Basic home studio design: You’ve made the decision to produce your own music, but where do you start? One option is to go to the nearest professional recording studio, however with fees starting at $100 ...
In this article I want to take you through the first steps of getting set up with recording music on your computer, so that you don’t have to go through the hell of reading hundreds and hundreds of reviews for all different products before you make your decision.
The thing about recording music on a computer is that it is supposed to make your life a whole lot easier, so you should not have to worry about a massive learning curve before you actually start to make any music.
First we need to decide what we want out of our set up? So we start the process by taking out a pen and paper and answering the following questions:
- What budget do you have to get started with recording music on your computer?
- What hardware do you need?
- What software do you need?
When I got my first set up I cheated big time because my friend (who is really obsessed by this stuff) spent six months reading all the home recording magazines and choosing the perfect gear…
…then I just went out the next week and bought the same thing he did! 
It worked great and saved me a whole bunch of time.
Recording Music on Computer - Your Time Saving Check List
Great Songs
I wanted to mention this point first because it’s where so many home producers drop the ball. You often hear a great mix but the songs are rubbish.
Just spend time each day writing new stuff and only record the real gems.
Get the Ultimate Songwriting Guide Here
The Mothership - PC or MAC
For me this comes down to your budget, but a Mac is much faster and can handle audio better…
Plus it also comes with a free piece of software called GarageBand which is nearly as good as anything you could spend hundreds on.
A PC will be cheaper but then you will have to spend money on the software.
My recommendation: Save up and get a Mac because you will save time and money in the long run.
What Mics Do You Need?
You only need two mics unless you’re recording a whole drum kit, and that should be a Condenser mic and a Dynamic mic.
Your Condenser mic: Studio Projects b1
Your Dynamic mic: Sure sm58
Software
The software is important because this is the place where you edit and mix your tracks.
You really want to make sure that the software you pick is intuitive and user friendly.
A recent poll on the top home recording website asked 1000’s of it’s users to vote for their favorite home recording software. Here are the results:
- Cubase VST/32
- Cool Edit Pro
- Pro Tools
- Cakewalk Pro Audio
- Sonar 1.0
Audio interface
This is the magic bit of kit that allows you to get your live instruments into you computer.
Recording Guide
So now that you have your gear, you need to work out how to use it.
Did you know that the very best producers could make a hit record without spending over $1000 on gear?
But on the other hand, a total newbie could go into the best studio in the world and make a mess of things even with the best gear.
The big secret of home recording is that you need simple programs, good mics and a simple recording system that you follow every-time to get fantastic mixes.
This book below is killer if you want to start making some serious tunes…I keep it by my side in every session now.
Click the book for more details…
This is totally unlike anything you have seen in the past…it does not tell you the theory and all that stuff, it’s just a road map to great music.
Recent Posts
- Recording Music On Computer - WARNING! Read This First.
- SIAB Recording Systems
- Music Recording Systems
- Drum Machine Software - Can YOU Really Make Beats in 4 Minutes?
- The Ultimate Zoom H4N Review is Here
- Home Recording Studio Equipment Bundle
- Novation Launchpad Ableton Live Controller Review
- Home Recording Systems 101
- Choosing the Best Sound Card for Recording 101
- Home Recording Studio Design - FREE Video for You
Recent Comments
- ize on Good Home Studio
- John M on Home Recording Video
- Sonic Producer on Home Recording Video
- Joe on Sound Mixing Software & the Art of Mixing
- Tony Laughlin on Build a Home Recording Studio
- Tony Laughlin on Build a Home Recording Studio
- admin on Basic Home Studio Design
- admin on Basic Home Studio Design
Leave a Reply