In the past I really obsessed to learn home recording and audio engineering stuff just for creating my own music by my self and only using my guitar as the main instrument. Even is basically just a hobby but I really spend most of my time on it. And yeah! I have spent my money too just for buying this, buying that, selling this and selling that whatever.
From that experience, come to my conclusion that actually I can build a low budget home recording studio n a low cost as possible. And it’s inspired me to write this post for sharing my idea based on my experience of selling and buy stuff just to find the right gear to build a low budget home recording studio.
If you are a guitar player and want to start to build your home recording studio to craft music on your own (One man band project) then this idea might be useful as your references.
7 things you need for build a low budget home recording studio
Okay, this is seven basic gear and stuff you need to build a budget home recording studio.
#1 A Room
You may ‘can’ record your guitar track on your back yard with a laptop but believe me, your neighbor will suddenly become weird. You know what I mean 🙂
So having a private room is a must if you are serious to start home recording. And as your place to express all your creativity without ing anyone or get bothered.
Additionally, you can apply a simple acoustic treatment for your studio by installing acoustic panel or any absorbing materials like studio foam, . Below is the example of known good and inexpensive absorption foam for home studio recording.
It’s only $11.99 for 6 pack. Check it on Amazon
#2 Computers
If your desktop/laptop computers already have;
- Intel core2 duo processor or above.
- 4 gb RAM above.
- 100 gb above of hard disk empty space
- Have a good Graphics Card
Then your computer is good to start with.
#3 Audio Interface
This is the essential gear you must consider to choose it wisely if you want to build a low budget home studio recording, the Audio Interface.
Is an essential tools to connect your guitar/bass and doing DI (Direct Input) recording, or record a vocals track into your Computer.
Below is our recommendation of the audio interface on low price. But you will still get good quality audio.
1. Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface
You can get this audio interface only for $99.99 at Amazon
2. BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UM2
This Audio Interface is really cheap but Behringer is known good in product quality. You can get this audio interface only for;$29.99 at Amazon
#4 Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Softwares
You will need an Audio Workstation software to record and mix your stuff right, there is many DAW that really great. But the problem is their price is too high for a solo independent musician.
The only great DAW that you can get n low price is REAPER
Check the price at REAPER official website here https://www.reaper.fm/
You can read Digimanx article about list of DAW software here Digital Audio Workstation You Need For Home Recording
But still our choice for low price DAW is REAPER!
#5 Drum Machine Softwares
Yep! real drum kit sets re darn expensive, and if you don’t have a proper soundproofed studio then using Drum Machines software is a wise alternative.
You can read post about 4 Best Virtual Drum Machine for Home Recording
#6 Headphone/Monitor Speaker
The good things in digital recording re, you can mix your track in the middle of the night without worry disturbing your neighbor by using a Studio headphone.
Our recondition of studio headphone to start with is iSK HP-680 Studio Monitoring Headphone
Why?
Because it’s cheap and have good quality and I have bought it my self two years ago and till now is still fine.
You can get this studio headphone for only $39.95 at Amazon
We still have no recommendation for cheap Speaker Monitor for a low budget home recording studio. Perhaps when we have bought one and test it, we will update this article for ya 🙂
#7 Mic
If you are an musician you may don’t have to buy a Mic. But if you need to a good but cheap Microphone to record vocals track. Then our recommendation is AT-100. I use iSK AT-100 for my home studio.
You can buy this Mic only for $39.88 at Amazon
You can read my review post about iSK AT-100 condenser mic along with the demo song here: https://digimanx.com/most-affordable-condenser-mic-for-recording-vocals/
Just closing words
Okay, that’s it for now, hope this post can give you some insight about what to buy and whats not to start a low budget home recording studio.
Thanks for read and till next post, peace out 🙂