Easy Home Studio

Easy Home Studio

The affordable, easy way to set up a home studio - by Jacoba Combrinck, 2023

My Basic Kit for Recording at Home   

I recommend one store in the US and one in Canada.

I have personal experience buying from both of these and their customer service has been excellent

In the US: Sweetwater.com

In Canada: Long and McQuade.

Microphone:

Audiotechica

Sweetwater:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT2020--audio-technica-at2020-cardioid-condenser-microphone

Long and McQuade:

https://www.long-mcquade.com/485/Pro-Audio---Recording/Microphones/Audio-Technica/AT2020-Condenser-Microphone.htm

Mike Stand:

One that will fit the mike above

A mini-boom stand could work.

Headphones:

Amazon.ca (Canada):

https://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Technica-AUD-ATHM20X-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR18/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2B7W775343BAA&keywords=studio%2Bheadphones%2Bwired&qid=1706618723&sprefix=studio%2Bhea%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-8&th=1

Amazon.com (USA)

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2TPL1M4W1JFVB&keywords=Audio-Technica+ATH-M20X&qid=1706618836&sprefix=audio-technica+ath-m20x%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Interface:

Focusrite is my go-to interface. It is small and portable and meets my recording needs so far!

Sweetwater:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scar2i2G4--focusrite-scarlett-2i2-4th-gen-usb-audio-interface

Long and McQuade:

https://www.long-mcquade.com/146276/Pro-Audio---Recording/Audio-Interfaces---DAW-Controllers/Focusrite/Scarlett-2i2-3rd-Generation-USB-2-0-Audio-Interface.htm

Cables: 

Patch Cables

Sweetwater:   (they have a handy Cable Finder on their website)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PJM2400--mogami-pjm-2400-black-24-inch-tt-tt-patch-cable

Long & McQuade:

https://www.long-mcquade.com/12154/Pro-Audio---Recording/Cables/Yorkville-Sound/DLX-Series-Balanced-TRS-Cable---6-foot.htm

XLR Microphone Cable (To connect the mike to the Focusrite)

Sweetwater:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/XLR10--pro-co-exm-10-excellines-microphone-cable-10-foot

Long & McQuade

https://www.long-mcquade.com/67402/Pro-Audio-Recording/Cables/Yorkville-Sound/A120MC-XLRM-to-XLRF-Microphone-Cable-20.htm

Make sure you can plug the interface into your computer. You may need a USB adapter. 

Make sure to switch On the 48V button on the Focusrite interface, otherwise recording will not work.

Software:

Audacity (free)

https://www.audacityteam.org/download/

Audacity Manual (it’s fairly easy to learn)

https://manual.audacityteam.org/

I have made most of my recordings with Audacity.

Video Editing and Graphics Editing:

Wondershare Filmora 

https://filmora.wondershare.net/filmora-video-editor.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwoduRBhA4EiwACL5RPyQYTdnt1m8N9HEedLHhO8LxeNWns7zRBgzS17EnJ5WcbneWrimDPhoChwMQAvD_BwE

One can try ot for free for a limited time.

Cool free photo’s:   Pixabay.com

Tool for Thumbnails, Instagram posts, Release Artwork, and much more: Canva.com

I’m using the paid version , because I get excellent pictures and videos included, as well as the new Magic Studio, which includes Magic Write, a great AI tool which helps me write YouTube Headers , Descriptions and Instagram posts.

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

I use Logic Pro, which is an Apple product, so I have a 2020 edition MacBook Air, which I bought refurbished on Amazon. Hot Tip: Logic Pro now has the new Mastering Assistant, which uses AI to polish your recording so that it sounds professional. I find Logic Pro excellent, although a bit of a learning curve.