5 Things to know when setting up a Home studio

Here are 5 things that you should know when setting up your home recording studio.

1-have a basic understanding of the equipment that you need,for example (a mic, monitors, recording device, etc). This is important because you need to know what type of quality you will be dealing with as opposed to other sounds and studios. This is also important because you need to know what your equipment is compatible with.

2-decide on what type of music/clients you will be recording. All studios are not created equal. If you plan to record voice overs for commercials, there is no need for you to obtain drum mics. Therefore, knowing what type of client you want to do business with will help you understand the culture of the equipment and personalities you need to prepare for.

3-have a mentor you can consult with. All too often books, internet, and even a degree may not be enough in this industry. Having an experienced mentor available to help guide you will save you heartache and and a few dollars.

4- know the functionality of your equipment. This is important because you may want to expand or upgrade your setup. If you are uncertain about how your equipment functions, it may lead to unnecessary purchases, lost time, frustration and a host of other time consuming mistakes. Take a few moments and read the stats on the pieces that your purchase.

5-controlled noise. When you are recording, noise control is critical to the quality of the recording itself. Though this may seem to be a common sense point, there is an artform in creating a great sounding room. Its not just sound deadening folks! 

3 Types of Recording Studios

If you are new to the recording industry or if you are just expanding your knowledge base, understanding 3 types of recording studios will become a great asset to you.



Home Recording Studio: A home recording studio is also referred to as a project studio. These "in home" studios are housed in a private residence. A home recording studio primarily has a recording device (in modern times this is usually a computer), something to monitor the sound (headphones or monitors), and maybe a few mics and instruments. Home recording studios are usually the most accessible due to their low construct costs.

Mid Level Recording Studio: This type of recording studio has the same bells and whistles that a home studio would have with a few additions. Here at the mid level, there may be some recording booths and a few more expensive pieces of recording equipment.




Industry Standard Recording Studio: The industry standard studio is the big guy on the block. This studio is designed to accommodate long hours and tedious attention to detail. In most cases, there are kitchens, lounge areas and other forms of entertainment. As far as recording, they tend to have the most options for recording, effects, processing and mixing. Though you can probably compare the recordings of a mid level studio and industry standard studio, in most cases, the difference is the "big" sound that the industry standard studio gives.


Hopefully this blog made understanding these types of recording studios a little more easy to understand! You can always contact me with questions that you might have.

3 Steps to Choosing a Recording Studio

Price quote, engineers, producers, location, terminology, experience. Who has time to keep up with the things that a studio is supposed to have? You really don't have to know as much as music industry people would have you believe. If you are an artist, a manager or just curious, here are 3 steps that you can take in choosing the recording studio.

Location : The studio location is important information to know when choosing a studio because there are a lot of studios in many locations. Some studios locations can range from inner city basements to suburban warehouses. Location should be important to you because you want to stay within a reasonable traveling budget. You don't want to travel too far unnecessarily. The travel there and back can be draining if the distance is too far. On the other hand, if the studio is too close, you may, like most artists, be tempted to spend unnecessary time in the studio and spend outside of your budget. Remember to take into account the distance and transportation options.

Service : The type of recording studio is also appropriately significant. Some studios specialize in specific areas. For example, there may be a home studio that specializes in voice over work but you are interested in higher end studio that can accommodate a full rock band. The home studio that services voice over work primarily may not be the reasonable choice for you. Contrariwise, if you are in need of a studio that services primarily vocalist and smaller accompaniment, securing a $125/hr studio who services big bands is not the optimum decision. Be sure that you ask questions specific to your needs and the services the studio normally handles to make a sound decision.

         

Price: Finding the location and service that you would like are probably the most comfortable 2 of 3 topics about choosing the recording studio. When it comes to the cost of recording, you have to match the cost with the service. Be sure to listen to the quality of sound that comes from that studio. Ultimately, you want the best "bang for your buck". Understand how that studio charges and if there are any hidden rates. Some studios offer different services which may all have different fees attached to them. Stay within your budget as much as possible.  

Always remember, the recording studio is service based business. Value their service while you try to make the most of your experience! 

Are you ready to record?

       

There are diverse ideas lining the concept of being a recording artist. Some say that it is talent, others say gimmick. Perhaps its money and fame that has you motivated to step into the booth. The reason that you are interested isn't why we are here. Though I'm sure your desire to record great music is admirable, the question is "Are you ready?" Let's see if you have the tools that you need to record.

• First, there has to be something to record,right? Don't worry, I'm not being sarcastic intentionally. There are people who have the voice and/or recordable talent who don't have content. It happens that way sometimes however, even in those cases, there has to be substance for that person to record before booking the studio session. In most cases, songs, poems, short stories, sound effects and music are typically the audio formats that are recorded. These serve as a foundation for your recording session. Now that we have our groundwork established, let's look ahead. 
• All too often an artist will get excited about brand new work and will want to record it right away. Rushing into the studio under that emotion isn't the wisest approach to recording. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. If you have a budget that grants you that luxury, by all means go for it! As for most of us, a budget means "what can I invest?". The reason why you shouldn't rush into the studio with brand new material is because it's best to know your work inside and out before recording it. I maintain the word "know" in the context of memorization and familiarity. Knowing what you want to record and how you want to record it will minimize potential for wasted time and money.
• Money!! We all like it, need it, and use it but we don't all understand it. In terms of the world of recording, capital is a reasonably crucial concern. Fortunately, the climate of the recording industry allows for a number of options. If you are concerned about how much studio time will cost, a good idea is to research the studios in your area. Once you have met with a few studios, you can compare rates with services then determine which studio suits your needs according to your financial forecast. Yes, I said "financial forecast". Be sure to make a budget for studio expenses.   

After you have addressed these points, I think you have what it takes to begin your journey to recording. Good luck to you!!!