Run Your Home Studio the Right Way

We told you about our free music marketing e-book* in this post. We’re pulling out another piece of information from it that you can use: creating the perfect home studio. Many good indie artists have tons of talent, but sound like garbage on a track because they don’t take the time to properly mix and master their album. Don’t end up in the same boat. Whether you go to a local studio or down into your basement to produce, we have tips that will save you time, money, …and embarrassment.

Local Studio

Although this is usually a more expensive option than going the DIY route, choosing the right studio that fits your needs will give you the highest quality record. Yeah, we’re talking up to $500 a track here. But that includes recording time, mixing and mastering. To really make your dollar stretch far, remember

• Time is money. Don’t waste any—do all of your writing, practicing, and other prep work outside of the studio.
• Do your homework. To pick the right studio, you need to do some research and ask reputable artists where they go. Make sure they specialize in your style and genre of music. Be sure that you like the sounds they produce.
•  Ask questions. Find out what their recording process is, how they conduct their mixing/mastering, and if they have any special deals. Also, ask what type of software they use so that you’re not in the dark when dealing with the engineer.

Home Studio

Building a home studio is the most economic way you can finish your album. Plus, it eliminates any excuses (like lack of money) you may have if you couldn’t work from home. But the key to making it possible is investing in the right software and hardware. They don’t always have to be expensive, but you need to know the difference between trash and treasure. For a…

…Microphone, buy a Shure or Blue model to get the most bang for your buck.

…Preamp, buy a good interface that connects your mics and speakers to your computer seamlessly.

…Set of headphones, don’t just buy one—pick up two sets of high-quality ones so you can check your mixes against each other. Your headphones are even more important than your speakers.

…Set of speakers, you don’t have to spend a ton here. Just get a decent set (or two, to check your mixes).

…Few extras, definitely invest in the following accessories: mic pop filter, mic stand, and headphone amp.

Want More?

In our e-book, we also have links to the specific pieces of equipment with pricing you’ll need to set up a solid home studio. Check out our page to find out how you can obtain our free manual.

*Click the link and select either Deal 1 or Deal 3 to get our manual. The bonus with Deal 3 is that we’ll hook you up with 100 exclusive Bari Beats, too!