Work on music at all hours of the day in your home music studio.
Digital software and computers have made it much easier to set up a high-quality music studio at home without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment. A home studio allows you to record your own music anytime without worrying about studio fees. It also creates a new business venture for you: Other artists pay you to record at your studio.
Find a Space
The space in your home is crucial to a successful studio. Find a space that doesn't see a lot of foot traffic and that you can devote entirely to your studio, such as a basement or extra rooms. Ideally, you want a space big enough for a control room and at least one recording room. The two rooms should be separated by a wall, but you should also cut out a window and install glass in the hole so people from the control room can see people in the recording room, and vice versa. You can still make it work without the separated rooms if needed, but the space will likely be limited. Ideally, the walls should be insulated to absorb sound; sound bounces easier off of concrete or brick walls than off of drywall. However, you can always add foam padding or gypsum board to the walls to absorb sound and soundproof the room, if desired.
Get the Equipment
Good equipment is essential for producing great-sounding recordings. The more money you have, the better equipment you can buy, but you can set up a basic studio for just a few hundred dollars. First, buy an all-purpose microphone, which allows you to record vocals as well as instruments; buy more than one if you have the money. You also need a powerful computer with digital recording software such as Ableton Live or Pro Tools (see Resources). You can download free trials or buy older versions of the software to save money. You should also consider buying a pair of high-quality headphones or a small monitor speaker set up to listen to the recordings. If your budget allows, purchase other equipment such as guitars, amps, keyboards, a drum kit and additional microphones designed for different tones or frequencies.
Test the Studio
Before you conduct any real recording sessions, set up all of your equipment and test out the studio's abilities. Record various instruments and tracks yourself, or ask any musician friends you may have to come over to record. Test out the recording equipment and hone your skills as a producer by mixing various tracks on your computer software. Burn a CD of the music and listen on various stereos to see how the songs sound. The more practice you have working in the studio, the better you'll become as a studio engineer and producer.
Market Your Studio
When you're ready to turn your studio into a profitable business, start marketing it to potential customers. Place fliers up at record stores in your area, create a website and use popular social-media sites to get the word out about your studio. You can also take out ads in local newspapers or magazines, or even spring for a radio or TV ad if your budget allows. Ask all of your friends to help you spread the word, especially those who may hang out with musicians. Offer a discount or a free short session to help get your studio business off the ground.
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