How to Build Your Own Professional Home Studio on a Budget

Are you thinking about starting your own in-home studio, but you don't have a lot of money to do so? Well, it doesn't cost as much as you might think. You can purchase equipment on a budget. How? You may ask. I know there's a lot of equipment and software out there that costs a lot of money, but, like I said, you can purchase them on a budget. First, we will go over the basics.

Equipment You Will Need For Your Studio

1. Computer
2. Studio Monitors
3. Studio Ear Phones
4. Condenser Mic
5. Mic Stand
6. Pop Filter
7. Interface/D.A.W. (Digital Audio Workstation)

Of course you need a computer to put your D.A.W. (Digital Audio Workstation) on so you can record. Make sure the computer has a lot of space and can handle large audio project files.

Studio monitors are used for the sound. If you are doing music or voiceovers, you want to make sure your sound mixing is clear. You might ask, "Can I use a home stereo speaker?" No, you cannot use in-home stereo speakers, because the quality will sound like trash.

You may ask, "Can I just use my regular earbuds when recording?" No, you most definitely need studio earphones. The sound from the monitors bounces off the walls, so you'll need to make sure that your earphones can cancel out those sounds and that you can hear each instrument and tone clearly.

You may ask, "Can't I record on a regular mic?" Yes, you can. But, from my experience, condenser mics sound so much better. Let me explain why not to use a standard dynamic mic. A dynamic microphone has three main components. It has the diaphragm, the voice coil (attached to the diaphragm), and the magnet. When sound waves hit the diaphragm, it vibrates the voice coil and the movement in the voice coil within the magnetic part. It converts the audio signal into electrical signals that can be interrupted by your amplifier or interface.

A condenser microphone also has three parts. The diaphragm case, diaphragm, and the back plate. It creates an electrical field, causing the sound waves that hit the diaphragm to move further away from the back plate, this translates the sound system to the electrical system. In short, this means that a condenser mic will capture the sound better than a dynamic mic.

You need a mic stand to put your mic on. Unless you want to record with the mic in your hand all the time. I don't think you want to do that. So it is recommended.

You don't have to have a Pop Filter, but it is recommended that you have one. Let me explain why a Pop Filter is needed. When you record, and you have words that start with B,T,P, and so on, you will hear a loud pop! If you want to sound more professional, then you will need a pop filter. All of the pop filters are cheap. Well, the basic ones, at least.

Yes, the Interface is needed so that you can plug in your mic, earphones, and speakers to it. Without that you can't record. Interfaces are what transfer the sound into your computer and onto the tracks of your recording software. Remember that you will need a Digital Audio Workstation for recording and mixing.

Now that we are done with the basics, it's time to build on a budget. Windows computers are actually cheaper than Macs. You can buy a used computer. This will help you save money. If you don't want a used computer, there are new computers that aren't very expensive. Just make sure the specs are great. If you prefer a Mac computer, the Mac Mini (brand new) doesn't cost as much as the Apple Mac desktop. Search the web for new or used computers and find a good deal. Amazon is a great place to look.

Now that you got all the information that you need to start your own in-home studio, what are you waiting for? Go out and get started today!