Written for The Essential Secrets of Songwriting Blog by Darren Perkins from Red Drum Music Studios, Melbourne, Australia
Recording your songs can be difficult especially if you are a struggling musician. Recording studios charge per hour at a high price. Perfecting your song is impossible because you might need several trials before you can say that you have done what you can call a great job. This is true if you want to record the best drum music that you have ever composed.
Why not build your home recording studio so that you can record your song anytime and as many times as you need without worrying about costs? Here are easy and simple steps to build your own recording studio at home.
- Choose the best location in your house
There is no fixed rule with regards to the size of a home music studio. However, there are several things that you must consider when deciding where to set it up. If you have a band, you will need a bigger space than when you are just going to record your songs. The size will greatly depend on how many will be using it.Select the quietest place in your house. The basement can be the ideal location but if your house does not have one, select aroom that is far from noise. A room with a high ceiling and irregular surfaces is recommended. - Keep all the cracks sealed
It is important to contain the sound in your studio. This will improve the quality of your recorded songs. In addition, you will not be disturbing your neighbors. Most communities have laws regarding noise. Complaints from your neighbors can lead to the closure of your home studio. There are lots of items that you can use to seal the room. Vinyl, rubber, foam – all these can be bought from many hardware stores or from online shops at affordable prices. - Ventilate the room
Once all the cracks are fully sealed, you need to ventilate the room so that there will be enough oxygen supply in there. You can build an air duct for the room at minimal cost. One excellent yet low-priced material to use is the Medium Density Fiberboard or MDF. You can buy this from a hardware store or online from Home Depot and other retailers. Use the MDF to build a box. Then, place an S-shaped tube or passageway for air. Then, fill the rest using an acoustic foam. This way, air can come in while the sound is contained in the room. - Elevate your studio floor
Vibrations on the floor can be distracting and can affect the sound quality of your recording. To prevent this noise from affecting your recording, you can cover the floor with foam blocks and place a piece of wood on top. You now have a wooden floor that will not make noise due to vibration because there are foam blocks under it. - Disperse the sound
Sound that bounces off a concrete wall will not sound good in your recording. You must find a way to spread or diffuse the sound for a better quality. One way of dispersing the sound is by adding more objects to the room. Place sofas, cushions, bean bags, and throw pillows. These objects will help soften the sound and prevent the echo that can affect your recording. Covering the walls with foam and the floor with a thick carpet can help improve sound quality. - Choose recording software
You need to select the right software to aid you when recording music. You can download the software from websites. You might be charged a monthly subscription fee but is very minimal. - Get the right equipment
You will need high quality headphones, microphones, and monitor speakers. You can easily find these items in many online stores. These items may cost a little but if you know where to find the best deals, you can buy them at big discounts. With your own recording studio at home, you can easily produce perfect music without breaking the bank.
Darren Perkins is a drummer in and the owner of Red Drum Music Studio in Melbourne. It is a music studio that aims to teach kids and kids at heart how to play drums. Visit their website at www.reddrummusic.com.au.