When it comes to home setups, obviously everyone’s preferences and areas of interest/talent are different. This requires you to think about what you need as an artist to do your job.
My setup is very basic and covers a wide range of areas. I’m more about experimentation and using a guitar. I’m not a vocalist so that is not an area that concerns me however I have that option with my microphones.
My setup is very basic and on a budget:
Audio Interface
U-Phoria UMC22
Microphones
Neewer NW-700 (An Amazon cheep thing)
More recently a SM57 - a versatile microphone in my opinion
AMPs
Cheap AMP that came with an eclectic guitar
Cheap Bass AMP that came with our AMP
Fender Mustang GT
Instruments (Between my sister and I)
Electric and Acoustic guitars
Bass
Ukulele
Keyboards
MIDI Keyboard
MIDI Controller
DAW
A free version of Ableton Live
Reaper
COMPUTERS & DAWs
I think the first thing that you should consider before even thinking about anything is computers and if they are able to download and handle large files and run DAWs. There's no point in buying lots of equipment if you can’t even record into a DAW.
A DAW is a Digital Audio Workstation, a software application that enables you to record and produce music. These are all about personal preference as you may not like the layout of one DAW compared to others. Some DAWs are even limiting and may not do everything you want it to. A lot of these well known brands such as Ableton Logic Pro are expensive so choosing wisely and doing detailed research is cautioned.
Some DAW brands:
Ableton - https://www.ableton.com/en/live/what-is-live/
Ableton Live
Reaper - https://www.reaper.fm/download.php
Garageband
FL Studio
Audacity - https://www.audacityteam.org/
Logic Pro X
Bandlab - https://www.bandlab.com
Some free DAWs - https://musicproductionnerds.com/free-digital-audio-workstations
I know from using Reaper that not all DAWs come with digital instruments and plugins. If you don't have any instruments, many instruments or you just want to experiment with weird digital plugins you may want to look into VST Plugins.
Also known as Virtual Studio Technology, they come in all varieties such as instruments, pedals and even mixing tools(EQ, delay, compression). However, these do take up space and take a little bit of research about where to store them on your computer. It’s advised not to go too crazy with the amount of VSTs you get.
Here is a VERY useful website:
AUDIO INTERFACE
One of the main things that should be invested in for a home studio is an Audio Interface.
This enables you to plug in and record your instruments and microphones. This box converts an analogue signal (your instrument) into a digital message enabling the computer to record and understand it. Most Interfaces are USB input, so it’s easy to set up. But keep in mind that some require a driver to be installed from their website, so watch out for that.
(An U-Phoria UMC22)
Another thing is that most Audio Interfaces have Phantom Power, enabling you to power Condenser Microphones. The same rules apply to when being in a studio. Turn off the Phantom power before unplugging or plugging in a Condenser Microphone.
A lot of professionals use the Focusrite Scarlett series of interfaces. However, they can be expensive. Bands such as Behringer make affordable Audio Interfaces that vary in what they can do.
MICROPHONES
A great tool to have at your disposal at home are microphones. Especially if you specialise in playing an instrument and singing. I think that having a variety of microphones is handy because as musicians you get inspired to do things you haven't before or you may want to experiment with different options. So having at least a Dynamic, like the trusty versatile Shure SM57, and Condenser microphones at hand enables you to capture sound differently.
If you are on a tight budget start with a USB microphone. These are more suited for podcasts and they don’t capture depth. However, they are a good start.
Here are some trustworthy microphone brands:
Shure
Sennheiser
Blue
AKG
Neumann
Audio Technica
(A cheep Condenser microphone I got off Amazon)
Knowing your instrument and your preferences for recording is useful knowledge to have beforehand so you know what type of mic you may need. Depending on your setup you may like a fancy setup with a lot of mics OR you may like minimal mics with specific microphones. It’s personal preference and experimentation at the end of the day.
(A Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone)
However, another thing to take into consideration is your recording space. Not all rooms are great for recording in. So you may think to invest into Acoustic Treatment such as soundproofing and acoustic foam treatment panels. A more cheap way of Acoustic Treatment would be to place rugs and curtains into your room. You have to work with what you got.
HEADPHONES & SPEAKERS
For music there are 2 types of headphones for 2 specific purposes.They are: Closed Back Headphones which are used for recording tracks and Open Back Headphones which are used for mixing. Obviously, having two sets of headphones may be a bit extreme for a home setup so maybe finding a versatile pair may be useful. Looking into brands such as:
Sennheiser
Sony
Beyerdynamic
Shure
AKG
Audio technica
Next, studio monitors and speakers. Studios splurge on very good and expensive studio monitors as they are the key component for achieving great sound. However, this is unrealistic for a home studio. Two good fairly cheap examples of studio monitors are the ESI aktiv 05 Active Studio Monitors and the Adam Audio T5V Studio Monitor. The most popular studio monitors are the KRK Rokit 5 G3, you see them in most home studios. As studio monitors can get quite expensive... improvise, I use my old cd/radio speakers that work well for me.
The key thing here is audio quality. When you mix and master it’s always good to have a variety of listening equipment and devices. All listening devices are different so comparing your mixes on multiple devices is suggested. For example checking your mixes on a phone, headphones, earphones, speakers, car speakers).
INSTRUMENTS
Electric Guitar
Finding the right guitar(and AMP) for you will involve doing research, going to guitar stores OR buying one until you find the right one(the expensive way). From being at college and using it so much, I know my preference is a Fender Stratocaster.
When it comes to recording Electric Guitar with an AMP I suggest looking into:
SM57
Sennheiser MD421
AKG C414
Neumann U87
When recording with an AMP try head to my ELECTRIC GUITAR page to see some recording techniques you could use. For a simple setup just plug the guitar straight into an Audio Interface( you can do this with an Electric Acoustic Guitar). This isn’t the best thing to do as recordings can sometimes sound muddy and gritty. But this is a quick and easy way to record your ideas down, practise or if you're trying to build up a structure for a song.
Acoustic Guitar
Like I said with the Electric Guitars, finding the right one involves research (just like with all instruments). Read reviews, watch videos and go to music stores. This is the only way you are going to determine which one is right for you.
When recording Acoustic Guitar with microphones, I suggest:
A CARDIOID pair of small diaphragm condensers. These mics sound bright and airy. The bass response is noticeably lower. An example, a pair of Rode NT5s.
An OMNIDIRECTIONAL pair of small diaphragm condensers. These are able to capture sound from both the rear and front of the mics. An example, a pair of Neumann KM 183s.
A MULTI-PATTERN large diaphragm condenser. These sound clean and focused. The frequency response tends to be pretty balanced. An example, a Rode NT2A.
Shure SM81
When trying to record an Acoustic Guitar you could use these common techniques: X/Y and Blumlein, ORTF etc. These are all detailed in my Acoustic Guitar section of Recording Techniques.
Bass
Again, a simple setup to record Bass is to plug it straight into an Audio Interface. As you know this is not the only way to record Bass as you can grab an AMP and a couple of microphones, to record that way. I have written a section in Recording Techniques called Bass that details ways you can record Bass. Here is a clear and insightful video about the different way of recording a Bass:
Microphones you could looking into if wanting to record a bass through an AMP:
AKG D112
Beyerdynamic MG 88 (highly recommend)
Shure Beta 91A
When it comes to using an AMP the best option would be to grab a Bass AMP. You might be thinking, ‘what’s the difference between a Guitar AMP and a Bass AMP ?’. Well, the difference between them is the power output and the size of the speaker. A Bass AMP needs more power compared to a Guitar AMP. However, there is nothing wrong with using a Guitar AMP to play or record with a Bass. However, you won’t be able to capture the potential of the bass through a Guitar AMP.
Vocals
Thing to look out for when recording vocals at home:choosing the wrong room, wrong mic placement, not having a treated room and microphones.
You probably don’t have access to a vocal booth at home. You will only have access to what you have. So a bedroom, bathroom, living room etcetera.
What you are looking for in a room is reverb. The more reverb an instrument has, the less it sounds present and powerful and will sound far away from the listener. Vocals are often the main component in songs so you want your vocals to sound up-close. So recording vocals in a reverberant room will make that happen. However, too much reverb can cause compression and pitch correction to sound unnatural. So you want to avoid rooms with lots of hard surfaces and windows. If this can’t be helped, close window and doors. Another thing you can try is to fill your room with stuff. Specifically, soft things like beds, rugs and sofas etcetera. All of these things absorb sound, making the room less reverberant and more neutral.
Next, is placement. Try to prevent placing your microphone in the centre of the room, keeping the microphone away from the walls. This will prevent weird room resonances that occur when recording. If you can, point the microphone at one of the corners of the room. This may increase the distance to the closest wall.
Here are some options if recording in your room is not great. All of these methods helps improve clarity and optimises your vocal recordings:
Record from underneath a blanket on a bed
Create your own small recording booth box
Portable Acoustic Reflection Filter
Use your closet
Lastly, microphones. It is suggested that:
Dynamic - produce a warmer and more aggressive sound and there’s less top end, something like a Shure SM58.
Small Diaphragm Condenser - sounds bright and airy but the bass response is noticeably lower.
Large Diaphragm Condenser - sounds clean and focused and the frequency response is balanced. Something like a Rode NT1A.
Shure SM7B(A very popular microphone. You’ve probably seen these a lot in YouTube videos.)
Drums
If you are on a tight budget you can record with one mic. However, you won’t be capturing the full potential of the drum kit. Alternatively, there are digital VST drums and drum machines that can be used within DAWs. Drum kits are big and can be expensive so this is another solution.
If you can record drums at home with multiple mics you may want to invest in a small mixing desk/controller. Most Audio Interfaces come with one or two microphone input slots and you’ll most likely be recording with more than two mics.
Techniques you can use: X/Y, Spaced Pair, Glyn Johns etc.
Microphones:
Overheads - A standard choice for room mics are a matched pair of Condenser mics that are either a Large or Small Diaphragm.
Shure KSM44A
Neumann KM184
AKG C414
Neumann U87
Kick - You want something that can represent those deep, rich, bass sounds. So Dynamics or Cardioids mics would be best.
Beyerdynamic MG 88
AKG D112
Shure Beta 52A
Snare - For a snare a Tight Cardioid Pattern would be best to minimize bleed from other drum components and to handle more gain before feedback. So a dynamic or Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphone would be best.
SM57
Beyerdynamic M201TG
Neumann KM 84
High-hat - A preferred option for a high-hat would be a cardioid small diaphragm condenser for the same reason as the snare, to minimize bleed from other drum components.
Sennheiser E614 Condenser Microphone
Neumann KM184
Toms - Dynamic are best used when you want to minimize the high frequencies of the toms. If you are wanting to capture those high frequencies a Condenser would be best.
SM57
Sennheiser e604
Sennheiser MD 421-II
AKG C 414
Piano & Keyboard
There are a few different types of Pianos and Keyboards, some are electric and some are not. Keyboards and Pianos are one of those instruments that everyone kinda knows how to play as there is always one around.
The different types:
MIDI Keyboard and Controllers
Uses a USB input and is very easy to use. These are a must in any studio and home studio if you want to use virtual instruments, create your own sheet music, or learn to play keyboard. A MIDI controller enables you to quickly record piano or synth and are compatible with any VSTs and digital instruments you have. They are very convenient.
(A MIDI Keyboard and Drum Pad)
A Regular Keyboard and Synths.
That's basically it... a regular keyboard. Having one may involve plugging in a MIDI or XLR cable to your Audio Interface. An upside is that you can use it’s presets but also you have access to more keys compared to a MIDI keyboard which usually are small in size.
Piano
You can get a Grand OR Upright piano. These require microphones to record, head to my PIANO section on the Recording Techniques page to see how you can record a piano with microphones.
Mixing and Production
Here are some useful links for mixing and production:
Bibliography:
E-Home Recording Studio. n.d. Recording Studio Microphones: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide. [online] Available at: <https://ehomerecordingstudio.com/types-of-microphones/> [Accessed 18 May 2020].
Tips, P., 2018.Recording Vocals At Home: How To Avoid 9 Common Mistakes | LANDR Blog. [online] LANDR Blog. Available at: <https://blog.landr.com/recording-vocals-mistakes/> [Accessed 14 May 2020].
Class, M., 2019. [online] Available at: <https://www.masterclass.com/articles/home-recording-studio-101-how-to-record-drums#6-steps-for-recording-drums> [Accessed 14 May 2020].