How To Start Making Music From Home
Since the onset of Covid 19 there’s one thing that most of us have had. More time at home. If you’re like many others, you’ve probably thought about making music. Whether this began with putting pen to paper or picking at an old steel string, chances are you’ve at least thought about making your own music. You might be wondering What equipment do you need to be a music producer at home.
If this is something you’ve been interested in, then we’re here to help you get started making and producing your own music from home. We’ll try to break it down to make the process as simple and easy as possible. There’s plenty to learn and several things you’ll need, but having a plan will go a long way towards getting where you want to be.
Find Your Studio Space
Since we’re talking about actually making music and not just jamming with the guys, you want to start by carving out some actual studio space first. You won’t need a sound booth and all the trimmings, but you want enough space to be able to play, record, and mix your audio without worrying that you’ll wake the neighbors.
A lot of the work of recording and mixing your audio can be done from a computer or laptop nowadays, but you’ll still want room to breathe and play instruments. Consider your needs and then find the right space in your home that will work for you.
An office or spare bedroom is a great choice. You can even take part of the “man cave” and turn it into a mini recording space, whatever works for what you want to do.
Get Your Gear Together
Playing music only requires an instrument and some know how. If you want to produce music however, you’re going to need a bit more than just the old Les Paul you’ve had in the closet for years.
Here are a few things you’ll want to consider getting so that you can make your own music.
Get a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
Before you can do any music making you’re going to need a DAW. A digital audio workstation or DAW is a software application used to record, edit, and create audio files. You can think of it as the engine in your car. You can have all the other parts put together, but without the engine you aren’t going anywhere. This is an essential piece of gear for a new music producer.
There’s always the old school option of recording via tapes, but if you want good, high-quality audio, then a DAW is the way to go. As this software is really what allowed people on a budget to start making music from home.
There are many options out there so you’ll want to do your homework on which DAWs are beginner friendly.
If you’re looking for one to get started on, we recommend something like Ableton Live 10. It has a simple and clean interface that’s easy for beginners to get the hang of.
Get a MIDI Controller
Just as important as your DAW is your MIDI Controller. The Musical Instrument Digital Interface is the hardware that interfaces with your DAW and allows you to mix beats, trigger samples and put together musical arrangements.
There are several types of MIDI controller but the two most common are the keyboard controller which is just like it sounds, and grid controllers which allow those with less experience to interface with their DAW.
There are plenty of MIDI controllers to pick from so the real choice comes down to keyboard or grip and what price point you want to stay at.
For a good experience with a MiDi keyboard controller for beginners we recommend the Nektar Impact GX 49. It has decent size keys and a number of features. It is also compatible with multiple operating systems.
Get The Nectar Impact GX 49 Here!
For a good grid controller we recommend the Novation Launchpad Mini MK3. This one has multiple customization options, is light and portable, and easy to get started with.
Get The Novation Launchpad Mini MK3 Here!
Find an Audio Interface For Your Instruments
An audio interface is another piece of technical equipment that you need to successfully record music. Guitars, drums, and other “analog” instruments don’t come standard with digital interfaces to work with your DAW.
The way you fix this is with an audio interface. An audio interface allows you to record audio from analog instruments such as acoustic guitars, live vocals, and drums. The audio interface is able to pick up the sound and translate it accurately to your recording software. Without an interface you’d be forced to try and record raw audio from one instrument at a time.
You’ll want to make sure your audio interface is compatible with a microphone for picking up vocals and has an output jack for headphones as well for listening to playback. A studio quality microphone and headphones are two pieces that you need to accompany your audio interface.
The cost of an audio interface is relative to the number of audio tracks you want to record at one time. If you’re just starting out, then start with just what you think you need. You can always upgrade to a more sophisticated interface later.
For beginners we recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools. This model is moderately priced and includes all the inputs and outputs you’ll need to get started.
Odds and Ends
Once you’ve got your main pieces of tech together, the last things to pick up are the little things you might be missing to make music.
Other things might include pedals, instruments, sampling software, and backups for any of your gear as well as music toys and extra mics for picking up instrument sound.
Making Music at Home – Final Thoughts
Once you’ve got your studio space set up and have all the equipment you need to start making beats, all it really boils down to is figuring out what sort of music you want to make. Much of the writing of music comes down to personal inspiration, but the mixing and producing takes much more practice.
With the right space and recording technology you’re now ready to spend some of the quality at home time Covid has given us making the music that you’ve dreamed of.
