Home Recording Studio Setup For Beginners – The Best 7 Value For Money Gear April 13, 2015, Paschalis, 18 Comments Welcome to Home Recording Studio Setup For Beginners – The Essentials, the A to Z guide that will help you build your own home studio in no time. What Computer Should You Buy For Music Production. That made it a perfect machine for recording in the same room if you’re recording in your home studio. Let’s Look At Some Mac Computers You Might Buy Macbook / Macbook Pro. They seem to work the best with DAWs and you’re better of with an Intel processor over and AMD processor. Which is Best: Mac or PC for a Music Computer Straight Talk from Tweak. G o to any computer gear-head forum, including studio-central, and simply ask this troubling question. Suddenly the air changes around you. For a moment, you sense a cold scrutiny from everyone around you, the same kind of vibe the significant other gave you last year when you forgot valentines day (again!).
No matter which computer platform you choose , the stuff that you find inside your computer plays a major role in determining how smoothly (or how less-than-smoothly) your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) runs.
You should buy a computer that you can dedicate solely to recording audio, because running other types of applications (home finance software, word processors, or video games) can cause problems with your audio applications and reduce the stability of your system.
The following list clues you in on the various pieces of hardware that you find in your computer:
CPU: The CPU (processor) is the heart of your computer studio. The speed of your CPU ultimately dictates how well a program runs on it. As a general rule, for audio, get the fastest processor that you can afford. For most audio software, you need at least a dual core CPU.
If you want a system that can handle the demands of recording or mixing many tracks (24 or more), you’ll need to step it up a notch or two and get a computer with a quad or multi-dual or quad core processors (Mac or PC – it doesn’t matter).
Memory: Computer-based audio programs and all the associated plug-ins are RAM (random-access memory) hogs so buy lots of RAM. Okay, that’s not very specific, but how much you need depends on your recording style.
If you record a lot of audio tracks and want reverb or another effect on each track, you need more RAM (and a faster processor). If you record mainly MIDI tracks with instruments that already have the effects that you want, you can get by with less RAM (and a slower processor).
For most software programs, the recommended minimum amount of RAM is around 2GB (2 gigabytes), 4GB is recommended for typical use, and 8GB or more enables the program to run much more smoothly. RAM is relatively inexpensive, so get as much as you can.
Regardless of the platform that you choose (PC or Mac), keep in mind that you can never have a processor that’s too fast or have too much memory.
Hard drives: To record audio, make sure that you get the right type of hard drives. Yep, you should get more than one if you want to record more than a few tracks of audio.
You need one hard drive for all the software and the operating system and another drive for the audio data. Having this setup greatly increases the likelihood that your system remains stable and doesn’t crash, especially if you try to run 16 or more tracks.
As for the size of the hard drive, bigger is better, at least for the drive where you store your music. For the core system drive, you can get by with an 80GB (80-gigabyte) drive; for the audio drive, having even 120 GB is pretty conservative because audio data can consume a ton of space.
Choose your hard drives wisely. For the software hard drive, you can get by with a stock drive (usually the one that comes with your computer). But for the audio side, you need a drive that can handle the demands of transferring audio data. Here are the main things to look for in an audio drive:
Spindle speed: Also called rotational speed, this is the rate at which the hard drive spins. For the most part, a 7,200-rpm drive works well for recording and playing back audio.
Seek time: This is the amount of time that it takes the drive to find the data that’s stored on it. You want an average seek time of less than 10 milliseconds.
Buffer size: Often called a cache buffer, buffers are memory units that store data as the data is being transferred. According to the audio-recording software manufacturers, you need a buffer size of at least 2MB (2 megabytes), but an 8MB buffer is recommended.
Interface type: Some audio-recording programs, such as Pro Tools, don’t interact well with USB 2.0 hard drives. so it is recommended that you go with either FireWire (400 or 800)- or eSATA-interfaced hard drives for best performance.
You can have a lot of fun making music, but getting a good recording and arrangement of your song requires some work and knowledge. For the next few weeks, we’ll help you set up a small recording studio in your home and learn how to use it to create some great music.
About This Night School Series
Best Mac Configuration For Photographers
Just like learning an instrument and writing songs, the art of recording, arranging, and mixing takes time to learn. In this music production night school series we’ll introduce you to the basics, but you’ll need to continue to learn, practice, and develop a good ear in order to create great final mixes. Today we’ll begin with setting up your home studio. In the following weeks, we’ll show you how to record vocals and live instruments, add virtual instruments, and create a final mix. At the end of this series, we’ll also provide you with additional resources to go beyond the basics we’ll teach you. If you like this first lesson, be sure to check back for others on Tuesday evenings at 5:00 PM PT each week.
Advertisement
What You’ll Need
Before we can get to work and start learning about recording, you’ll need a few things. Recording equipment will cost you some cash, but you don’t have to spend a lot to get a lot. Here’s what we recommend:
Advertisement
Audio Interface Although your computer likely comes with a microphone input port and you can buy low-grade microphones to plug directly into your sound card, you won’t achieve anywhere near a high level of quality. Additionally, built-in sound cards provide little to no control over the signal. Among other advantages, an audio interface provides you with the ability to use high quality microphones and studio monitors (speakers). When operating on a budget, expect to spend at least $150 for a decent unit. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, Presonus AudioBox 22VSL, and Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 all provide two microphone inputs and good recording quality without a high cost. If you need four inputs but can’t spend much, look at the Presonus AudioBox 44VSL or the MOTU 4pre. Those with more room in their budget should consider the MOTU Track16 and MOTU 896mk3, as well as the Apogee Duet and Quartet when working on a Mac. Any interface on this list will work well so long it is compatible with your computer. Check the system requirements before buying.
Advertisement
Microphone(s) If you plan to record vocals or live instruments, you’ll need at least one microphone. Most microphones record certain instruments and sound types better than others. For example, the Shure SM-57 is a popular choice for recording snare drums (although it has other uses, too) and the AKG 535 EB produces great vocals. You can get very specific about your mic choices, but since we’re just starting we want to find an inexpensive yet versatile option. Most any condenser mic with a cardioid pickup pattern (we’ll discuss what this means in later lessons) in the $100-200 range will work. On the extremely cheap side, the Behringer C-1 and Samson C01 (which we use for our podcast) produce quality recordings for under $100. For more money, the Shure SM-27-SC and Rode NT3 will offer a cleaner, better sound under more circumstances. (In most cases you’ll benefit more from recording in a quiet, echo-free room than you will from spending hundreds on microphones, but we’ll talk about that more later.)
Advertisement
Studio Monitors Not to be confused with computer monitor that displays a picture, studio monitors are speakers that do their best to represent recorded sound as cleanly and accurately as possible. If you’ve never heard music through a pair of even decent studio monitors, you might be blown away by the detail they provide. Even better, you can get a good pair for a reasonable price—much less than you’d pay for high quality entertainment speakers that, most of the time, don’t sound as good. The Samson Resolv A6 cost $250 for a pair and work great. For a little more money, look at the Yamaha HS50M for $150 each (you need to buy two). For a step up, consider the Yamaha HS80M for $250 each (you also need to buy two of them). Regardless of what you get, you should also invest in a pair of monitor isolation pads so the sound quality of your monitors aren’t negatively affected by the surface you place them on.
Advertisement
MIDI Keyboard/Controller If you plan to use virtual instruments in your arrangements, you’ll need a MIDI keyboard to play them. These come cheap, and you don’t need anything fancy in most cases. For under $100, you can pick up the M-Audio KeyStation 49 for a compact keyboard that connects over USB. For a few more keys, get the M-Audio KeyStation 61. These keyboards only provide basic controls, however, so if you plan to manipulate your instruments (a common need in electronic music) you’ll want something like the M-Audio Oxygen 49 instead. For those who intend to include a realistic piano, you’ll need to cough up quite a bit more money for a good digital one. Most digital keyboards have semi-weighted keys that respond to how hard you push them, but actual pianos are a bit more complex. A semi-weighted keyboard will not feel natural to a pianist so those who want a realistic feel and representation of a piano need to purchase a full 88-key keyboard that incorporates a graded hammer effect. For a long time, the Yamaha P series has been one of the best values. If you plan to use a virtual piano in your work, get the Yamaha P105B.
MIDI Interface (Optional) Every keyboard mentioned in the previous section offers USB MIDI output so you don’t need a MIDI interface to connect them to your computer. Some keyboards, however, only provide traditional MIDI ports. Some of the audio interfaces mentioned earlier (such as the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2) double as a MIDI interface and provide MIDI inputs, but if you need a separate device the E-Mu Xmidi 1X1 is about as cheap and simple as it gets.
Advertisement
Cables You’ll need a few cables to connect all your hardware. Generally anything USB-based comes with a USB-A to USB-B cable, so you probably won’t need to buy any of those. Microphones, on the other hand, use an XLR interface so you will need to purchase an XLR cable for each microphone you buy. Your studio monitors will also need cables to connect. Most work with XLR just fine, but your audio interface may only allow you to use 1/4' TRS cables. Check the output options on your audio interface and the input options on your studio monitors to ensure you get a pair that’ll work.
Advertisement
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Software You can buy all the hardware in the world, but if you don’t have recording software you can’t do much with it. When it comes to picking a DAW, you have many options. In this series, we’ve chosen Cubase because it’s powerful, runs on both Windows and OS X, you can get a free trial, and you can buy the entry level version (which offers plenty of power and features) for under $100. You don’t have to use Cubase to follow along with these lessons. We’ll stick to broad concepts as much as possible and most DAWs work in a similar fashion. If you want to look at other options, check out Reaper (only $60), Pro Tools, Digital Performer, FL Studio (Windows only), Cakewalk SONAR (Windows only). Mac users may also want to look at Logic Pro 9, but we’d recommend against it as Apple seems to consider Logic a very low priority and nearly all the competition offers a comparable feature set for less money.
Advertisement
Virtual Instruments Most DAWs come with a few low-quality virtual instruments but you’ll probably want to upgrade to something better if you intend to use them regularly in your recordings. You can find some good, free options on DSK Music and VST Planet—or just by searching the web for the specific instrument you need. If you want to recreate the sound of a piano or any other real instrument, however, you’ll need to pay—sometimes a lot—for the best. You can build out a large library of sounds quickly by purchasing a software sampler. We like Kontakt. It runs a hefty $400, but comes with several pianos, a decent orchestra, plenty of acoustic and electric guitars, a choir, electronic instruments, and a ton more. For even more sounds you can purchase Goliath for $495, but East West (its creator) has frequent sales and offers it for much less. (At the time of this writing, you can get Goliath at 50% off.) East West offers plenty of great other virtual instruments, so check them out and come back for our virtual instrument lesson to learn about additional options.
Advertisement
That’s a long shopping list, but nevertheless the minimum you’ll need to do some pretty standard stuff. Of course, you won’t need everything so only buy what you intend to use. If you want additional recommendations, read our inexpensive home recording studio buyer’s guide.
How Can I Set Up a Home Recording Studio on the Cheap?
Dear Lifehacker, I want to start recording music at home but I don't have any equipment or…
Read more Read
Advertisement
Set Up Your Studio
Advertisement
For the most part, setting up a home recording studio just requires a lot of plug-and-play. Nevertheless, you’ll need to know a few things to get started.
Pick a Quiet Room
Ideally you’d record in a room that lets in little to no outside noise and you’d acoustically treat that room to remove any reverberation. Realistically, however, you’re going to record where you can because you don’t have the thousands of dollars necessary to set up a professional recording environment. Carpeted rooms work best, and the fewer windows you have the better. If your walls produce too much reverberation, you can hang dense blankets on them to reduce the effect. Closing the shades on your windows also helps. You won’t be able to fix all your sound problems, but choose a carpeted room and reduce as much reverberation as you can before you start recording.
Advertisement
Set Up Your Studio Monitors
Place one on each side of your computer display, on top of their monitor isolation pads. The angle at which you place your monitors greatly affects how you hear the sound they produce, so don’t just position them straight forward and call it a day. Instead, follow these steps:
Start by placing each at a 45 degree angle facing inward. (If your monitors are a good five feet away, however, a 35 degree angle will make a better starting point.)
Sit at your workstation and imagine a line coming out of each monitor in the direction their facing. The lines from both monitors should pass through each ear (left and right, respectively) and intersect around the back of your neck. If this isn’t the case, adjust each monitor until it is.
Play a monaural audio track (like this or most podcasts) and listen carefully. If the audio appears to coming from straight in front of you, you’re good to go. If it feels too far to one side, adjust your monitors slightly until it does. Because you won’t always sit in the exact same position, the balance of sound might feel a tiny bit off if you have good ears. That said, a little bit of variance shouldn’t make a big difference. Just do the best you can to center the sound.
Advertisement
You may want to calibrate your monitors as well. That’s a complex topic we don’t have time for in this lesson, but read this tutorial if you want to pursue calibration.
Enable Phantom Power for Your Microphones
In order to record you’ll need to enable phantom power for your microphones on your audio interface. Nearly all condenser microphones with a cardioid pickup pattern—the kind we recommended you buy—require a power source (specifically, 48V). Your audio interface can provide it, but you often need to press a button or flip a switch. Consult your interface’s manual if you can’t find a button or switch labeled 48V on the front panel next to each mic input.
Advertisement
Plug Everything In and Install Your Software
Once you’ve handled the previous steps, you just need to plug everything in and install drivers and software. Depending on the hardware and software you chose, the setup process will vary. In many cases, after installation you won’t have to do anything else (aside from authorizing your software, perhaps). If not, consult your manuals to find out what additional steps you need to take to get up and running and perform a test recording in your DAW software to ensure everything is good to go.
Advertisement
In our next lesson, we’ll learn about basic recording. You’ll find it on Tuesday, May 14th 2013 at 5:00 PM PT on the front page of Lifehacker. You can also find it, along with the rest of our night school series, on the night school tag page.
Illustration by David Broderick. Photos by me and East West.