No matter where your recording career stands at this stage, understanding what equipment is necessary in a studio is paramount to its success. This article covers six essential items.
Monitors aren’t Hi/Fi speakers aimed at sound enhancement; studio monitors are specifically made to accurately represent what your tracks sound like without artificial enhancement.
Studio Monitors
Studio monitors play an essential part in recording studios. While home speakers often rely on frequency manipulation to enhance music sound quality, studio monitors provide listeners with an accurate, neutral version of the audio signal so engineers can evaluate and tweak mixes without being fooled by subtle frequency modulations techniques found elsewhere in playback systems. This allows engineers to assess mixes without being fooled by subtle sonic tricks buried deep within other playback systems that could distort what they hear.
Studio monitors come in many shapes and sizes. Most studios opt for near field monitors positioned between one and two meters from their listener, which have the added advantage of reducing room acoustics for home studios or smaller recording spaces. More advanced studios may use larger, soffit-mounted monitors.
When purchasing studio monitors, keep in mind that price does not always correlate to performance. Some low-priced monitors can actually be more costly due to fewer quality parts being assembled with less stringent assembly, testing, and quality control procedures compared with higher end models.
Manufacturers of studio monitors typically provide multiple’sound profiles’ or response curves that can be quickly switched between, enabling the user to choose settings tailored specifically to their personal listening preference or the type of environment in which they work. Some monitors even enable you to create and save EQ compensations that automatically apply when changing between environments – this feature is known as room correction and typically enabled via DSP.
Microphones
An essential tool of any recording studio, microphones are essential tools that convert sound waves to electric signals that can be recorded onto a computer using an audio interface. There are two categories of microphones: dynamic and condenser. Dynamic microphones are durable workhorses suitable for loud sources like drums and guitar amps, while condenser mics capture vocal nuances as well as acoustic instruments more subtly than their dynamic counterparts. They come with different polar patterns suited for different purposes ranging from cardioid which capture sound directly in front of them to omnidirectional and figure-8 mics which pick up sound equally from all directions.
Your choice of microphone will depend on what you intend to record; for vocals and light acoustic instruments, small-diaphragm condenser mics may be ideal due to their sensitivity and wide frequency response; on the other hand, bass guitar players might prefer ribbon mics which offer vintage character and warm natural sounds.
Features to look out for when purchasing a studio microphone include a shock mount to reduce vibration and rumble, a pop filter to minimize breath popping, and a mic stand that securely holds it. Some mics also feature selectable patterns which can help improve sound quality or prevent feedback – at Sweetwater we are happy to assist you in finding the ideal studio mic solution!
Headphones
Studio headphones are essential components of music production and recording studios alike, providing musicians with an isolated space to hear their audio without distraction or compromise and make accurate and precise adjustments. Studio headphones are built for durability and comfort during long sessions with features like ergonomic ear cups and an adjustable headband to evenly distribute weight distribution in order to prevent fatigue over time.
As well, professional-grade headphones offer a flat frequency response that gives an accurate representation of how songs or beats sound compared to consumer-grade models that may feature subtle modifications that cause distortion or mask frequencies that you want to concentrate on. This makes a noticeable difference compared to consumer grade models which may feature slight tweaks that distort and obscure frequencies you want to focus on.
Professional headphones also provide sound isolation that blocks out external noises like traffic and voices, with their closed-back design helping eliminate sound bleed caused by mics picking up sounds in their environment. Open-back headphones on the other hand let air pass through for more natural sound but may suffer from vocal spillage when recording vocals – however modern recording software makes overdubbing easy without having to rerecord entire songs, meaning vocal spill may well be worth considering in order to produce quality tracks in the end.
Mixing Console
A mixing console is a hardwired physical circuitry designed to store, process and route all input signals to and from a sound system. Each vertical column of buttons, knobs and faders represents one input channel – for instance if an electric bass amp DI box came through it would arrive on channels 1 through 10. Larger consoles typically offer additional bus outputs, aux sends and talkback controls to facilitate studio communication.
A mixing desk’s basic functions include equalization and filtering to shape each signal’s frequency response in accordance with its overall mix, compression/dynamics processing for managing peaks that cause distortion, as well as built-in effects processors like reverb/delay/modulation effects processors and routing each channel to subgroups, aux sends/monitor mixes or external processors such as gates.
Most mixers feature master output fader controls to manage the overall volume of what ultimately gets recorded, along with matrix routing controls, headphone monitoring and local loudspeaker monitoring. A master section may also contain controls for matrix routing as well as headphone and local loudspeaker monitoring. Some consoles offer solo buttons so you can hear your signal without disrupting the main mix; additionally mute switches can temporarily silence individual channels or the master fader and peak LEDs can notify of excessive levels so they can quickly be reduced before clipping occurs; thus preserving dynamic range in audio recordings.
Preamps
Preamps are audio circuits that enhance microphone and instrument signals to sit with other line-level signals (signals straight from mics typically fall below these levels). Preamps are essential in recording environments and used by many pieces of studio equipment including mixers, studio monitors, compressors and equalisers among many others.
Most modern audio interfaces feature built-in microphone preamps that offer high-quality amplification; however, recording professionals may prefer external mic preamps for greater sound shaping options and to give recordings an authentic 60s tube vibe or to create a cleaner and more precise sonic image.
When selecting a preamp for use in your studio, ensure it’s compatible with both the audio interface and other gear you intend to use. Furthermore, ensure it can handle your microphone of choice without degrading its quality when recording voiceover.
Your microphone needs a basic pop filter like the Auphonix double-layered pop filter that attaches to any standard microphone stand; for more professional setups you may require something more durable or customizable like Neewer Studio Broadcasting and Recording Microphone Pop Filter. Furthermore, a good cable must connect it to your recording interface – these come in various lengths and types, including XLR, TRS and USB options.
Outboard Gear
Before the days of computers and digital audio workstations, recording studios were filled with racks of hardware compressors, equalizers and amplifiers with real knobs that allowed engineers to manipulate soundwaves using outboard gear – this method provides more control than plugins can provide.
Outboard gear is also an effective solution when creating effects like reverb and delay that are difficult to recreate in software/plugins. Furthermore, using outboard equipment reduces computer load which is especially beneficial when running multiple processors simultaneously.
As well as outboard equipment, a good studio should provide an alternative means of saving data should a crash or hard drive failure occur, such as external hard drive storage or cloud-based solutions. A stable internet connection is also essential as many musicians work remotely these days and need real-time communication with clients/other musicians.
Studios will need acoustic panels and isolation pads to improve room acoustics and reduce unwanted reflections, especially as even minor adjustments can have a dramatic impact on music sound quality. There are various solutions available on the market to suit various budgets ranging from Auralex’s Acoustic Foam to more elaborate treatments systems by GIK Acoustics.