Budget Recording Studio

Building a budget recording studio is easy. Studio equipment is getting cheaper and cheaper every year. And the stuff you can buy for relatively little money is often incredibly complex and professional.

When I list the things you could get for your budget recording studio, I make the assumption that you already own a pretty good computer. (Go to Building a Home Recording Studio to find out what kind of computer you'll need.) Even those who don't intend to record songs, often have one. If you're one of the few who don't, borrow one from a friend or family member.

Prices change, of course. The prices I write here are estimates.

$100 Budget

These days even about $100 is enough to start recording your songs. You should get these for your budget recording studio:

✓ a Shure SM58 or a Blue Snowball USB Microphone ($100)
✓ download Audacity (PC/Mac), which is a digital audio editor and recording application (free) or if you have a Mac, use GarageBand (part of the iLife package) for this purpose

$500 Budget

For this kind of money you can get some pretty advanced stuff for your budget recording studio.

✓ Shure SM58 or a Blue Snowball USB Microphone ($100)
✓ Cubase 6 (PC/Mac) or some other digital audio workstation ($400)

$1000 Budget

For $1000 you can build a home recording studio that will easily compete with the professional ones. For this budget, I recommend:

✓ Rode NT1 Condenser Microphone ($230)
✓ Cubase 6 (PC/Mac) or some other digital audio workstation ($400)
✓ Studio monitor: M-Audio Studiophile AV40 Powered Monitor Speakers($150)
✓ M-Audio Firewire Solo US35030 Firewire Audio Interface ($170) to upgrade your computer's sound card and get a more professional sounding recording
✓ MIDIMAN MIDISPORT 1x1 Multiplatform USB MIDI Interface ($40)

$2000 Budget

Wow, you must be really serious about songwriting! (And good at saving for the important things…)

✓ Rode NT2A Condenser Microphone($400)
✓ Logic Studio (Mac) and/or Pro Tools 10 (PC/Mac) digital audio workstation ($450 & $550)
✓ Propellerhead Reason 6 (PC/Mac), it's a virtual rack of instruments and effects ($300)
✓ Masterwriter (PC/Mac) creative software for writing lyrics ($200)
✓ Studio monitor: M-Audio Studiophile AV40 Powered Monitor Speakers($150)
✓ M-Audio Firewire Solo US35030 Firewire Audio Interface ($170) to upgrade your computer's sound card and get a more professional sounding recording
✓ MIDIMAN MIDISPORT 1x1 Multiplatform USB MIDI Interface ($40)
✓ Behringer PP400 Ultra-Compact Phono Preamp ($20)

If you have even more money for a home recording studio, you'll basically get the same stuff but their bigger and more expensive versions. And if you record live instruments, it's a whole new story. Buying the instrument itself, connecting it to your studio, etc. is going to be added to the expenses. If you'd like a reliable, versatile and relatively inexpensive digital piano / MIDI instrument in your studio, I recommend the Yamaha DGX640W Digital Piano ($800).

Having all of this equipment is nice. But you'll also need to figure out how to use these tools to create professional quality recordings. I recommend the Easy Home Recording Blueprint course for this purpose. It walks you through the process step by step. And with the help of the writer of the course, Owen Critchley, you might need less recording equipment than you think!

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