In this blog post, we mention some of the essential music equipment you’ll need for your home studio. Having a professional studio is a dream for any aspiring musician or band. You get plenty of time to experiment and try out new techniques. You get to create and fine-tune your own sound just the way you like it.
Moreover, many artists don’t want to spend a ton of money in order to have just a few sessions in a professional recording studio. They want to have the freedom to create the music they love without any time constraints. And with technology and musical equipment becoming more affordable, there is a growing appetite for anyone with a passion for music to easily start creating what they love.
However, there is no replacement for being in a professional studio. There will always be an extra edge with the top-end gear, proper acoustic treatment, and the availability of having audio engineers who know when and where to use specific musical instruments.
Therefore, the challenge for anyone wanting a home studio is to equip themselves with technology and essential musical equipment that gives them that high quality sound. Keep your eyes open for deals. These are usually highest when new models are coming out. If you are happy to invest some time searching, you can find some great bargains.
If you are serious about your music, a home studio offers a brilliant means to further your skills and talents. It affords you the opportunity to record professional tracks in a flexible environment, allowing you the chance to step up and take your musical career to the next level.
1. Computer
Just about any computer these days can be used for creating music, even your smart phone! But for serious music production, you’re going to need to step it up a notch.
Things to consider when buying a computer for music production
Size: Desktop vs Laptop
Desktop PC’s have great upgrade potential but are a hassle to move around. Laptops, despite their limitations in terms of hardware and upgradeability, are better for people who are constantly on the move.
Operating System: Mac vs Windows
Mac computers are far more reliable and stable when working with DAWs that demand performance.
Another definite advantage of Mac is the more “limited” product range compared to the vast variety of Windows-based PCs. You can be pretty sure that it will be able to run your editing programs seamlessly; whereas an uninformed user, might buy a low-spec PC, which can’t do the job.
Processing Speed (CPU):
Power is everything when choosing the best computer for music production. The higher the CPU, the faster your computer can complete any given task. If you want a fast computer that boots up programs in a flash, completes tasks as soon as you start them, and doesn’t keep you waiting, then you want the strongest processor available.
If you are looking at an Intel CPU, don’t buy anything that has “Pentium” or “Celeron”. Go with a newly released Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5, or Intel Core i7.
RAM:
RAM becomes more useful when it comes to multi-tasking. When you have a lot going on within your computer, from your web browser to your DAW, having a high RAM will make things faster.
The bare minimum for music production would be 8 GB, but 16GB and above would be best. Anything less will cause your PC to slow down or even stop responding.
Storage: Hard Disk Drive (HDD) vs Solid State Drive (SSD)
SSDs are way faster than HDDs.
If you’re going to work with VST Plugins that have massive sound libraries you’d want to save time when using and moving files around your computer.
Some of these VST Plugins include:
Typically, a 500GB SSD will be adequate for your DAW, and any other software you might be using.
Graphics:
A high performance graphics card comes in handy when you want to animate visuals or edit a simple music video for your song. This isn’t a priority, but could be useful when creating visuals for you audio and later uploading it on social media or YouTube.
Nonetheless, you will not really notice the benefit of a high-end graphics card in most music production situations.
Ergonomics:
If you sit at a computer for many hours a day creating music, it’s best to look for better ways to make your body feel comfortable.
Adding a full-size keyboard and comfy mouse further ups the ergonomic benefits. Remember to get yourself a proper mousepad, which will enable you to use the mouse with increased comfort on any surface.
Also, editing on a big monitor is much more pleasant than struggling and squinting with a smaller laptop screen.
Take Note: Things change fast in the tech world, both in terms of software and hardware, hence it would be a good idea to get a computer with expandability that would keep up with the times a few years from now.
Read More: How to Choose and Buy a Computer for Music Production
2. DAW
A DAW or Digital Audio Workstation is the software program you use to create your music.
The DAW’s user interface replicated many of the same features of a multi-track tape recorder. Play, record, and other controls such as waveform, track controls, a mixer, and so on. Many of the most popular DAWs have very similar interfaces.
Any creative individual now has the power to make music and manipulate audio in ways that were unthinkable just a decade or two ago. Whether you want to record a full studio album with live instruments, arrange an electronic EP, compose an entirely virtual orchestra, or just have a space to save your precious, precious, ideas, a DAW is for you.
Popular Free DAWS for music production
- Garageband
- Audacity
- Tracktion Waveform Free
- Pro Tools First
- Cubase LE
- Cakewalk by BandLab
- SoundBridge
- PreSonus Studio One Prime
Popular Professional DAWS for music production
- Ableton Live
- Avid Pro Tools
- Apple Logic Pro
- FL Studio
- Propellerhead Reason
- Steinberg Cubase
- Cockos Reaper
- Bitwig
- Studio One 4.5
Read More:
3. Audio Interface
An audio interface is a device used to connect your microphones, guitar, keyboard and other audio sources to your computer, so that you can record the sound on your favorite DAW.
An audio interface is also suitable for producing high quality audio recordings. This is especially important for condenser microphones which require phantom power, a 48V electrical signal for the microphone inputs.
Popular Audio Interfaces for your Home Studio
Read More:
4. Studio Microphone
Condenser Microphone vs Dynamic Microphone
Condenser mics are the best when it comes to recording vocals. It’s easy to obtain a flat frequency response and extended frequency ranges. Condenser mics are often used for recording the subtle sounds of acoustic instruments.
Dynamic microphones are good when it comes to recording live sound setting or when recording instruments like guitars and drums. They are known for their versatility and simple, sturdy design.
Take Note: When purchasing a studio microphone make sure to also consider a pop filter, a mic stand and the right XLR cable that matches with your audio interface.
Popular Studio Microphones for your Home Studio
Read More:
5. Headphones
The most important thing to consider here is how you’re going to be using the headphones. When it comes to music production, you’ll basically be looking at two types of headphones, Closed Back Headphones vs Open Back Headphones.
1. Closed Back headphones – These are the most common designs found in all types of headphones. They have excellent noise isolation. They are good to use when recording because they are designed to keep the sound from bleeding and being picked up by the microphone when recording.
Popular Closed-Back Headphones for your Home Studio
2. Open Back headphones – This design allows for outside noise to pass freely into the earcup, thus providing a the music a much better soundstage.
They come in handy when mixing, critical listening, and referencing because they have a flatter frequency response and give out natural sound response. Having a “flat” or a “neutral” sound allows one to hear the audio they are receiving from the source with as little to no enhancements from it as possible. The audio will sound its best regardless of what kind of device it’s played on.
Popular Closed-Back Headphones for your Home Studio
Read More:
6. Studio Monitor Speakers
A good set of monitor speakers will let you hear your audio with accurate detail.
Whether you’re recording, editing, mixing, or mastering audio, the speakers will produce a flat response, so that you can hear the mix as it really is. These will help you achieve a great sound, compared to consumer speakers, which typically accentuate certain frequency bands in order to improve the listening experience for certain audiences by cutting or boosting certain frequencies.
Good studio monitors will give you accurate, consistent response no matter the volume level. Keep in mind that it’s almost impossible to predict how a set of studio monitors will sound in your room. The acoustics of your room will always play a huge role in what you’ll hear.
Popular Studio Monitor Speakers for your Home Studio
Read More:
7. MIDI Controller
MIDI controllers today come in many varieties: keyboard controllers, pad controllers, percussion pads, and even touch screens.
When choosing a MIDI Controller, some of things to consider are: size and number of keys. But most importantly, you’ll consider how you want the controller to interact with a particular software? In this case it will be your favorite DAW.
Most MIDI controllers don’t make any sounds on their own because they are controllers only. This means that you connect the MIDI controller to your computer via a USB cable or midi cable (via an audio interface). This will then allow you to make use of thousands of audio samples on your DAW or play almost any virtual instrument, instead of being limited to the sounds of a traditional piano keyboard.
Popular MIDI Keyboard/Controllers for your Home Studio
- Akai MPK Mini Mk2 MIDI keyboard
- Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32
- Korg MicroKey 2 Air 25
- Arturia Keylab 49 Essential Keyboard Controller
- Alesis V49 USB MIDI Controller Keyboard
- M-Audio Keystation 49 MK3 49-key Keyboard Controller
Read More:
