Building a home recording studio might seem like a challenge, especially if you are new to the music world. In most cases, that might be true but, getting started with this project can be easier than you might imagine.
So here is the list of few essentials you can get under 150$ to start your music recording journey.
In this list, I assume that you own a computer that is not too old to run the software needed to record and to play back the music you create. You don’t need to buy a new computer, just start with whatever you have and you might even be surprised what you can do with it. However, if you get into recording and mixing and you realize that it’s time for a change, you can always upgrade later.
Audio interface
All home studios have a main item, and that is an audio interface. It’s a box that you plug in your microphones, all your instruments. It usually connects to your Mac or PC via USB/Thunderbolt or some other cable.
The audio interface is essential as it allows you to get sound in and out of your computer. Nowadays, there are some very affordable ones out there. One that fits the budget best is the “euphoria UMC 22”. This is an incredible deal as you get it for just under 40$, and it is perfect for beginners to start recording right away. If you want a slight upgrade to that, you can also check out “Focusrite Scarlett solo”. This one is a bit more expensive but has does give you that extra quality if you really into it.
Microphone
Next, you will need a microphone to record the vocals or the instruments of your choice. In this case, you can pick up a large-diaphragm condenser microphone “Behringer C” for just under 50$. This microphone is great if you are recording in the studio because it captures a lot of nuance and detail. The mic is suitable for vocals as well as instruments, so overall it’s a great deal.
Headphones
Next is a pair of decent headphones. For the budget list, I would recommend “Behringer HBS 3000” headphones which will cost you around 20$. These headphones are great because you can plug them right into the front of the UMC and listen back to yourself in real-time while you play. It also enables you to listen back to what you’ve recorded to edit or to mix.
A digital audio workstation (DAW)
Now, as we collected most of the gear you need recording software or aka a digital audio workstation (DAW). DAW is essentially a computer program that you use to compose, produce, record, mix and edit audio and MIDI. The best thing about making music today is that you’ve got lots of free options when it comes to recording and mixing software, I would recommend GarageBand for Mac users or Ableton live for both PC and MAC. These DAW’s might not have all the functionality you find in full versions, but it’s enough to start and get a feel for how all of it works. When it’s time, you can always upgrade to a more sophisticated version.
Supporting Equipment
You will need a mic stand and mic cable and a pop shield that should add up to 35$ overall. A pop shield or a windscreen works like a filter to get rid of all the air sounds that come out when you say b’s or p’s and eliminates extra sounds that can overload your microphone and make it pop.