Home studio setups made easy

by Carolyn Andrews 01/08/2023

Black Headset Hanging on Black and Gray Microphone home studio article featured image

Home studio setups are no longer reserved for well-known recording artists. In fact, you can set up a workspace full of professional quality home recording studio equipment on almost any budget. While good equipment is an investment, you can start with the basics and upgrade as needed over time.

Here's a rundown of the costs and requirements for setting up a studio at home:

How much does it cost to set up a studio at home?

Is home recording expensive? The cost varies depending upon the type and quality of the technology you choose. Most home recording studios cost anywhere from $300 to more than $10,000.

For professional musicians, a home recording studio is an important investment with the potential to save money over time compared to paying for commercial space. However, it's possible to begin with the basics for a studio without breaking the bank.

What equipment do I need to set up a home studio?

If you want to focus on the basics, experts say there are eight essential tools to have in a home recording studio setup:

  1. A reliable computer with decent storage and processing power.
  2. A digital audio workstation (DAW).
  3. An audio interface to record vocals and live instrumentals.
  4. A MIDI keyboard to test different sounds and add effects to your recordings.
  5. Studio monitors.
  6. High-quality headphones.
  7. A microphone (dynamic microphones or condenser microphones are recommended).
  8. Acoustic treatment and soundproofing for your workspace.

What do I need for a low-budget home studio?

Luckily, it's much easier to find professional quality sound equipment than it used to be. Not only are modern tools more compact and better for home studios, the costs are much more reasonable for everyday music production.

Overall, the best way to save money on a home studio is to invest in quality equipment from reputable manufacturers with warranties and good reviews. It's important to cover the basics, but you can always start small and build your equipment collection over time as your needs change.


About the Author
Author

Carolyn Andrews

Carolyn Andrews has over 30 years licensed Brokerage experience in both California and Colorado. Born in England, Carolyn moved to California in 1980, then relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1991. Carolyn has also received recognition for Top Sales at RE/MAX Alliance Aurora in 2007-2008 and is a member of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame & Chairman’s Club, as well as a recipient of the ReMax Lifetime Achievement Award. Carolyn has sold over 2000 homes personally in her career. Carolyn has been actively involved in many aspects of the Real Estate business including investment property, luxury homes, mountain resort property, skiin/ski out, REO/default management, loss mitigation, valuations, and disposition. She has been a speaker and panelist at several conferences and has been consulted on many occasions by various organizations in the REO/financial industries for her expertise and served on many boards. She has attended numerous ongoing classes to stay abreast of changes in the ever-evolving Real Estate industry. She is the prior State Director for Colorado for VAREP(Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals). She is a member of 3 boards of Realtors including Metro Denver, Colorado Springs and Summit County mountain areas. She heads up The Andrews Group and is or has been an active member of NAR, CAR,REOMAC, CIPS, CRS, AREAA, NAPW, NAHREP, and is an original member of the ELITEReal Estate network. She was ranked #1 for most homes sold in Denver 2007 by Denver Board of Realtors, #2 for 2008, and #2 for 2009, #5 in 2010 and #4 in 2011 and has been consistently in the top 10 ever since. Carolyn Andrews has been a top rated Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Organization and also a Top Producing agent for 2018 for the Homelight Company.