Home Studios

Going into a professional studio is a great way of getting your recordings sounding right but it’s not always the most appropriate method. Setting up a ‘home’ recording studio is relatively cheap and a lot more flexible in terms of spending time on recording and experimenting with sounds. Home studio recordings are great for making demos to send out or to practice recording before you enter another studio. You can gradually build on the equipment you have and use your experience to improve your studio skills and eventually you might be able to make professional quality recordings all by yourself.

Multitrack Recording

One option when recording yourself is to get a portable multitrack recorder so that you can record more than one instrument easily. The advantage of using a standalone multitrack recorder is that it is relatively easy to get started and you can bypass complicated computer software. However, you are limited to the number of tracks available and by the capabilities of the equipment you are using. There are many digital multitrack recorders on the market- it’s just a case of finding one that suits your needs. Many producers like to use a mixture of multitrack recording equipment and computer software.

Computer Software

If you are just starting out with computer recording, most modern PCs and laptops are capable of recording basic instrumentation but you will need to consider a few upgrades if you are serious about your production. The faster the processor you have the better and we’d also recommend upgrading your RAM. Then it’s worth considering getting a second hard-drive specifically for recording. An external hard-drive will also allow you to easily move your recordings from one computer to another- perfect if you are a band working from each others’ home studios.

Once your computer is ready for recording, you will need to consider which software you want to use. There are many options available but the most commonly used are ProTools, Cubase, Logic, GarageBand and Ableton. It really is a case of trial and error to work out which one works best for you and the equipment and interfaces you have access to.

Equipment

Once you’ve decided which software and interfaces you will use, you will want to think about what other equipment you will need to record. Your choice will obviously depend on your budget but you will at least need good microphones and good speakers/headphones to monitor your recordings.

Your choice of microphone will also depend on which instrument is being recorded and which mics are compatible with your setup. Dynamic mics are versatile and can be quite cheap- the Shure 57 is a popular and relatively cheap dynamic, uni-directional mic which achieves good results for both vocal and instrument recording. Condenser mics are generally more expensive and there are hundreds of mics on the market for different recording needs.

The more you spend on good microphones, the easier it will be to get the sound you want. We would recommend that every good studio gets some basics right- good mics, microphone stands, good headphones, a backup hard-drive and a pop filter for vocals.

The space you are recording in also makes a huge difference to the sound so make sure you create the right environment for your sound. And obviously getting a good sound at source is vital so make sure your instruments, leads and amplification you are using are of suitable quality and are set up how you want them to sound. Making sure your stringed instruments and drum heads, etc. are in tune is a basic that many bands forget.

A bit of research into the equipment you need will help. Ask other musicians and producers what they use. Looking in music shops and asking for information will help and if you get to know the assistants well they might even offer discounts. Shop around and ask about price matching deals. You can often find the best prices through online stores and sellers on sites such as eBay- just beware that there are some bad sellers out there.

The Arts Council’s Take It Away scheme allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for any kind of musical instrument and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free.