Creating the Perfect Home Studio

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All musicians out there know how expensive most big professional studios can be. However, anyone can put together a DIY home recording studio with a limited budget. You do not need tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment to be able to make professional, radio-ready tunes. In this blog post, we will show you the best equipment we have that we use to create industry-standard music.

Digital Audio Workstation(DAW)

Choosing the right DAW is the first step that you want to tackle in order to be able to record your music. There are plenty of different options for recording software that you can choose from including Ableton, Logic Pro X, FL Studios, Cubase, Reason, and many more. Choosing the right software depends on personal preference but also on the genre of music you are making. For folks wanting to produce electronic dance music, Ableton should probably be the software of choice. This is because Ableton has certain software functionalities that are specifically tailored towards DJs and EDM producers. Electronic musicians have quite a bit more at their creative disposal with a DAW like Ableton versus DAWs like Pro Tools and Logic which focus more on live recording and editing. We at Project Haze use Logic Pro X and we love it!

DAW we use: 

Logic Pro X session

Audio Interface

When It comes to choosing the right audio interface there are a few factors to consider. First off, how many inputs/outputs do you need? If you are planning on recording drums(which require lots of mics and cables) you should go for a larger interface with many outputs. Keep in mind these are more expensive, but they are more useful for those who want to record full bands. If you are on a limited budget, however, I recommend using a simple “Focusrite Scarlett 2i2”. It only has 2 inputs and 2 outputs but It serves its purpose well for many. We personally use the “TascamUS16x08” USB Audio Interface.

Audio interfaces we use: 

Tascam US-16×8 

Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 (2nd Gen)

Microphones

We have several different microphones that we use for different purposes during the recording process. Depending on the microphone of choice could have an impact on the performances that are captured. Some mics might be best for instruments such as guitars, amps, pianos, and some are more reliant in capture clear vocals.

Microphones we use: 

  • Shure Sm57
  • Shure Sm7b
  • AKG P420
  • MLX 990
  • Audix DP7 (7 Piece kit) 

Amplifiers

When it comes to amplifiers, Fender is an industry standard for many musicians. We love using Fender amps because of their ability to be versatile, powerful, and relatively affordable amplifiers. Our favorite type of Fender amp is the Mustang Series. This is because the amps are essentially smart amps. Depending on the model, they range from having 24 to 62 unique built in effects. You can also essentially create and design your own custom sounds and amp presets using an app called “Fender Tone”. Through bluetooth connectivity, you can manipulate different sounds to create a tone that works best for you. Because of its versatility and customizable nature, we strongly recommend checking out the Fender Mustang Series.

Amplifiers we use: 

  • Fender Mustang GT 200 200-Watt 2×12″ Stereo Modeling Guitar Combo
  • Fender Mustang GTX 100 1×12″ 100-watt Combo Amp
  • Ampeg – Micro-CL Bass Guitar Amplifier Mini Stack
  • Fender-twin reverb 200

Main Instruments

The main instruments that we use at Project Haze are your basic Guitar, Bass, and Drums. We have a variety of both acoustic and electric instruments in which we use both on a daily basis.

Guitars

For acoustic guitars, we recommend both the Martin and Taylor brands. Both brands source and manufacture their guitars from the finest of materials. They make their guitars extremely high quality that you can be sure will last a lifetime. As for electric guitars, we have a variety of Fender and PRS guitars. Fender, in particular, is probably the most iconic guitar manufacturer in the world. They have a wide variety of amazing guitars for all different budgets and playing styles. There is nothing like playing a Fender electric guitar. Whether you have a Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, or Jazz master you can be sure you are getting an industry standard guitar. We also enjoy PRS guitars

BASS

DRUMS

Instruments we use: 

  • Schafer and sons acoustic upright piano 
  • Martin D-28m 
  • Martin Road series 
  • Fender Stratocaster 
  • Fender Telecaster
  • Chapman Ml2 Model V
  • PRS SE custom 
  • Tylor 714ce
  • Fender P-Bass
  • DW Performance series 
  • Porkpie snare 

Digital instruments:

  • M-Audio Oxygen 49
  • Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad
  • Microkorg Retro Synth
  • Akai Pro MPD218
  • Akai MPK III