothes, matrasses and whatever else. works perfect. a homestudio is pretty cheap these days and it works steady! most important... how are your songs ?

goodluck mate

jakeseven · 10-12-2015, 10:41 PM

I use Focusrite. It's very good.

Basics of a studio, I feel you need a microphone and an audio interface at least, maybe also a small amp. For software, you don't need super expensive software. Since you have an HP laptop, I've heard good reviews of Audacity, though I've rarely used it.

08-03-2015, 11:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
kaialex Groupie Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1	Making A Home Studio So I decided that I want to make a basic studio to record my songs I've looked up online the basic equipment I need. I can't afford too much right now but I can afford a few things. So what are the basic essentials that I can grow on as I go. I have a HP laptop so I don't know what software to download either Any & all suggestions are helpful!

08-04-2015, 06:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Î have a very basic home studio that works for most people like myself who would mainly be overdubbing. It is also relatively affordable and cost me about 5000 NOK, I think, with cables and everything. I got an external sound card that takes two jacks / XLR inputs. I got Native Instruments Komplete 6 which works fine. Then I got a studio mic, Røde NT1-A, with a stand : With that, I can record guitars and vocals (for guitars, I may record tracks from both the jack and from the studio mic at the same time). Then I also got a midi keyboard, an axiom 49 in my case, for recording soft synths and the like (pianos, strings, flutes, saxophones, whatevas). You don't need a midi keyboard to add such things to your songs, but you may prefer to play it out rather than "program" it in software. When it comes to Software, there are a lot of choices. I use Reaper myself and find it to be relatively intuitive and simple to use. It also comes with a lot of standard studio effects and things like compression, etc. __________________ Something Completely Different

09-26-2015, 03:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Toe Groupie Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 41	A fender mustang 1 works quite well for recording. Has a usb out and sounds decent for surf cleans and 90s alt rock distortion. If you are looking for a small amp. I have a mustang amp a sm57 and sm58. I find micing with the 57 sounds best but the usb beats micing with the 58. This is assuming of course you are putting the mics into an audio interface.

09-27-2015, 07:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Project Passionfruit Groupie Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Everywhere Posts: 11	never buy behringer. focusrite or m-audio are easy. plug and play, christal clear sound. easy interface. just ad a reasonable mic, make sure you don't record with much metal around. i've made many mic booths improvised with clothes, matrasses and whatever else. works perfect. a homestudio is pretty cheap these days and it works steady! most important... how are your songs ? goodluck mate

10-12-2015, 10:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
jakeseven Groupie Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 7	I use Focusrite. It's very good. Basics of a studio, I feel you need a microphone and an audio interface at least, maybe also a small amp. For software, you don't need super expensive software. Since you have an HP laptop, I've heard good reviews of Audacity, though I've rarely used it.