The pandemic reshaped what many people saw as work and encouraged the adoption of side hustles. People took up freelance writing, blogging, and even delivering food.
Of course, some side hustles rely on your vocal skills, such as music and audiobook narration. For those who took up vocal-intensive side hustles, many realized that they need a home recording studio to get the quality they wanted and needed.
If you’re thinking of taking up narration or music production, keep reading for our brief guide to setting up a new recording studio at home.
Space
The very first thing you need for a recording studio is space. That holds true for narrators and professional musicians alike. After all, playing instruments for the music industry or speaking for the audiobook industry isn’t the same as jamming at home or holding a conversation.
If all else fails, you can convert a space as small as a closet for recording. Ideally, though, you’ll have a spare room where you store all your gear and do a proper room treatment. If you’re not sure what that means, head over here for some soundproofing tips.
Tech
You’ll need some essential tech for your home recording space. If possible, get a dedicated computer for recording and editing. One with a lot of processing power is best.
You’ll also need some editing software. You can start cheap or even with free software at first. As soon as you can afford it, though, you’ll want to level up to industry-standard editing software.
At a bare minimum, you’ll need a microphone or five. Dynamic mics are okay for general purpose recording, but you’ll want a condenser mic for things like vocals. Neumann U87 AI professional studio microphone will be a great choice and is trusted by most professionals. Don’t forget the pop filters for the microphones.
You’ll also want an audio interface and the appropriate cables for it.
Extras
You’ll want a comfortable chair and a desk for all the time you’ll spend editing.
Keep an eye out for microphone stands, as well as a stand for things like sheet music, printed pages, or even a tablet.
Get yourself a decent pair of headphones so you can listen and edit without keeping your neighbors or roommates awake. You will still want some speakers so you’ll know how things will sound in a car or on a stereo system.
A Home Recording Studio and You
One of the most important things you can remember about building a home recording studio is that you can always get better equipment later. Start with what you can afford at first. It’s better if you have a more or less complete home studio with inexpensive equipment than one really expensive microphone and nothing else.
If possible, check out other people’s home recording spaces and ask for tips on keeping things affordable. You might even get a few donations.
Looking for more ideas on what to get for a recording space? Check out the posts in our Gear and Software section.
