Music production technology has come a long way since the recording studios of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. With the development of digital music production technology, the medium of music has become more accessible than ever before – and we couldn’t be happier. With music production being a more feasible artistic discipline for independent artists, the industry landscape has evolved in a major way. It’s the whole reason why artists like Billie Eilish and Jacob Collier have been able to make huge waves in the global music scene, and set a new benchmark for self-expression and unique production qualities.
So how can you follow in their footsteps and set up your own at-home music studio? We’ll be answering just that question today by outlining some of the top tech tools you’ll need to invest in to set up your very own home recording studio.
6.3mm audio cables and cable management solutions
Every good studio space starts with the right foundational equipment. For music studios, that means plenty of 6.3mm audio/mic cables and all the right cable management solutions to make sure that your studio floor isn’t covered in tripping hazards. Thankfully, you can grab some good quality audio cables and other bits and bobs on eBay Australia via Qantas Shopping to earn Qantas Points as you shop.
Once you’ve secured your basic equipment, think about the logistics of setting up your studio space – including the flow of your cables and where you’d ideally like to position all your big pieces of production equipment. But more on this later.
Studio microphones and headphones
If you’re looking to design a studio space that houses a variety of both digital tools and actual instruments, then allocating space for both the instruments and supporting microphones, amps, and other equipment is key. For instance, drummers who are looking to record beats played on their actual drum kit should really have a microphone set up over each individual piece of their kit. That way, you can make sure that every drum and cymbal is picked up as an individual sound using microphones that are calibrated specifically for that instrument.
Alongside this tailored cabling and microphone set-up, you should also make sure that all your cables are connected up to your studio’s audio interface, which will also be where your studio headphones are plugged into. Make sure that your studio headphones are plugged in with an extra long cable as well. That way, you can feel free to move about the room whilst still listening.
Audio interfaces and a compatible DAW
Speaking of your audio interface, all good studio spaces should actually have a good mix of interfaces – not just one. For instance, most musos tend to invest in an interface with 10-15+ inputs for their home studios. These hefty interfaces can get pretty heavy because of the sheer number of inputs (and outputs) that they have, which is why they’re designed to stay firmly in your studio space. If you wanted to record on the go, however, then it’s also worth investing in a more portable interface. That way, you can feel free to collaborate with other artists outside of your studio.
Alongside your handy interfaces, however, you’ll also need to invest in some DAWs – also known as Digital Audio Workstations. These are basically pieces of music production software like Ableton, Pro Tools, and Apple’s own Final Cut Pro. All of these come with their own unique interfaces and features/design elements, so it’s well worth doing some free trials of every software offering to see which one best suits your production style.
MIDI keyboards or controllers for digital music production
No matter how many instruments you are planning on including in your home music studio, chances are you’ll still want to electronically produce sounds to make sure that your musical creations feel extra intricate and dynamic. Whilst plenty of DAWs come pre-loaded with sound effects and sample melodies that you can use, these pre-loaded snippets don’t hold a candle to your own original creations. That’s where MIDI controllers come in handy!
Typically taking the form of keyboards or even soundboards with little rubber pads for buttons, these fun, little tools basically let you play any instrument with just a tap of your fingertips. When programmed with a loop machine, MIDI controllers can also be great for making live music on the fly, making MIDI controllers a must for anybody looking to perform for crowds right away. Simply put, if you talk to any expert music producer about their top tips for recording music, chances are they will say that having a MIDI controller or two handy is a must.
A computer, desk, and external storage drives
Of course, there’s no point in recording music if those files have nowhere to go – or if your computer doesn’t have enough RAM to actually run your music production software or support connectivity to your audio interface. That’s why budding musicians and music producers should absolutely invest in a high-performance laptop or desktop computer to make sure that their work can be completed with minimal technical hitches. Whether you opt for a laptop or a desktop is up to you, but once again, it pays to stay portable if you’re looking to record both in your studio as well as across other locations.
You’ll also need a sturdy workstation, both to store your laptop/desktop and external hard drives (for storing your music). You should also consider whether or not you’ll be storing instruments and MIDI controllers on this desk space. That will help you determine what kind of table space you’ll be needing to work comfortably. A good space-saving solution may be to invest in a desk set-up with open-ended pull-out shelving (like keyboard shelves) where you can store your MIDI keyboards and controllers with ease when they’re not in use.
Be sure to have a look around at furniture showrooms and online stores to find the right desk and studio furnishings for your studio space.
Acoustic foam panels for sound control
Finally, one of the major benefits of booking out a dedicated studio space is that you can guarantee a level of quality in your recordings that you simply cannot replicate in a home studio space. With acoustic foam panelling, however, you can improve the quality of your self-recorded tracks. These innovative panels help absorb sound, reducing the risks of sound reverberation negatively impacting the quality of your recordings.
Acoustic foam panels aren’t just a valuable investment for musicians and producers either. These nifty studio accessories can also be a gamechanger for podcasters, as less sound reverberation means cleaner audio files for your podcast. Simply put, acoustic foam panels should be able to support your microphone filters even further, reducing the risk of your mics picking up background noise like traffic or barking dogs.
With all these studio essentials sourced and set up, you should have a pretty comfortable and functional home studio to work from. So get to creating!