A basic home studio can be set up with a fairly small cost – and each part can be upgraded as your skills and needs increase. If you are going to record mainly acoustic guitar and vocals then you’ll need a good microphone, whilst if electronic music is your style then you’ll want to focus on software and other accessories. The following is a brief list of basics needed for your home studio, and you will need to check suppliers of electronic components to get the most competitive price as well as getting advice about compatibility.
- Computer – just about any home computer will do, but do check that it will be compatible for the software you need
- Sound Card – a good sound card is of primary importance – it transfers sound from the microphones or keyboards so it can impact on the sound quality. You will want to choose a sound card made for recording. A Novation nio 2/4 suits home recording and DJing also the USB audio interface for DJs the Numark Stereo IO.
- Musice software-the music software is for recording, edit and mix your recordings and programs are geared for different types of music. For example, Steinberg Cubase is good for Audio and MIDI recording and FL Studio for audio and MIDI recording and available in Fruity, Producer and Signature bundles.
- Hardware Controllers – For example, a MIDI keyboard or USB mixer makes it easier to record and mix for example, ESI Key Control or Akai MPD26 Pad Controller
- Microphones, Head phones and Monitor speakers – you need to get the best quality for your purpose and probably upgrade from your existing stuff.
Digital Recorders – These can vary in size from small enough to fit in your pocket to large speakers with multitrack facilities.