3 Essential Considerations in Creating Your Home Recording Studio

For any musician, having a home recording studio is a dream. Not too many years ago, if you wanted to record something, you needed to book and pay for a session at a professional studio. That is no longer the case, as technology has made it easier to create your own recording studio in your home.

That being said, it can still be a daunting task as there are a wide array of things you need to take into consideration. For example, how do you choose a microphone, and which home and video equipment are recommended? What do you need to do in the room to make the sound high-quality? Should you stick to a budget?

For answers to these questions, read on for the three essential factors that you need to consider before you create your home studio.

1. Learn the different categories of microphones.

Before you can choose the right microphone for your home studio, you first need to educate yourself on what is available on the market. Generally, all microphones can be divided into three different categories: dynamic, condenser, and ribbon. These terms refer to the different ways that the microphones are built and how they function.

Dynamic microphones work because of a wire coil that is attached to a diaphragm inside the magnetic field. When sound vibrates the diaphragm, it causes the coil also to vibrate, thus producing an electrical signal. These microphones are considered to be the most durable, and they also handle heat and humidity well. Furthermore, they can manage high volumes without much distortion;  however, they do have a rougher sound characteristic than the other styles.

Dynamic microphones are an excellent option for home studios as they are perfect for general voice recording and podcast hosting. In other words, vocals that don’t require perfectly smooth reproduction. If you are playing an instrument, dynamic microphones work better with low-to-mid-frequency instruments such as drums and electric guitars.

On the other hand, condenser microphones work by a conductive diaphragm vibrating against a charged backplate which, in turn, converts acoustic energy to electrical energy. This style of the microphone can capture a more crisp and detailed sound and has a smooth frequency response. However, they do not perform well in hot or humid environments. Keep in mind that the majority of USB microphones are condensers.

If you plan on doing voice acting in your home studio, or something else similar, then a condenser microphone may be the best option. These tend to be the industry standard for voice actors as the microphone provides you with the clearest voice while ensuring the sound produced sounds warm. In terms of instruments, condenser microphones work better with high-frequency instruments such as acoustic guitars, cymbals, and piano.

Despite having high-quality sound reproduction, ribbon microphones are the least common in home studios as they are the most expensive and remarkably delicate.

You don’t need to understand how your microphone works; you just want to make sure you are choosing one that is going to deliver the sound you require, and that works with your instrument.

2. Consider the home studio’s sound quality and ambiance.

Just as important as the microphone that you choose is the sound quality and ambiance (or lack of) in your home studio. The characteristics of the space that you are going to record in will play a significant role in the quality and character of the final product. For this reason, you want to spend some time considering the room and looking into ways to improve the space’s acoustics.

The most important task is to “deaden” the room (make it less sensitive) with absorbent materials. What you do is going to differ depending on the space, but it may include moving a sofa against the back wall or putting curtains over large windows. Carpetis one of the most efficient ways to deaden your room, but if you don’t have that, you can substitute a large rug.

On the walls, choose fabric wall hangings or canvas prints instead of framed artwork, as the glass provides another surface for sound to bounce off. Moreover, sofas and other seating options should have cushions and throws placed on them as they not only make the space more inviting, but they also help significantly in deadening sounds.

Besides carpet, the most effective sound-deadening strategy is to add acoustic foam or sound-proofing insulation to your walls. These foam panels are specifically designed to ensure a controlled response to sound by effectively preventing noise from moving in and out of the room. This isn’t the cheapest option; however, there are a variety of insulation options on the market, depending on your budget.

3. Work within your budget.

Of course, as with any home project, it can be very easy to get sidetracked and start investing in items that you don’t need or extras that you can’t afford. The last thing you want to do is to get carried away with your studio shopping. You can continue to upgrade items throughout the years. For this reason, it is crucial that you set a budget before you start shopping for items at music shops in Dubai (or wherever you live).

When you create a budget, keep in mind the purpose of your home studio and what you will be using it for. This will enable you to make a realistic plan while staying within your budget, as it will allow you to focus on your top priorities for the home studio.

In many cases, you want to give yourself flexibility at the beginning, as you may find that your priorities shift over time. By being selective with your purchases, and opting for long-lasting, high-quality items, you will be in a better position to adjust your wishlist as needed without losing a significant initial investment.

Are you considering building a home recording studio this year? If yes, what aspects of it are you struggling with? Alternatively, if you have already fitted one, what tips would you give to others who were considering doing the same? Let us know your thoughts and any other relevant experiences in the comments below!

AUTHOR BIO

AmritShivlani is the Founder and CEO at Music Majlis, a community-driven e-commerce platform that offers a wide variety of musical instruments and equipment for every musician and sound professional. The company’s goal is to make music-making, recording, producing and mixing accessible and available to everyone.