Home Recording Studio

When choosing studio monitors for your home recording studio, it's easy to get distracted by frequency plots and technical jargon. Here's what really counts: Active Vs. Speakers need an amplifier to produce sound. If a speaker is active, it means the amplifier is built-in. Building a home studio was once a daunting and expensive investment that only the most dedicated home recording enthusiast would dream of doing. Modern computers and high-quality, affordable recording software and audio interfaces have changed all that, bringing professional mixing and production tools to anybody willing to take the time to.

1. Home Recording Studio Mac
2. Home Recording Studio Pc
3. Home Recording Studio Equipment
4. Home Recording Studio Gear
5. Home Recording Studio Software

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Are you a musician, singer, or do you have dreams of being able to make your own music through music production?

Not sure where to start?

This guide is your one-stop place for learning how to set up your own home recording studio and get started making music.

Here's what you will learn in this guide:

• How Much Does It Cost to Build a Home Studio?
• What Do You Need to Make a Recording Studio?
• How to Set Up a Recording Studio in Your Room?
• What is Acoustic Treatment? and How to Acoustically Treat a Room?
• How to Properly Arrange Your Desk and Room?
• What Recording Studio Software Do You Need?
• Some Bonus Content That Every Beginner Will Find Useful!

Starting out as a beginner, you may have various questions about home studio essentials, how to make a home studio, or even just how to record music at home.

Obviously the biggest concern for a lot people who want to make a DIY recording studio is the price.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Recording Studio?

A good home studio can be built for around $3000 or $4000.

However, there's no exact number.

This is something that heavily depends on your budget and the equipment you purchase.

If you're looking to build a small recording studio, obviously the price will be lower.

What Do You Need for a Home Studio Setup?

Regardless of whether you want something more professional but still a simple home recording studio, or you just want to build a basic bedroom recording studio, the equipment you need remains the same.

I highly recommend you make a recording studio equipment list for things you plan to buy, and check items off of that list as you purchase them.

Below is a comprehensive list of ideal music production equipment for beginners.

1. A Computer

Any Mac or Windows computer with a powerful processor and at least 8GB of RAM is necessary.

2. An External Hard Drive or Solid State Drive

Most computers will run out of space quickly with music project files and plugins.

An external hard drive is a good place to store your projects and stay organized.

3. A Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW

This is recording studio software that you will use to make your music with.

Great options include Ableton Live (Mac and Windows), Logic Pro X (Mac), and FL Studio (Mac and Windows).

4. An Audio Interface

This item is what you plug microphones or instrument cables into in order to get your sound to go into your computer.

A great quality yet affordable option is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. For more information, make sure to check out our guide to the best budget audio interfaces for beginners and our list of most recommended audio interfaces this year.

5. Headphones

A high quality pair of headphones, like the Audio Technica M20x, are necessary.

These are by far the best cheap studio headphones (under $50) on the market.

6. Studio Monitors

These can get expensive, but they're even more necessary than headphones.

A decently cheap pair that works well for beginners is the KRK ROKIT.

We also have a special article on our website that covers best budget studio monitors under $200.

6.1. Studio Monitor Stands

You set your studio monitors on these to put them at the appropriate height so they're at ear level with you.

7. A MIDI Keyboard

This is a keyboard that plugs into your computer and enables you to play virtual instruments in your DAW.

A very popular beginner model is the Akai MPK Mini MKII.

If you're a serious piano player, however, you might want something with more keys or weighted keys, like the M-Audio Keystation 88 or the Novation Impulse 49.

8. A Microphone

If you plan on recording vocals or instruments like guitar or bass, you'll need a microphone.

One of my favorites is the Rode NT2-A.

8.1. A Pop Filter

This is a screen that goes between your mouth and the microphone to prevent popping noises from when you say your 'p' or 't' sounds.

8.2. A Reflection Filter

A reflection filter goes behind the microphone and works to prevent sound from going out farther into your recording studio room and bouncing off of walls.

8.3. A Microphone Stand

This is self explanatory, it holds the microphone.

8.4. A Shock Mount

A shock mount stabilizes the microphone in the stand.

9. XLR Cables

These cables are what you'll use to connect the microphone to the audio interface. Check out our special guide to learn why getting a high-quality XLR cable is important.

10. Instrument Cables

You'll use these to plug a guitar or guitar amp into the audio interface.

11. A Desk

Make sure you choose one that's big enough to hold the computer, monitors, MIDI keyboard, and audio interface.

12. A Chair

Find one that you're comfortable sitting in for long periods of time in front of your computer.

13. Acoustic Panels, Diffuser Panels, and Bass Traps

These are one of the most important things you'll need for a studio, as they directly affect the sound that you hear.

They can get pretty expensive but there are a few different companies that sell acoustic treatment packages with these items in them, which is usually cheaper than buying each piece separately.

Choosing a Room for Your Home Recording Studio

An ideal room for a recording studio is one that is big. The bigger the better.

This allows for more room for gear and musicians, but a bigger room also provides you with better sound.

Not only should you choose a big room, but you should also choose one that is quiet.

Things like cars, chirping birds, and other outside noises will pose a problem when you record if your room is not one of the quieter ones in your home.

How to Make a Recording Studio in Your Room?

1. Take everything out of the room that you can. Clear up as much floor space as possible, and take down any paintings, posters, or anything else that is on the wall, and get rid of anything that vibrates.
2. Set up your acoustic panels and bass traps.
3. Arrange your desk/work area to your liking.
4. Arrange the rest of your room as you see fit.

Acoustic Treatment for Home Studio

What are Room Acoustics?

Room acoustics are the way sound behaves in an enclosed space.

Acoustic treatment for a home studio, or any studio, is extremely important.

When sound comes out of a speaker, it bounces off of walls or any other objects in its path.

This results in an inaccurate representation of the sound you hear coming out of your monitors, which will directly affect your final mix.

There are three items that you will need for acoustic treatment:

1. Acoustic Panels

– these absorb the mid and high frequencies.

Make sure you get acoustic panels that are 3-4 inches thick, or more.

Panels that are 1-2 inches thick won't have enough substance to really make an impact on your room.

2. Bass Traps

– these absorb the bass frequencies, but most are porous enough to also absorb mid and high frequencies.

3. Diffusers

– these reflect sound and cause it to spread to different areas of the room.

How to Acoustically Treat a Room?

1. Analyze your bare room for how much absorption and diffusion you already have.
2. Mount absorption panels, diffuser panels, and bass traps based on your analysis.

Once you've removed everything that you can from your room, it's time to figure out what you'll need to do as far as acoustic treatment goes.

Walk around your room, stand in as many areas as you can. Yell, clap, talk, sing, make noise.

Listen carefully to how to sound travels and what it sounds like to you.

You could get one of two outcomes (worst case and best case, respectively), but you'll probably have a mix of both:

1. A metallic ringing sound that is harsh and unpleasant to listen to (usually occurs if your room is small and square-shaped).
2. A mid to large reverb that is pleasant to the ear (usually in large rooms with diffusive objects).

Depending on your harsh-to-pleasant reverb ratio, you'll need to add the correct amount of acoustic panels and diffusers.

• If you have more of outcome #1: you need more absorption (more acoustic panels).
• If you have more of outcome #2: you need less absorption.

Most medium to large sized recording studio rooms don't need diffusion panels, so you likely will need acoustic panels and bass traps, but you can always experiment with diffusion panels and see if they improve your sound.

Exception 1: A Bedroom Studio

If you're making a budget recording studio in a small bedroom, it'll probably already have a fair amount of absorption with all of the items in it.

To manage any extra potential sound issues, a few bass traps should be okay to absorb bass frequencies, which are usually more problematic in small recording studios.

A bedroom studio isn't ideal because of the low ceilings and small room size, but if that's all you have to work with, you can still make do.

Exception 2: A Studio Where You Need a Flat Sound for Recording Vocals

If you're on a small budget, you probably won't have the money to make a whole vocal recording booth.

If you also plan to use reverb plugins, natural room reverb can cause problems.

In this case, you will need your room to sound drier (less natural reverb).

Having an extra dead/flat/dry room will affect the sound accuracy that comes out of your monitors.

With this trade-off, you'll probably have to mix mainly with headphones.

The drier you need your room to be, the more absorption panels you'll need.

Where to Place Acoustic Panels, Diffusers, and Bass Traps?

• Acoustic panels: on the walls; make sure they're staggered (panel, skip one, panel, skip one, etc).
• Diffusers: on the walls, also staggered.
• Bass traps: in the corners of the walls and where the walls meet.

How to Hang Acoustic Panels, Diffusers, and Bass Traps?

You can purchase specific mounting/hanging hardware for acoustic panels, diffusers, and bass traps.

Audimute has some really reliable acoustic treatment mounting hardware.

Home Recording Studio Design: How to Arrange Your Desk and Room?

The Desk

The general idea of how a desk should be arranged is that the computer is in the center and the studio monitors are on either side of it at ear level.

Everything else should just be laid out in a way that is easiest for you to access each piece of equipment.

Some people use multiple desks, some use just one. Whatever works best for you should be fine.

The Room

Your desk will obviously be the most important part of the room.

Ideally, setting your desk up fairly close to a wall is best, so that the sound from your monitors has a good distance to travel before reflecting off of the opposite wall (or being absorbed by acoustic panels).

As for microphone placement, make sure your microphone is a good distance away from the desk in order to avoid picking up the sound of the computer fan.

If you have a guitar amp in the room, make sure it's also away from the microphone to prevent any interference from the electromagnetic waves that the amp gives off.

Keep in mind whether you'll be recording and making music by yourself or if you'll be doing it with other people as well, as this will affect your decision on where to place things in your studio.

Keep watch for some future blog posts on further recording studio ideas and design.

Recording Studio Software: DAWs, Effects Plugins, and Virtual Instruments

DAWs

As far as recording studio software goes, digital audio workstations, or DAWs, are where all the magic happens.

It's where you record your tracks, mix, and master.

Some DAWs are better for certain genres, some are good for pretty much anything.

Since you'll be spending pretty much all of your time in a DAW, make sure you find one that suits your needs.

Keep in mind that all of these DAWs have a learning curve.

Some popular DAWs include:

• Pro Tools by Avid (A big industry standard, great for most genres)
• FL Studio by Image Line (Best for electronic and hip hop music)
• Live by Ableton (Extremely versatile, great for any genre, but excels in electronic and hip hop)
• Logic Pro X by Apple (Good for most genres)
• Cubase by Steinberg (Good for electronic and hip hop music)
• Reason (Has a very analog look to it, very straightforward)
• Cakewalk by Sonar (Lots of built in instruments, good for any genre)
• Studio One by PreSonus (Kind of a mix between Logic, Cakewalk, and FL Studio)
• Samplitude by MAGIX (A good basic DAW)

If you're on a really tight budget, there's a decent DAW called Reaper, which has a free trial.

Once the free trial ends, a notification box pops up every time Reaper is started up, asking you to buy the full version.

However, it only stays up for 5 seconds and then you can continue using Reaper and all of its features.

So if you don't mind the pop up window at the start, Reaper will do.

Effects Plugins

What are plugins?

Plugins are software devices that manipulate how an audio signal sounds.

What are plugins for?

Plugins are for composing, recording, and manipulating how audio sounds.

Types of effects plugins include:

• Time-based effects (Reverb, delay, echo)
• Spectral effects (EQ, panning)
• Modulation effects (Flanger, phaser, tremolo, chorus)
• Dynamic effects (Compression, distortion)
• Filters

To use an effect plugin, add it to the track of your choice in your DAW, and tailor the settings to your liking.

The order you put your effects in will change up the sound.

Some of the industry standard plugins are sold by Waves, Universal Audio, and FabFilter, although there are also plenty of less expensive (and free) plugins out there.

Most DAWs come with stock effects as well.

Virtual Instruments

Virtual instruments are exactly what they sound like: instruments that you can play on your computer, in your DAW (or sometimes without a DAW if the instrument has a standalone version).

There are virtual guitars, pianos, synthesizers, brass instruments, percussive instruments, strings… pretty much anything you can imagine.

Virtual instruments are a lot like plugins in the sense that you add them into the effects chain of individual tracks in your DAW.

You can purchase virtual instruments online; there are plenty of websites that have extremely realistic instruments including 8DIO, Native Instruments, and Spectrasonics.

Some popular virtual instruments include:

• Omnisphere (by Spectrasonics)
• Trilian (by Spectrasonics)
• Keyscape (by Spectrasonics)
• Massive (by Native Instruments)
• Nexus (by reFX)
• Serum (by Xfer Records)

Recording Methods

• Microphone to audio interface
• Amp or instrument plugged directly into audio interface
• Mic'd amp or instrument to audio interface
• MIDI keyboard directly to DAW

Important Concepts and Terms to Remember

• Mixing: combining different instruments into channels and using audio effects to process them.
• Stereo: a two-channel audio signal.
• Mono: a one-channel audio signal.
• Clipping: a form of waveform distortion caused when a digital system or amplifier is pushed past its maximum limits.
• Gain staging: making sure the level of each instrument going into the signal chain is relatively the same as when it comes out of the signal chain.
• Signal/effects chain: the path an audio source goes through to reach the master output track on your computer.
• Headroom: how much volume you have before the master track starts to clip.
• Leveling: balancing the volumes of each track.
• EQ: a hardware or software effect that allows specific frequencies to be increased or decreased.
• High pass filter: an EQ curve allowing all the high frequencies to pass through.
• Low pass filter: an EQ curve allowing all the low frequencies to pass through.
• Panning: the distribution of a sound in a stereo sound field.
• Compression: a hardware or software effect that reduces the volume of a waveform when it reaches a certain level in volume.
• Reverb: the effect produced after sounds bounce off of different objects.
• Delay: a hardware or software plugin that delays when audio is played through it.
• Saturation: a subtle form of distortion that is pleasing to the ears.
• Distortion: an audio effect that creates a (potentially unwanted) fuzzy sound.
• Stereo imaging: refers to space in a mix.
• Sidechaining/sidechain compression: compression that is triggered by another source of audio.
• Automation: input information that can be used to control specific parameters of different effects.

The Whole Production Process

If you're looking to be hands on in the complete production of a song, from its very start to the very end of it, this is basically how a generic production process would go if you were to break it down in an organized fashion:

1. Composing
2. Recording
3. Editing
4. Arranging
5. Mixing
6. Mastering

Composing

In the composition stage, you would write your lyrics, music, etc, and basically come up with all the melodies and riffs.

For a lot of people, composing happens throughout the creation of a track, not just a pre-recording thing.

Recording

Obviously in this stage, you would record your instruments, vocals, and anything else you might want to put in the track that would need to be recorded.

This also includes writing in MIDI with virtual instruments if you choose to use them.

Editing

Editing your tracks is basically cutting out unnecessary areas of silence, correcting pitch, crossfading audio clips, moving clips to the correct start times, etc.

Arranging

Arranging a song is a structural thing. If you've already figured out what parts you want in your verse, chorus, etc, it shouldn't be too much of a lengthy process.

Arranging is simply dragging each instrument recording into its proper place in the song.

Mixing

Mixing is quite possibly the lengthiest part of making a song, especially for a beginner.

Here you would add effects, level your tracks, add automation, and things of that nature.

Mastering

I don't recommend that you master your own songs, but if you really want to, mastering is where you would finish up the track by setting its volume to the industry standard volume level, and if needed, add some very slight EQ, compression, or stereo imaging.

How to Record Music?

Each DAW is a little different, but if you need a quick rundown of the basic concept of recording, here's how it's done:

1. Once you've got your microphone, MIDI keyboard, guitar amplifier, or other instrument set up and ready to record, create a new track in your DAW. Make sure the input is set to whatever input you're using, whether it be a MIDI input or an input on your audio interface.
2. Arm the track for recording. There is a button, either in the mixer or on the track settings, that enables the audio signal to go to it. Click this button and play or sing a little to make sure the audio signal is going to the track. If it's not, check your input settings again and make sure your equipment is properly connected.
3. Set your recording volume. Make sure the audio isn't going above 0db on the track meter. Personally, I would make sure the audio signal is peaking at -10db.
4. Hit the 'record' button in the DAW, and begin playing.
5. Hit the 'stop' or 'record' button again to stop recording.

How Exactly Do You Mix a Song?

So many people ask this, especially beginners. The correct answer is something that you might not want to hear: there is no hard and fast way to mix a song.

EQ and compression settings that might work for a guitar in a rock song won't work for a piano in a jazz song, what might work for a Fender guitar might not work for a Gibson guitar.

Every instrument is different, so mixing really relies on your ear.

Developing an ear for mixing can take a while, but don't fret! Everyone has been a beginner.

A Basic Effects Chain Example

Since mixing primarily has to do with effects, here is a very basic example of how you might set up an effects chain.

With a virtual instrument:

Virtual instrument > EQ > compressor > reverb/other effects

Without a virtual instrument:

EQ > compressor > reverb/other effects

Now, all this being said, there are some general guidelines that may help you along the way. Here are a few tips.

Look out for future articles on more in-depth mixing.

1. Get Rid of Any Unnecessary Frequencies When EQing

For example, if you're using a bass sound that has virtually no high frequencies, you can EQ the rest of the high frequencies out of the instrument, as they'll just take up space in the frequency spectrum and make it harder for genuine high frequency instruments to be heard in the mix.

2. Use an Effect Only If You Feel Like the Track Would Benefit From It

If you feel that a guitar recording is even enough in volume, don't slap a compressor on the effects chain unless you think the guitar would sound better with a compressor.

3. Experiment

Take risks and experiment with your plugins to see what sort of sounds you can get.

Do crazy things with them. Eventually you'll find something that works.

4. Mix At a Low Volume

Mixing at low volumes helps your ears to not get fatigued, and if you mix low, you'll have plenty of headroom for when you master your track.

5. Don't Spend Hours At a Time Mixing

This goes hand in hand with the previous tip.

The longer you spend mixing, playing your song over and over again, the more fatigued your ears will become, and it'll be harder and harder for you to point out issues in your mix.

Mix for shorter amounts of time, like 30 minutes to an hour, and then take a rest and come back to it a few hours later or even the next day.

Home Recording Studio Mac

How to Get That 'Professional' Sound?

I hate to break it to you, but the only way you'll get to the point where you're making music at a professional sounding level is by practicing, practicing, and more practicing.

These things take time.

As you develop your ear and become more educated, you'll be able to pick out things in your songs that don't sound good a lot easier.

Resources and Different Ways You Can Improve

Resources

YouTube

When I was first starting out, I watched a ton of videos on home recording studios, how to acoustically treat a room, the best gear to buy, how to mix and master… everything.

This helped me get a good base to start with and helped me get familiar with the basics. Some great channels are Pensado's Place and In The Mix. If you're a hip hop artist or producer, Internet Money has some good videos.

Reddit and Other Forums

Reddit was another helpful place for me once I started actually making songs.

There are several subreddits related to hip hop production, audio engineer, mixing, mastering, etc, where you can post your songs and get feedback from other people who may very well have a more developed ear and more experience than you.

This might've been the most helpful for me once I started making music.

It was very direct and people were able to point out things that could use improvement in regards to how things were mixed.

Aside from Reddit, just any music production forum was helpful to me.

Articles and Guides

Guides similar to this one, and plenty of articles written by more experienced producers gave me more knowledge and tips that people on forums didn't or couldn't give to me.

Most guides that I've come across cost money if you really want to learn a lot.

Internet Money has a good one for hip hop producers.

Articles usually address more specific problems that one might have in a mix, and some people write articles where they analyze someone's mix and explain where the issues are and how to fix those issues.

It can give you a lot of insight if you don't have a very well-developed ear yet.

Books

Sure, books are a little old school, but there are so many great books on acoustic treatment for different rooms, setting up a home studio, recording, mixing, and mastering.

Most of the books I've found are a lot cheaper than the guides that are being sold online by producers, and they've got a plethora of information.

Home Recording Studio Pc

Amazon has a really nice selection of these books, and most of them can be digitally downloaded.

Ways You Can Improve

Keep Learning

Knowledge is key here. The more you know about EQ, compression, how audio travels through a room, what your plugins do, the quicker you'll be able to make music that you're satisfied with because you'll know how to achieve the sound you're trying to get.

Whether you learn by reading articles or guides, watching videos, or by experimenting, don't stop learning.

There is always room for more information.

Make Music Every Day

Even if it's just an 8 bar tune, the more familiar you get with your DAW, plugins, virtual instruments, recording, mixing, etc, the quicker you will improve.

Ask for Feedback

Get feedback from as many other musicians, singers, producers, engineers, etc, as you can.

People with a more developed ear for recording, mixing, and composing will all be able to point out areas where your songs could sound better or where you could do things differently to help your process go even smoother.

Get a Mentor

Find someone who could give you a steady amount of feedback and maybe even go over your recording and mixing sessions with you in person or over Skype, either for free or paid.

Having more direct information at your disposal can save you a lot of time, and you're more likely to learn a bunch of different tips and tricks that others might be hesitant to give out.

Having someone showing you what's wrong can really be helpful when you're stuck and not sure what the issue is, but don't get too reliant on others to fix your problems.

Quick-Access To the 10 Best Home Recording Studio Bundles 👇

Home recording technology is light years ahead of where it was just a few years ago. In this article you're going to learn about the best home recording studio bundles that can easily turn your home into a recording studio.

You don't have to have sky high budgets to make great recordings from home anymore!

Let's dive in.

Best Home Recording Studio Bundle

In This Article

Best Home Recording Studio Bundle

Best Home Recording Studio Bundle – PreSonus AudioBox 96 Audio Interface Full Studio Kit

Presonus have pulled it out of the bag here.

The Presonus Full Studio Kit is the best home recording studio bundle because it comes with the AudioBox 96 interface with built in mic preamps, a pair of Monitor speakers, studio headphones, a condenser microphone, a full blown mix controller, and more.

The included Condenser mic is a large diaphragm condenser which will ….

Add to this, the StudioOne Daw will replace Audacity or GarageBand with a fully functional DAW for recording and editing your tracks and it also includes a bunch of effects plugins to digitally manipulate the sounds you record. Compressors, EQs, reverbs and more.

Literally, the PreSonus AudioBox 96 Full Studio Kit contains everything you need to create and mix amazing sounding tracks without ever leaving the house.

Key Features of the PreSonus AudioBox 96 Full Studio Kit

• The included Launch Control XL gives you hands on control over your mixing for a real studio feel.
• Includes everything you need to set up a studio at home from a DAW to studio monitors and XLR cables.
• The StudioOne DAW allows you to mix and edit your tracks. It also has built in effects for manipulating the sounds that you record.

Best Home Recording Studio Bundle Under $400 – PreSonus Studio One Artist Pack

Home Recording Studio Equipment

The PreSonus Studio One Artist Pack is the best home studio bundle you can get for under $400, and you'll still have some change left over!

This is a jam packed bundle. You get the audiobox USB 96 interface which is a 2×2 USB interface. This will act as your ins and outs for your home studio. It has a pair of XLR/Jack combo inputs on the front as well as MIDI connectivity on the back.

The rest of the bundle is where you really get your money's worth.

You get a pair of Eris studio monitors to handle all your playback duties, a Lyx condenser mic to capture your work, all the cables you could need to hook it all up and a bunch of additional accessories. This includes studio headphones, a mic stand and a pop shield.

The PreSonus Artist Pack bundle is a lot of studio for not a lot of cash!

Key Features of the PreSonus Artist Pack Bundle

• The Eris 3.5 monitors are small but punchy, perfect for mixing demos at home.
• An entire home studio as one package. This is everything you'd need to record at home.
• The Studio24c also has MIDI connectivity which means you can expand your setup further down the line with MIDI gear.

Best Bang for the Buck Home Studio Bundle – Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio

When it comes to first time home studio setups, many people wonder how much of a budget they can stick to.

If you're looking for maximum bang for your buck then this is the best home studio bundle for you. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio contains everything you need for a modest, but functional home recording studio setup.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface is one of the leading interfaces for many studio startups. It has a pair of high headroom Focusrite XLR/Jack combo preamps for capturing pristine audio via a jack cable or microphone.

The included large diaphragm condenser mic allows you to capture studio quality audio from vocals, guitars, amplifiers or anything else you can mic up with it. You also get an XLR cable included to connect it to your interface.

Home Recording Studio Gear

For playback, the Focusrite HP60 headphones offer incredible sound quality. They are closed back for minimal audio leak when used for recording applications and a tight, focused sound for use when mixing.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio also comes with a mic stand for easy positioning of the microphone.

Key Features of the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio

• The included HP60 studio headphones are perfect for recording. Their closed back design reduces audio spill.
• The 2i2 Interface has a pair of XLR/Jack combo inputs with high headroom preamps for a clean audio capture.
• Includes AIR mode which gives your preamps an additional boost making them sound brighter and more open.

Best Cheap Home Studio Bundle- Behringer Voice Studio Bundle

This is a portable setup, and I mean, super portable. The Behringer Voice Studio Bundle is the best cheap home studio bundle around and it gives you all the essentials for recording at home.

Included in this bundle is the Behringer C1 microphone. This is a budget medium diaphragm condenser microphone that packs some serious punch. It has a crisp high end and a very present low end, perfect for capturing the nuances of your voice.

You also get the Mic500USB which is a tube based mic-preamp that doubles as a USB audio interface. Giving you the ability to record guitar, keyboards, bass or other instruments as well as microphones directly to your computer.

The advantage to a tube based interface is that it gives a much warmer, analog recording sound as opposed to a digital setup.

Many vocalists prefer the way their voice interacts with tube technology. Tubes also provide a softer clipping. If you're recording a loud source and introduce any preamp distortion it won't be as harsh as digital distortion.

The also includes

To connect it all up, Voice Studio Bundle has an XLR cable, a swivel stand mount, and includes audio recording software with +100 instrument/effect plugins you can add for free from the Behringer site.

Key Features of the Behringer Voice Studio Bundle

• The MIC500USB interface contains a real tube for warmth and a great analog sound to your voice recordings.
• The C1 microphone included has a crisp high end for capturing all the detail in your voice.
• This setup is very portable, you could put it in a bag and travel with it, laying down vocal ideas anywhere you want.

Best Pro Tools Home Recording Studio Bundle – Mackie Onyx Producer 2

Home Recording Studio Software

If you always dreamed of having a Pro Tools rig, this Mackie Onyx Producer bundle contains all the tools you need to achieve this dream.

This bundle is based around the Onyx Producer 2 interface. This is Mackies portable interface that has a pair of XLR/Jack combo inputs on the front for connecting the included Lyx condenser mic and any other gear you might want to connect.

The interface is also MIDI compatible for all your MIDI keys and synths.

If that's not enough you also get a set of PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitor speakers to hear your recordings and mixes, a set of studio grade headphones for tracking and mixing and all the stands and cables you need to rig it all together.

What about a DAW I hear you ask?

The Mackie Onyx Producer bundle also comes with a copy of Pro Tools First which is a stripped back version of Pro Tools. It's perfect for learning your craft and getting your first taste of the pro audio world.

Key Features of the Mackie Onyx Producer Bundle

• Bundled with accessories including mic stand, pop shield, mic cradle and XLR cables.
• Pro Tools First is a stripped back version of the industry standard software allowing you to learn your craft and record great tracks.
• Includes the bus powered Onyx Producer interface. This draws power from the USB port meaning you can pair it with a laptop for portable recording.

Best Complete Home Recording Studio Bundle: PreSonus AudioBox 96 Audio Interface Full Studio Kit

If you're searching for the best complete home recording studio bundle, you should check out the PreSonus AudioBox 96 Full Studio Kit.

This bundle is perfect for anyone who is just starting out in music production and wants to set up a home studio with ease. In this bundle you will find everything you need to start recording music right away with no fuss.

You get the PreSonus AudioBox 96 interface which is a great 2 in 2 out interface with MIDI functionality. This will allow you to connect XLR cables or jack cables for recording instruments.

Bundled with that you'll find a pair of PreSonus Eris 3.5 monitor speakers. These are great for hearing back what you've recorded and making critical decisions during your mixing. For those late night sessions or recording vocals you'll also find a pair of studio headphones.

The AudioBox Full Studio Kit also includes a condenser mic that will capture a crisp and natural sound from whatever you place it in front of and it's also bundled with a stand for getting the perfect mic position every single time.

Key Features of the PreSonus AudioBox Full Studio Kit

• Includes the StudioOne DAW to handle all your recording and editing work.
• Perfect for anyone setting up their first home studio. This bundle contains everything you need.
• Also includes a Launch Control XL. This is a control surface perfect for mixing your tracks with real faders and knobs.

Best Focusrite Home Studio Bundle Blue Spark and Focusrite Interface Bundle

For anyone who loves Focusrite, this bundle is the best Focusrite home studio bundle out there. It's perfect for anyone just getting their first Focusrite rig together at home and contains the Blue Spark Mic and Focusrite Interface.

The Scarlett Solo interface is a fantastic interface for first time home recording or professional use alike. Even though this is the smallest interface in the Scarlett line, it's still got the features of the bigger versions.

It features a single mic preamp with 48v phantom power and the Air feature which is a switchable mode to add headroom and brightness to your existing tone.

Bundled with this is the Blue Spark microphone. This mic is a studio style large-diaphragm condenser mic which has a built in 100Hz high pass filter and a -20dB pad switch for use when recording loud sources like a guitar amp.

It has a cardioid polar pattern which is perfect for rejecting unwanted room noise during recording sessions.

If that's not enough, the Focusrite Interface Bundle also includes a set of HP60 closed back studio headphones, a mic stand and cables to plug it all in.

Key Features of the Blue Spark and Focusrite Interface Bundle

• The Blue Spark mic is a cardioid style mic which has excellent noise rejection.
• The Scarlett Solo interface is simple to use but loaded with the same features as the bigger models in the Scarlett line.
• Comes with HP60 closed back earphones which give excellent spill reduction during use.

Best Home Studio Bundle with Pop Shield – Presonus Pop Shield Studio Bundle

One of the biggest challenges about recording vocals at home is vocal pops and breath noises. It's a common issue that plagues home studio owners every day.

The simple answer to this is to integrate a pop shield into your setup. Luckily for you, PreSonus have already thought about this with this home studio bundle with a pop shield.

This PreSonus Full Studio Bundle has everything you need to become a home recording expert. It's got a PreSonus USB interface to convert your audio signal to digital audio and a copy of the fantastic Studio One DAW to record, edit and mix your work.

They've also thrown in a studio grade condenser mic, this is where the pop shield comes in use, which will capture crisp sounding vocals everytime. It's also great for guitars and drums.

Along with this, you get a pair of studio monitors, a set of studio style headphones, a mic stand and plenty of cables to connect it all up.

The PreSonus Full Studio Bundle will transform even the smallest of spare rooms into a full fledged recording studio.

Key Features of PreSonus AudioBox 96 Full Studio Bundle

• Includes a pop shield for taming vocal pops and breath noises
• Everything you need in one place to set up an awesome home studio
• The included Mackie studio monitors are built using high quality components found on high end speakers.

Best Home Studio Bundle for Recording Music – PreSonus Interface Kit w/Novation Launch Controller

If you're not sure what components you need to have a fully functional home music studio in your house then a bundle is the best option for you.

But, now you've just opened up another question… What bundle?

Let me introduce you to the best home studio bundle for recording music, the PreSonus Interface Kit w/Novation Launch Controller..

In this bundle, you get a complete home music recording studio setup.

From a great USB interface to a pair of awesome studio monitors, this covers everything you could want.

The Launch Control XL is a full blown midi controller, with 16 assignable quick launch buttons and a great fader surface that allows you to use real faders to control your mixes. You can really make your home studio feel like a fully fledged working studio setup.

You also get a PreSonus condenser microphone that works great on vocals, guitar or anything else you need to work with.

Add to this a real DAW, yes you can move from Audacity and GarageBand, tha's packed full of features to record, edit, and mix your music.

All this is connected with the included pack of cables and you even get studio headphones for this late night recording sessions where you need to keep the noise to a minimum.

The PreSonus Interface Kit w/Novation Launch Controller really is a music studio in a box.

Key Features of the PreSonus AudioBox 96 Full Studio Kit

• The included condenser mic works brilliant for vocals and guitar recording.
• Contains the Launch Control XL for real feel mixing on a physical fader control surface.
• The perfect bundle for anyone looking to put together their first home studio but might not know where to start.

Best Behringer Home Studio Bundle – Behringer U-Phoria Studio Pro Complete Recording Bundle with UMC202HD USB Audio Interface

Behringer are always a fantastic starting point for anyone looking to test the waters of home recording without testing the limits of their bank balance.

The best Behringer home studio bundle is the U-Phoria Studio Pro Complete Recording Bundle. This is a fantastic, and affordable, way to get your home studio up and running.

Included in this bundle is the U-Phoria UMC202HD USB interface which is as 2 in 2 out interface, perfect for recording microphone or line in instruments. It has in built phantom power to run condenser mics that need to see a 48v phantom power source.

Speaking of which…

The Behringer Recording Bundle also includes the C1 condenser mic which is one of the best, most affordable condensers on the market. This delivers crisp highs and full, warm lows which works well for vocals.

If you plan on recording vocals in a small space, the microphone arm is a great alternative to a traditional mic stand. It allows you to mount the mic to the side of your desk and position it wherever you wish.

Key Features of the Behringer U-Phoria Studio Pro Complete Recording Bundle

• This is a fantastic, affordable way to have a great home studio setup.
• Includes the C1 condenser mic which sounds great on vocals or guitar.
• The UMC202HD interface can record XLR cables or Jack cable inputs via its combo inputs.

Conclusion

Wow, that was a lot of awesome bundles.

Now that you've checked all those out, you should be feeling pretty confident about home studio setups. Whatever you're looking for, one of these bundles can help you nail that.

There is something here from simple mic and interface bundles right up to more in depth studio setups.

It's time to turn that unused spare room into your home studio!