5 Upgrades That Make a REAL Difference in Your Home Music Studio

We can all benefit from the boom of musical technology that gives the regular musician control over their work that was once reserved for specialized sound engineers. Music can be recorded, mixed, mastered and released quicker than ever before and without the need for expensive recording studios. At the same time, it can be difficult to discern which tools you need and which are just a luxury. Before we begin, there are musical instruments and tools that are much better just the way they are and without the need for any technological advancements like the known hand percussion instrument: cajon box drums. You can check out the top 10 best cajon box drums as reviewed by MusicCritic.

If you’re outgrowing your current home music studio setup, read this guide for changes you can make that will make a tangible difference in your music-making experience.

• Power Conditioner

Regular power strips work for the average person or someone for whom music recording is a hobby. Once you start accruing valuable equipment and expecting flawless sound, however, you need a way to protect and ensure those assets. That’s where power conditioners come in.

AC electricity is contaminated with noisey sounds like snapping, cracking and hissing. Your appliances and computer all add to the noise traffic going on in the electrical transfer of your audio. Power conditioners act as a port to filter AC electricity to provide cleaner, quieter energy to your equipment. The result is clearer audio and higher quality sound. Additionally, power conditioners protect your precious equipment from power surges and spikes. This is definitely one of the first investments you should make in your studio.

• DAW Software

Are you still using the freeware DAW or original “beginner” software you got when you first started? Good choices for intermediate and better musicians include Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro or Pro Tools.

Professional DAWs may seem intimidating, but you can learn very quickly with the help of Ableton tutorials, for example, to get you started. Once you know the basics, most software is developed to be very intuitive and explain itself as you use it. The added functions and capabilities, as well as sound libraries and digital instruments available with these advanced DAWs make them well worth the time and money put into them.

• Sound Panels and Diffusers

Echoing and sound reflection can seriously detract from a recording and take ages to fix. By wisely placing diffusers and sound panels around your studio, you can virtually eliminate this effect.

Sound diffusers aim to even disperse sound; instead of absorbing the unwanted sound waves, diffusers reflect them back in a more directed way, evenly distributed across the room. Sound panels, on the other hand, absorb unwanted reverberation from surfaces which may effect sound quality, like your walls. A combination of these pieces of equipment will make your recordings sound truer to life and intention.

• Microphone

The $89 microphone you got when you first starter sure is a trooper. It has gotten you through some great recordings and you’re grateful, but it may be time for an upgrade. Consider your needs, whether your greatest need right now is a condenser or dynamic microphone, though most people find they need to upgrade to condenser mics for better quality home recording. Check out this guide if you’re looking for a great microphone to record vocals. Live performances often benefit from dynamic mics, so think about your personal applications.

Our suggestions for mid-priced upgrades include the Sennheiser MD421 and the Rode NT1A. Remember to upgrade your mic cables to match the quality of your microphone.

• Studio Monitors

Sound treating your studio should be the first step to healing impurities with your sound, and after that you can upgrade you studio monitors to better relay the improved sound to you. Without optimizing the quality of sound that can be generated in your room with furniture and equipment placement, size and the aid of diffusers and panels, you won’t notice a difference with the sound from your studio monitors.

Once you’ve treated your studio, look for upgraded monitors like Yamaha HS8s or PreSonus Eris E8s.

Most importantly…

don’t forget to have fun. Money and gadgets aren’t everything, especially in the music business. Remember that at the heart of this is your passion to create truer music and better sound. These are just tools you can use to get you there.