Setting up a recording studio isn’t necessarily complicated, which surprises many people. Although you can continuously add items to your studio year after year until you’re bursting at the seams with equipment and accessories, there are only a handful of items considered a must when your studio is being set up. Below are nine items that you should consider the most important items to have in your recording studio.
1. Computer
Most music is digital these days, so investing in a high-quality computer should be a top priority. In fact, you should go ahead and buy the best one you can afford, because most of the other items you’ll purchase for your recording studio will depend on you having a high-quality, fast, and reliable computer.
2. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
This is the main software you’ll be using to record, edit, and mix all of your songs, and there are lots of them on the market today. A good review of the different software programs can help you decide which one is right for you, but the one called Pro Tools is one of the most popular ones on the market and therefore deserves some extra attention.
3. Audio Interface
The audio interface provides the connections needed to send your music into the computer when you’re recording and out of the computer when you’re playing back the music. After you get the proper software, the audio interface is the next item to shop for. Today’s audio interface also offers features such as DI boxes, headphone amps, monitor management, mic preamps, and digital conversion, so they offer advanced features that weren’t always there.
4. Microphones
A basic necessity, for sure, and in fact, most recording studios carry dozens of them. This is because each microphone is used to create a different sound, from many different instruments, and in many different situations. Since there are so many types, you’ll want to research these mics before deciding on the ones you want, and this is easy to do when you start online.
5. Headphones
One quick review of headphones and your head may start to spin as soon as you get started. This is because there are so many different types of headphones on the market today. Nevertheless, for a recording studio, you’ll need two specific types: closed-back headphones and open-back headphones. Each is used for a specific purpose and each is important to getting the right sound in the end.
6. Studio Monitors
Also called nearfield monitors, these speakers are specifically designed for the studio environment and allow the engineers to hear the sounds as they really are – including all of their flaws – so that they can adjust everything accordingly to get the right sound in the end. In professional studios, they can be very pricey, but home studio users can find them less expensive if they know where to look.
7. Cables
This is another item you’ll like a lot of in a recording studio, mainly because they have so many important uses. In the beginning, however, you’ll only need three types: an XLR cable to connect the mic to the audio interface, and two more of these cables to connect the interface to your monitors. You may need more later, but these will do when you first get started.
8. Microphone Stands
Like cables, you’ll likely need more microphone stands later on, but in the beginning, all you’ll need is one or two. Each stand does something different, but you don’t need to worry about that when you’re just getting started. Just buy one or two of them and worry about more later.
9. Pop Filter
Pop filters are made to eliminate the “thumping” sound – called popping – made when you pronounce certain letters as you sing into the microphone. They are extremely effective and should be considered an important piece of equipment in your studio.