Why you need to build a home studio during Covid19!
Giorgio Passalacqua
With over 20 million cases and counting worldwide, it's safe to say that COVID19 has had a substantial impact on every industry imaginable!
This includes the music recording industry, with new safety protocols in place worldwide, musicians everywhere have it rough.
Whether you work in a professional capacity or not, there's no better time to build a home studio.
Why not? Several countries around the world are on lockdown or have some type of curfew in place to reduce the spread of COVID19.
As a result, many of us are spending more time at home and less time out in the real world.
If you've ever thought about setting up a home recording space in the past, there's no better time than now!
Social distancing guidelines make working in a professional studio out of the question.
They're close and intimate settings. Even in large studios, staying six feet away isn't really practical. You can't social distance when you're crowded around a console or laying down tracks in a cramped booth.
That's not even mentioning the issue with masks or the potential for bacteria to spread through microphones.
With your own home studio, you don't have to worry about any of that.
It's your own personal space to create, and then get creative within!
If you're worried about how working alone will affect your creativity, don't fret! - You can still collaborate with musicians remotely.
Modern tech makes that easier than ever. Just open up a video call, send files digitally, and collaborate at a safe distance!
There's no denying that this pandemic can take a toll on one's mental health.
What better distraction than music?
In a home studio, you can continue to express yourself creatively. You can feel productive and make the most out of this tough time.
You're not the only one finding ways to stay occupied at home. The music industry has taken a big hit during COVID19 due to the inability to perform.
The jury is still out about how this will impact the industry moving forward.
But, studies are showing that people are still listening during the pandemic.
Upticks in streaming services make this a prime opportunity to get your work heard.
Building a home studio is much easier than you think. With the right gear, you can get professional quality results by recording at home.
Interestingly enough, recording gear sales have soared during COVID19. You can easily find equipment online and get it shipped right to your front door!
The possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing gear for your home studio.
But, here's a list of some core essentials you need to get started:
First things first, you'll need a solid computer. Your computer is going to be the brains of the operation.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a computer with all the bells and whistles. As long as your system meets some basic specification requirements, it should serve you just fine. Depending on the build, you may even be able to start your studio with a laptop!
In addition to your computer, you'll need a DAW.
A DAW, or digital audio workstation, is a piece of software that can replace a console. It handles mixing, processing, effects, mastering, and more.
There are several PC and Mac-compatible DAW's out there. Here are some of our favorites:
You need some way to turn pure analog sound waves into a digital signal for your DAW to process. That's where the audio interface comes in.
An audio interface box connects to your computer and greatly expands its audio capabilities.
You have a lot of options here. We won't get into the technical details but, the best choice for you will depend on your budget and needs.
Click here to check out 5 FREE DAW’s for your music creation!
If you want to keep costs low, you can choose a simple interface with a single instrument or microphone input.
More complex equipment will give you multiple inputs that you can connect to secondary external gear.
The last piece of crucial gear is monitoring equipment. You can get a nice pair of studio headphones or larger monitors. Whatever the case may be, don't skimp on quality here!
The quality of sound you hear can ultimately make or break your work, so spend some time choosing equipment that'll help you create the best music possible.
Microphones and instruments are good to have, but not a requirement. With all of the virtual instruments out there, it's not hard to create tracks inside the box.
That said, it does pay to have some gear on hand. A good microphone is versatile enough to pick up vocals and record acoustic instruments. For the most flexibility, choose a dynamic microphone. As you continue to expand your studio, you can upgrade to condenser or ribbon microphones with different polar patterns.
Chances are, you already have your instruments on hand. However, you can greatly expand your musical capabilities with a MIDI keyboard. MIDI keyboards let you take full advantage of your virtual instrument collection while giving you a more tactile way to play.
The type of room your studio is in matters just as much as your gear. Any spare bedroom will work for basic recording and mixing. However, you can get better results if you choose your room strategically.
Large open rooms, such as the basement, are best. They have fewer confined walls for the sound to bounce around, which will make placing your studio monitors much easier. Plus, basements don't have any shared walls that sound could travel through.
During the COVID19 pandemic, doing major soundproofing work is nearly impossible. But, that doesn't mean that you can't make your home studio a bit easier on the ears!
Acoustic treatment techniques will help you address the room's shortcomings so that you can create the flattest recording environment possible.
There are several things you can do to address reflections, standing waves, phase cancellation, and other sound issues. The easiest is to use simple sound-absorbing panels.
After positioning your monitors, place the panels against walls where reflections hit. You can also invest in diffusion panels or bass traps to make your home studio sound as good as possible.
There's no getting around the woes of COVID19. But just because the world outside has stopped doesn't mean that you have to hit pause on your creativity.
With a home studio, you can get back to doing what you love. It's a safe way to stay productive while pushing your musical boundaries even further!
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Music has always led the path and I’ve been following doubtlessly. After many years of recording in studios as a singer of a swing/cabaret band, I decided to create my own home recording studio and built a blog about it. It involves exactly the things I love the most which are writing, creating, and learning. And that’s why I called the blog Sounds Wow. It really does! Soundswow.com
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