The cost-effectiveness of a mobile music studio setup is unmatched. The convenience of coming home after a hard day’s work and plugging in your guitar, mixing your tracks on the spot, without needing to worry about time, takes away all the stress and anxiety that come with studio days. So instead of spending your Saturday and Sunday nights working on boring songs, you can spend that time actually enjoying yourself while recording your latest hit. No need to go through the trauma of setting up the equipment, no need to fight the crowd that forms outside to listen and enjoy your music. Instead, you enjoy all of these benefits in your own space and you save all the money in your pocket!
There are several good reasons why you should consider a mobile music studio setup over a studio at home. For starters, most mobile equipment is quite light and easy to carry around. This saves you a lot of time and effort when recording at home. Instead of lugging around a big bulky drum set, you can simply take along your laptop and a microphone stand, and you are good to go. On top of this, most of the good condo models that allow you to record in your home will have a soundproof room, making sure that all of your recordings are kept safe and sound.
When you look for the best home recording studio monitors, it’s important that the speakers are able to reproduce clear tones without excessive noise distortion. A lot of these audio equipment products will use transducers to make the waves inside the speaker cabinets. However, not all models are made the same. There are transducers that generate more bass sounds and others that create more of a treble response. You’ll want to find a set that has the best sound reproduction ability to keep the sounds from being washed out or overly bass or trebled.
It’s also a good idea to invest in a pair of headphones so that you can hear your mixes through other rooms in your house. Having headphones on hand makes it easier to hear your mixes without distracting others in the area. Headphones can be expensive, but if you buy a pair that has a good reputation then they should last you a while without breaking down. Some good reference monitors to consider include those made by Monster, Sennheiser and Fostex.
In addition to your basic recording equipment, it’s important that you have a good quality recording software program. These days there are numerous options available that vary in price. Ultimately, the price will come down to how much functionality and features you need from your software. As long as you don’t end up with a program that lacks in either functionality or variety, then it’s alright to spend less for a good quality product.
In addition to basic studio monitors and mixing gear, you should also consider adding an audio interface (or mic) that can be used with your headphones or mixers without disturbing anyone in the surrounding area. A good quality interface will transfer your signal very smoothly over any type of audio interface. There are many types available and each one is designed to fit specific needs. Prices range widely and so will their quality, so be sure to do some research before making a purchase.
One final component of your package is a set of electronic condenser mics. Electric condenser microphones are ideal for recording because they can capture the entire sound field (including the ambient noise) for a single recording. Dynamic microphones tend to capture a portion of the sound field and can result in some additional clicks, hisses, or feedback. They are more commonly used for studio recordings that have a lot of back and forth interaction between vocalists or guitarists.
If all this equipment seems overwhelming then consider one simple but highly useful addition – a monitoring system with input and output jacks. This system will allow you to keep all of your equipment in one location so that it is easy to locate the input/output jacks without messing up your desktop or other equipment. Also, there are many high quality monitor units on the market today that are specifically designed for home recording. Focusrite makes a few different models that can suit just about any budget.
Dan is a musician who plays at local bars and perform small concerts with his band. He also writes and produces their own music. He also gives lessons on playing guitar and piano.