The main reasons people want to set up a home recording system is to reap the benefit of being able to record your music whenever inspiration strikes. If one plans, purchases & installs the required gadgets properly, anyone would be able to create professionally competent recordings right out of their home. It’s important to strive for the absolute best quality in every recording you make. This should be your prime & ultimate objective before you start down the road to researching, purchasing, and installing your home recording set up. So, let’s break up the painfully long process into small chunks that any novice can understand.

 

A word of advice before we start; DO NOT BUY ANYTHING WITHOUT PROPER RESEARCH! Compulsive or blind buys will topple your entire progress. Also, before starting out, find the most spacious and most quiet place in your house where you can setup your cozy little music corner.

 

Let us have a look at the absolute necessary things you need to have for setting up a quality home recording rig for lesser expense and in the respective order. Our recommendations are focused mainly at the beginners and are based on Quality, Reliability, Versatility & Price.

 

1) A Computer

Usually an audio editing computer need to have very high specs, but you need not worry. If you have a PC, Laptop or a Mac already at hand, that’s perfect to start your journey with.

 

2) An Audio Interface

An audio interface is the device through which you’ll connect your mics, instruments, speakers, headphones etc. to your computer. Your intensive research is required here before you make any purchase. But we can blindly recommend some models which are considered the best in the world to start with.

 

Our recommendations are:  Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 3rd Gen, Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen, Audient iD4, Presonus Audiobox USB 96, Steinberg UR12, Steinberg UR22C, Native Instruments Komplete Audio 2

 

3) A Recording Software (DAW- Digital Audio Work Station)

Selecting a proper recording software, otherwise known as a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that suits your needs is also a very important step. There are too many DAWs out there, inexpensive to extremely pricey. There are so many people praising a particular DAW or other, but you do not need to fall into that trap. All the DAWs basically do the same except for their look and workflow. Luckily there are a few free ones & lots of trial versions out there so that you can get a feel of things before you actually make a purchase. You can always start with something very simple and then switch later to another when you progress.

 

Our recommendations are:

Free DAWs: Cakewalk by BandLab, Cubase LE, PreSonus Studio One Prime, Pro Tools First, Ableton Live 9 Lite

PAID DAWs: PreSonus Studio One, Avid Pro Tools, Image-Line FL Studio, Ableton Live, Cockos Reaper 6, Cubase Pro, Apple Logic Pro (Mac Only), Reason, Acoustica Mixcraft, Adobe Audition etc.

 

4) A Pair Of Studio Monitor Speakers

Studio monitors are the heart of everything you hear. Any computer/hi-fi speaker cannot be used in a studio as the speakers have to be extremely neutral in their sound. So, there are companies that make special speakers for studio use. The general rule is that, if you have a smaller room, go for 5 inch monitors and if the space is bigger, go for 7 or 8 inch monitors.

 

Our recommendations are:

SIZE 5” OR LESS: Yamaha HS5, JBL 305P MKII, Adam T5V, Presonus Eris E4.5, KRK Rokit 5, Mackie CR4

SIZE 8” OR LESS: Yamaha HS8, JBL 308P MKII, Presonus Eris E8, KRK Rokit 8, Mackie MR824

 

5) A Tracking Headphone

In a studio you require 2 different kinds of headphones. The first type is used for recording vocals and acoustic instruments while a reference track is being played back through the singers/players headphones. Such headphones are ‘Closed-Back Headphones’ because there will be very less bleed from these headphones that the main mic can pick up. They are called ‘Closed Back’ because their outer side will be completely closed & sealed to stop any sound from escaping to the outside world.

 

Our recommendations are: AKG K44, AKG K55, AKG K77, Sennheiser HD280 Pro, Sony MDR-7506, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro, Shure SRH 1540, Audio Technica ATH-M20x, Audio Technica ATH-M30x, Audio Technica ATH-M40x, Audio Technica ATH-M50x

 

6) A Mixing Headphone

Unlike a tracking headphone, a headphone for mixing should have an open or semi-open design to make it sound more natural and should allow internal sounds to escape and external sounds to come in. Such designs are called ‘Open Back’ or ‘Semi-Open Back’. It is also important that you do not use these 2 types of headphones vice versa.

 

Our recommendations are: Samson SR850, AKG K240 MKII Studio, Shure SRH1840, Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro, AKG K 701, Sennheiser HD 650, Sennheiser HD 800

 

7) At Least One Microphone

If you are not an electronic producer, chances are that you’ll definitely need at least one microphone to start with. You can read more about microphones here.

 

Our recommendations are:

Dynamic: Shure SM57, Shure SM58, Audio-Technica ATR2100, AKG D5, Sennheiser E835, Electrovoice RE20, Audix OM3, Audix OM5, Audix OM7

 

Condenser (LDC Single Pattern): Audio-Technica AT2020, Audio-Technica AT2035, Rode NT1-A, MXL 770, MXL 990, AKG P120, AKG P220, Studio Projects B1

 

Condenser (LDC Multi Pattern): sE Electronics 2200a II, Behringer B-2 Pro, Rode NT2-A, Audio-Technica AT4050, AKG P420, AKG C214

 

Condenser (Small Diaphragm): Samson CO-2 (Pair), Behringer C-2 (Pair), AKG C-1000, Rode NT5 (Pair), AKG Perception 170, Shure SM81

 

You can read more about microphones here.

8) A Pop Filter

If you are buying a Large Diaphragm Condenser, chances are that most probably it will be bundled with a Pop Filter (aka. popper stopper, pop shield). If not supplied, you need to buy one to be used to guard the mic from generating accidentals pops and peaks while recording things like Vocals & Blowing Instruments.

 

Our recommendations are: Samson PS01, Shure PS-6, AKG PF 80, Stedman Proscreen XL, Nady MPF-6, On-Stage Stands ASFSS6GB Dual-Screen, Se Electronics Dual Pro Pop Screen, Avantone PS-1 PRO-SHIELD, WindTech PopGuard 2000

 

(Any generic model which is sturdy, rigid but flexible is fine. Stay away from anything with a very sloppy shaft that does not retain the shape)

 

9) A Mic Stand

You require a very sturdy mic stand that can support the weight of your condenser mic + pop shield. If your stand topples over, chances are that your condenser mic will be gone for good. There are a few different designs in the market but get one with an extra heavy Bottom Plate or with very strong tripod legs.

 

10) A Few Cables

You can read all about different cables here.