As with many engineers, I got my start in the audio world with 'doing it all'– recording, mixing, mastering. Mostly doing work for my own band, and then growing to working with friends' bands. There are a lot of benefits to learning how to do 'everything'. The more you know about sound and audio, the more tools in your toolkit. The more you understand about how different aspects of recording impact others. This is going to be a mini-series where I talk about a few different things about getting started in the world of studio recording!
The first post in this mini-series is going to be about 'gear' and what you will likely have to buy to get started. I am not going to list a series of specific brands or specific products, but there are going to be some recommendations as examples. I am not sponsored in any way by any brands or products mentioned. Here I am mostly just talking about the broader categories, and where you might want to do larger investments when possible. I am a big fan of keeping it simple. I worked at a large music store for many years and ran the recording department for a good chunk of it. I have helped many novice recorders pick out the basics for what they need to get going over the years, so here I am going to share that all in a nice little post!
And with that, onto the good stuff!
A computer with a DAW (literally any DAW. Garageband is fine. Ableton is great. Cubase is great) If there are multiple versions of the DAW, I recommend the 'standard' version if budget permits. Usually should be around $400 for the 'standard' version. As for computer specs, most modern laptops produced in the past 10 years should be fine. Ideally, at least 16gb of RAM. Storage can be purchased in the form of external hard drives if your computer doesn't have enough built in. Avoid Chromebooks, as they don't run most DAWs and it will cause headaches. Some people start recording on iPads, but having witnessed many try to get this set up, it tends to end up in more headaches than its worth. There are routes around a computer or smart device in general, but computers are by far the easiest route to get the best results.
An audio interface. I recommend getting one with 2 inputs if you think you only need 1 input. You can't really expand number of inputs on most small interfaces, so future-proofing for one additional mic for a small added cost is usually worth it. I recommend 8 inputs if you are thinking about doing drums. Focusrite Scarletts are a reasonable place to start. Interfaces are one of the places where I recommend against going for the 'cheapest option'. An audio interface is what connects the sound in your computer to the outside world, and the sounds in the real world to your computer. Its function is essential. You don't necessarily have to go all in for one of the Universal Audio Apollo's you may see posted online, but buying a Behringer may not serve you well in the long run.
Some sort of monitoring. Monitoring is the other thing that I like investing in. If getting a pair of monitors is out of budget, get a nice set of headphones. The Audio Technica M50x's are a great choice for headphones if you can't do a pair of KRK Rokits or Yamaha monitors. If you do have budget, there are so many great options for monitors that I won't start listing, but this is the first place I'd recommend using excess budget. A good set of monitors will help you understand what is going on with the music you are recording. It doesn't matter how 'junky' the microphones you are using are, if you can hear the nuances of your recordings, you can make them translate well onto most other systems!
Room treatment. This was one of the biggest hangups and issues I had when I got started. Frankly, it is something that you should do sooner rather than later. I recommend starting by heading to a store that sells home building supplies, and getting some rock wool, landscape fabric, and some cheap lumber to build some panels. Put one on the walls on either side of you, horizontally, about ear level. Set up a pair vertically behind your monitors. Angle some in the corners behind your monitors. Without knowing a specific place, these placements might not be great, but they will be better than nothing. Don't get the goofy eggshell foam from a music store. It doesn't do anything. If you aren't into DIY, I'd recommend finding a friend to do some DIY for you. Worst case, order a kit from Primacoustic. It can get expensive, but it will make a huge difference long term. There is a lot more that you can do with acoustic treatment, but acoustic treatment can get pretty nuts. If you do some panelling as suggested here, you will at least be addressing some common issues in home studios
Microphone (for vocal only studios). If you are setting up a pop, hip-hop, or rap studio, you may only need one. Get a nice condenser mic. There are some great mics in the $300 price range that frankly perform above their price=point. Better mics make a difference, but when you are just starting off, technique of the vocalist and mix will make a larger difference. Just as an example, if someone sings to you over the phone and they have a beautiful voice, does it still sound nice? Phone mics aren't great, and it still sounds nice. Even spending $100 on a Shure SM57 can yield fantastic results. Most mics will not be what holds you back. Of course, getting that last percentage in sound quality in a better mic can be worthwhile.
Microphones (continued, but for studios recording more instruments). Most of the opinions I have about mics carry forward to miking instruments as well. I genuinely just recommend getting a couple SM57s, a cheap kit of 'drum mics', and that's it. Drum recording is some of the most complex recording to do well. Your first drum recordings will likely not sound great without some help, a big room with tall ceilings, and some luck. Spending lots of money on mics won't help. Just get some basics and focus on learning technique. I will likely write a post about recording drums at a later point.
And that is pretty much it! Computer, interface, monitors (and treatment), mics, and cables! All in, you can actually get away pretty cheaply if you do headphones for monitoring and already have a computer!
What about all the other gear you see in pro studios? In general, the other equipment and racks you see in other studios is going to be used to add specific character to the recordings, the same way that Plugins (effects) in your DAW will. While these can be appealing aesthetically, they are not essential. The main benefits to the hardware equipment pertain more to workflow than sonic improvements. They are expensive, and will not make your recordings sound better. Even if you are experienced in recording, the racks of gear do not make your songs better, they just help with speed of getting to a desired result, and many like the tactile nature.
So that's what you need to get started! My next post will be about setting everything up and hitting record for the first time! I am loosely updating my blog once a week, so stay tuned for that!