Home Music Studio for Under $300
Classic Electric Guitar
Co-Published: BeYourArt.com and The North Shoreian Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 4, Practicalities of the Surviving Artist, July 2009. Article written by Kevin Lee.
For a beginning musician, the world is your oyster… if you have the cash. Most of us don’t; so, for those on a limited budget, I’ll offer suggestions on putting together a top-notch home recording studio for around $300.
PC users will find a wide variety of sound editing programs available both online and in stores such as Guitar Center. The hard part is figuring out which one is right for you. There are freeware programs, such as Audacity, which will provide basic-level support for beginner musicians, all the way up to the professional-grade Pro Tools. For those who are looking for near studio grade sound on a budget, one would have to turn to a program like Acoustica Mixcraft 4. This sound recording/editing program gives the PC user a great deal of creative liberty.
Mixcraft 4 is affordable, with a price tag of $65 and allows users to have eight separate instruments tracks on one master track. The built-in effects are surprisingly good and allow a guitarist to sound as if he is either in a London flat, recording a loud rock riff, or in an open hall, playing an acoustic guitar to the crowd’s content. Some of the best songs I’ve recorded were done on my old Dell Laptop, using Mixcraft.
PC users must always keep in mind hardware restrictions. Before you purchase a sound-editing program, make sure you computer can handle the basic hardware requirements. If not, try to upgrade your RAM, which will prove surprisingly simple, especially if you have a tower with extra memory slots. Once your PC is ready, use a USB or Firewire interface to connect those lovely instruments to your now capable computer. There are plenty of choices out there with a price range varying from $30 to over $4,000. What matters is your budget.
On the low end of the spectrum ($30-$200) are a wide variety of brands offering countless products. Notable names like M-Audio, Line 6, and Yamaha all offer affordable mid to low-range hardware, that come bundled with software. A surprising product in this category comes from Lexicon, with their Omega Desktop Recording Studio. The interface features a front 1/4” mono instrument input, two XLR microphone inputs in the back, as well as 4 1/4” inputs. Connecting via USB, the interface works with PC and Mac.
The studio package found on Musician’s Friend also comes with a free copy of Cubase LE recording software. This program should work well for most musicians. It has the standard features one would expect, plus a few additional ones. The number of single tracks allowed on each master track is so high, you’ll have to try to hire an orchestra to use them all. The built-in effects are decent, but considering the price, it’s a small price to pay. The hardware attached can handle your distorted amplifier, so if you need to record some metal, do it the old fashioned way.
Studio
Earlier I said the Omega works with PC and Mac, which is true, however with a Mac, you have to do a bit of tinkering. This is a product that was primarily designed for PC. When you first plug it into a Mac, you may notice audio coming from only one speaker, or no audio at all. Or you may not be able to record. Don’t worry, all these problems are easily fixed by going into the preferences panel for your recording software. For most middle class Mac users, the standard recording program is GarageBand. The drivers will automatically change from the Mac audio to the Lexicon device. Simply change the output to the built-in speakers, make Lexicon your default recording device, and you’re in the clear!
Now that you’ve got your computer hooked up to your interface, which is plugged into your instruments, you’re ready to rock. Or are you? This may seem basic, but be very careful where you set up your home studio. Try to avoid spaces near windows or other reflective surfaces, since sound can bounce into your space from noises down the hall.
There are many ways to help dampen sounds from your surroundings. First, make sure your computer isn’t running hot. That fan can become the bane of your existence. There are simple ways to keep your computer quiet. Make sure your computer fan is in the open and clear of dust. A confined space will trap in heat and dust. Another way to keep the silence is to run as few programs as possible. This will allow for maximum computer speed. Sometimes keeping doors shut just isn’t enough to eliminate outside noise. Try hanging a large blanket or comforter over the doorframe. This will reduce the sound from outside, and prevent local sounds from reflecting onto your next hit single. If you’re not recording in an actual studio, you may have to get crafty.
Even on a budget, you can still turn out some quality tracks. With the right computer, interface, software and setup you can have professional sound, for less than $300. Even though your equipment may not be brand new or a brand name, you can still make it work. Remember that even the biggest stars started out small. Weird Al got his start with a tape recorder and accordion, just think what you can do with a computer and some determination.
Kevin Lee has been playing music for over 10 years, most recently with his bands Venom ‘n’ Carnage and The Amalgamus Forum, singing, playing guitar, banjo, mandolin, and piano in the latter project. He is grateful to have been given the chance to let his creativity flourish, with the support of his loving wife.
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