All through my professional songwriting profession I’ve made it my mission to place collectively a house recording studio that accomplishes Three issues.

1. Sonically, it needs to be grasp report high quality.

2. Inventive workflow that gained’t bust my groove!

3. Have to be inexpensive!

Co-writing in rooms with so many nice producers and observe guys has allowed me to attempt quite a lot of gear that works in a wide range of residence and professional conditions. I’ve put collectively my own residence recording studio that I’ve used on demos and information; that lives across the threshold the place affordability meets efficiency. 

On the heart of my recording rig is an inexpensive Apple laptop. 

I nonetheless run a 2015 MacBook Professional model as a result of it has extra connection ports than todays fashions. BUT, if I used to be dashing out to purchase a brand new laptop, I’d go along with a Mac Mini. I’ve seen main studios observe full bands with protools on a Mac Mini. You’ll be able to nonetheless get nice with loads of ram and onerous drive house on Mac Mini’s for beneath $999.

Lots of you when much less demanding initiatives may dip down beneath $750 for a Mini and nonetheless have sufficient horsepower for many residence initiatives. Mac’s additionally come inventory with GarageBand and todays’ model is used on professional demos and information each day. However after all, you’ll be able to run Logic Professional or Protools when you wanna step up your sport and value.

Let’s speak about interfaces, child…

After securing a workable laptop, the subsequent step is to get your guitar or voice into your laptop. For that you will want a digital interface. The one I see most in writing rooms around the globe is the UAD Apollo Twin Duo. The Apollo additionally comes with killer results plugins which can prevent {dollars} on that finish. Even essentially the most discerning ears agree that it’s onerous to beat the sonic high quality of UAD gear.

Testing 1…2…3.. Is that this Mic on??

After I put collectively my residence rig, I put quite a lot of thought into what microphone would I select if I may solely select one. I settled on the Shure SM7. At $399 it gained’t crank the financial institution and it sounds far more costly. It’s been used on pop vocalists like Michael Jackson and nation crooners like Luke Bryan. However additionally it is killer on nearly any state of affairs or instrument you throw at it. I paired mine with a easy Cloudlifter CL-1 preamp for a little bit further colour and acquire.

Monitor Audio system

Monitor audio system are essential to getting an amazing combine in your house. You don’t need a speaker that hypes the excessive finish or increase an excessive amount of low in. You need a fairly even response so as to get an correct sonic picture. I’ve trusted Yamaha HS5 Powered Audio system for years. they plug proper into my Apollo interface and are transportable sufficient to tackle the street if i write in a cabin for every week 🙂

What about drums and keys my residence recording studio, you ask?

On the high of this web page, I’ve a brief documentary video you’ll be able to watch as I am going via my set-up. You’ll discover for drums I really like the Native Devices Maschine Mikro. The pads really feel nice and there are a great deal of drum kits and loops you may get for the Maschine. It additionally sequences and samples for you nerds! It goes for round $269 on amazon.  They even have an iPhone model that’s been used on hit information.

Proper now I’m utilizing an Arturia Keylab 49 keyboard controller. I first used this in Mat Kearney’s studio and was extraordinarily impressed. It additionally comes with some tasty sounding keyboard samples that you will want on your productions. These are promoting round $209 and rival far more costly controller in operate and playability.

In order that’s my tried and true residence studio set-up. I’ve put a PDF listing of the gear you’ll be able to obtain under. In addition to a hyperlink to a weblog the place i speak about how I used this gear on one in all my #1 singles for Darius Rucker.

Write On!

~Clay

Obtain Clay’s Really useful Studio Setup