An equipment investment for a music studio can be costly and be daunting for an aspiring producer.
An essential setup for music production studios includes a computer equipped with the appropriate software, an audio interface, microphones and speakers; additionally, a MIDI keyboard may also be required.
Studio acoustics are essential to recording high-quality audio recordings, with foam treatment starting at around $70 per crate.
Computer
As a musician or music producer, you will require a computer. Be it Mac Studio-specific or custom built PC, something which is capable of running digital audio workstations (DAW) to edit songs is essential. A good music-production computer should include fast storage drives for large sample libraries as well as enough RAM to run all necessary programs – 8Gb minimum should suffice and upgrades may be possible as new production software becomes more advanced.
Some studio owners opt for laptops over desktop PCs for their recording studio needs and budget, which can be an excellent solution depending on your requirements and preferences. Cheap laptops may be noisy and limited upgradeability which could create issues in an audio studio; cheap versions also tend to produce noise from fans or clicking SATA drives that could be picked up by mics causing distraction. There are great all-in-one PC laptops with touchscreen interfaces capable of running basic music studio setups that cost $500 or less.
Your recordings require a good pair of monitors for listening purposes; studio-grade monitors typically cost significantly more than home speakers; professional-grade versions start at $3000 for professional models. An audio interface connects microphones to computers; this can be as cheap or as expensive as desired with affordable options beginning at $50. Finally, a mixer allows you to control recordings as well as mix and master your song for playback across multiple platforms; these typically range in cost anywhere between $500 to $100,000 or even higher depending on quality and size requirements.
Microphones
No matter if you are recording vocals or instruments, a high-quality microphone should always be your starting point. Although cheaper models will work just fine, more expensive microphones offer superior sound quality.
Your choice of mic will depend on the genre of music you are recording. For instance, heavy metal recordings require large dynamic microphones suited for high-volume sources like guitar amplifiers. On the other hand, jazz or 70s-style funk recordings would benefit more from investing in smaller condenser mics designed to capture delicate sounds such as vocals and pianos.
An essential piece of equipment for recording studios is an isolation room or recording booth, used to reduce external noise from disrupting recordings and produce clearer results. Although isolation booths can be found for less than $1000, for optimal results it is wiser to purchase one built by an audio engineer using professional grade materials.
Your studio should also contain an assortment of instruments. Some studios will have standard rock instruments like electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, drums and keyboards while others might feature more niche instruments such as vintage electric pianos or Clavinets.
There’s plenty of advice out there on the web about setting up your own home studio, and you should have no difficulty creating an effective setup for less than $250. But for optimal results it may be worth investing in professional studio fees instead; check out local studios to determine their rates to see which are more cost-effective in your location.
Studio Monitors
Studio monitors (also referred to as reference loudspeakers) are specially-made speakers used in audio recording, mixing and mastering processes. Studio monitors must accurately reproduce frequencies ranging from extremely low to extremely high in order for editing and mixing processes to go smoothly and successfully. Studio monitors should also allow audio professionals to hear source material exactly how intended without coloring its sound through consumer speakers that tend to enhance certain frequencies; studio monitors need to remain perfectly flat so their work can be heard exactly how intended by audio professionals.
Studio monitors are more expensive than regular hi-fi speakers due to their specific design. A good set can cost between $200-$400, with professional level models featuring custom designed speaker drivers, precise crossover networks and high power amplifiers for optimal results.
Additionally, you will require an acoustical treatment for your room as well as a sound management program such as SonarWorks Reference, FuzzMeasure or RoomEQWizard in order to calibrate monitors in the most effective manner.
Beginner producers typically find near field monitors such as the PreSonus Eris E3.5 to be adequate, though their smaller woofers limit low end reproduction. Professional producers tend to opt for more powerful studio monitors with 5.5” drivers and higher wattage ratings like Focal Shape 65s which typically cost over $1,000 per pair.
Mixing Console
Digital advances may make mixing sound easier than ever on your computer, but pro audio engineers still prefer mixing consoles for professional-level work. Mixing consoles combine and process various audio signals that form your studio’s workflow and sound palette; from compact control surfaces designed for live performances up to massive 16-channel powerhouses costing upwards of $100,000 depending on quality and size.
As well as hardware, you will also require digital software programs to edit and process recordings. Most recording programs provide free trials; full versions can cost as much as $500 or more. A microphone and pair of studio monitors – unlike most pieces of equipment in a music studio, good monitors will outlive most other pieces – should also be part of your setup; find ones with wide-range capabilities such as PreSonus’ Eris E3.5 for this.
Your budget should also include a mic stand and cables to connect mics of different kinds; your needs and preferences will determine which mic is appropriate; basic dynamic mics start at $70 (Shure SM57) while condenser mics like MXL 90 start at $100. An audio interface will also be necessary; these convert analog signals into digital information so your DAW can read them; good ones begin around $200.
Acoustic treatment will make an enormous difference to the quality of your recordings, so be sure to equip your studio room with at least seven crates of acoustic foam from most home improvement stores for optimal recording conditions.
Outboard Gear
Building your own recording studio from scratch requires an upfront investment that could reach upwards of PS800,000. In order to spec out an inviting space that would meet professional recording artist standards, expect to spend anywhere between PS120,000 and PS800,000. Even when adapting existing rooms into recording studios, costs associated with improving acoustical standards may still apply.
Computers are at the core of any studio environment. A studio needs powerful and fast computers capable of running digital audio workstation (DAW) software for recording and editing music. While you may get started with cheaper entry-level computers, for professional-quality results you must invest in higher end equipment.
Apart from your computer, a high-quality microphone, headphones and studio monitors are also key elements. A pair of high-quality headphones may cost between $300 and $500; studio monitors should start at about $300 per pair.
To control digital software instruments, a quality MIDI keyboard is necessary. Basic models start around $150 while more advanced models may cost up to $300. A mixing console is another essential piece of studio gear; it allows you to listen back in real-time as you make adjustments during multiple passes of mixing; thus costing as much as $10,000 or even higher depending on its quality and level of features.
Outboard gear includes signal processors like preamps, compressors and equalizers to help shape and enhance a song’s sound, either during tracking or afterwards as a DAW plugin. While you could simulate its functionality with software alone, physical outboard gear often adds warmth and character that cannot be recreated digitally.