This article explains the basics of setting up what many would call a home studio. This will allow you to record and edit audio that could be used for simple demos, songwriting practice, movie backgrounds, podcasting, or even album recording.

I find that there are three basic needs in a home studio setup.

1. Audio input, or recording capability, which includes a medium that will store the audio when it is recorded.

2. Editing, which can be very complex or simple, but will save the changes that have been made on your storage medium.

3. Output, playback, or export ability

We will assume that you have the voice, instrument, or sounds that you want to record. To get these sounds into your storage medium, you will need a microphone of some kind. If you are using your computer as your primary tool, many have built in microphones, but usually with less than optimal quality. These may be used for video chatting regularly, and may or may not have the highest quality for your audio recording. You can buy a cheap computer microphone, or opt for a more professional microphone. Generally if you are just starting out, you will get a dynamic microphone. They are cheaper and less fragile than condenser microphones and do not require phantom power. That means that they can be plugged directly into an audio input source.

Editing and recording both are usually done on the same device. The most commonly used thing these days are computers because of their commonality, relative cheapness, and with the variety of software solutions that can be used for them. Garageband is a great tool for macs, and there are many things similar to Garageband for Windows that can be used as well. Your other options for recording and editing are four-track cassette decks that can be bought for cheap on ebay, or more expensive, vintage reel to reel recorders.

Output and playback generally just requires speakers or headphones, and with computers you can often burn your audio to a disk, export it as an mp3, or email it with ease. You can even combine these solutions, recording on a four-track and then exporting into your computer via the audio input.

Overall, starting a home studio in your home can be done very simply and cheaply. Simply making sure you have the above items will get you at a good starting point, and you can start your at home recording.

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