Take Your Home Studio to the Next Level

Here at Sweetwater, producers and mixing engineers often ask us how to plan an upgrade path for their studio systems. Is a better microphone the key? Or is a better set of studio monitor speakers the way to go? Perhaps new DAW software or plug-in processors are the best bet? As Mitch Gallagher explains in the video below, recognizing your studio’s weakest links and upgrading from the bottom up is a smart approach. Let’s look at the core elements of your music-production workflow — once you’ve identified where your studio’s weakest links are, focus there for your next studio upgrade.

Microphones

Start with better audio right at the source

After the sound source itself, your choice of
microphone has the biggest impact on the sound quality of your recordings. Once
you’ve been recording for a while, it becomes apparent that having a selection
of complementary mics is crucial — and veteran recording engineers know that it’s
just as important to have at least one amazing centerpiece microphone. If you
have a collection of low- or mid-level workhorse mics that are simply “good
enough to get the job done,” then investing in a top-level microphone that can
be used on instruments as well as vocals is one of the best upgrades you could
make.

Pro TipHaving a truly great microphone not only will improve your sound, but with it you also get bragging rights. Customers and clients, even singers, will be impressed when they walk in and see that really nice mic on your boom stand. It’s a big upgrade that improves not only your sound but also your credibility as a studio. Check out this article, “The Case for Owning a High-End Vocal Microphone.”

Neumann TLM 102 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone – Matte BlackWarm Audio WA-251 Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser MicrophoneSlate Digital VMS ML-1 Large-diaphragm Modeling MicrophoneLauten Audio LA-320 Large-diaphragm Tube Condenser MicrophoneAston Microphones Spirit Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone with Shock Mount and Pop Filter

Aston Microphones Spirit Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone

Explore All Microphones

Acoustics

Enhance recording and
monitoring simultaneously

No matter what microphone you use, the sound of your
recording space will make a huge impact on the sound of your recordings. If you
haven’t addressed basic acoustic treatment in your recording space, then you
should focus on that first — it will improve your production sound no matter
what mic you use. With even a minimal amount of basic acoustic treatment, you’ll
balance the overall sound of your room, you’ll minimize “roomy” resonance, and
you’ll have a more accurate representation from your studio monitors when
mixing. You’ll spend less time fine-tuning the sound of your recordings, you’ll
be able to make critical mixing decisions with more confidence, and you’ll find
it easier to make mixes that translate well to any playback system. One of the
biggest differences between a hobbyist studio and a pro studio is acoustic
treatment — if you haven’t added any acoustic treatment to your space, this is
the place to start.

Pro TipIf you’re not sure where to start with acoustic treatment, focus on three main goals: reducing excessive bass and room modes with bass trapping, controlling direct reflections and eliminating flutter echoes with broadband absorption, and balancing high-end clarity with diffusion. Start with bass traps, then add broadband absorbers, then add diffusion to add some life back to your room’s sound — learn more in our Acoustic Treatment Buying Guide.

sE Electronics Reflexion Filter X Portable Vocal Booth – White Sweetwater ExclusiveAuralex MoPAD Monitor Speaker Isolation PadsIsoAcoustics ISO-155 Isolation Stand for Studio Monitors (Pair)sE Electronics Reflexion Filter PRO Portable Vocal Booth

IsoAcoustics ISO-155 Isolation Stands for Studio Monitors

Explore All Acoustic Treatment

Kali Audio LP-8 8 inch Powered Studio Monitor

Monitors and Headphones

How accurately are you
hearing your mixes?

From recording your first scratch tracks all the way
through the final mastering stage, your choice of monitors and headphones will
dictate every sonic decision you make. Professional studio monitor speakers
represent the audio spectrum in a neutral, un-hyped fashion and will empower
you to make mixes that translate well to practically any type of playback
system. If you have trouble getting your mixes to translate outside of your
studio, or you simply hear deficiencies in sound quality when listening to your
favorite mixes, then upgrading your studio monitors would be a smart move.

Pro TipStudio monitor placement plays a critical role in the sound of your studio. By orienting your monitor speakers as two corners of an equilateral triangle to maximize stereo imaging, keeping them away from walls to avoid bass buildup, and placing them on stands or isolators to minimize vibrational transfer, you’ll maximize their sonic potential. Learn more in Lynn Fuston’s article “Studio Monitor Placement – 5 Tips for Optimal Sound.”

JBL 308P MkII 8-inch Powered Studio MonitorADAM Audio T8V 8-inch Powered Studio MonitorKali Audio LP-8 8 inch Powered Studio MonitorKRK ROKIT 8 G4 8 inch Powered Studio MonitorFocal Alpha 80 8 inch Powered Studio Monitor

Explore All Studio Monitors and Headphones

Software

Enhance your
production and processing prowess

Whether you use Ableton Live, PreSonus Studio One,
Avid Pro Tools, Apple Logic Pro X, or anything else, modern DAW software packs
a range of processing tools to shape your mix — but you may be missing out on
powerful tools that can take your productions to the next level. Unique tools
like Toontrack’s EZ series of virtual instruments and processors can give you
professional-sounding performances without having to hire a session player.
Third-party plug-in processors that emulate classic studio processors can imbue
your tracks with analog-like character that your DAW’s built-in plug-ins don’t
offer. Pitch-correction tools can not only give you the power to fix the
occasional off note, but they can also be great tools for arranging vocal
harmonies. If you’re capturing good recordings and your monitoring system is
balanced and accurate, then some new software tools could be the best next
upgrade for your studio.

Pro TipAs with anything software related, you always need to keep system compatibility in mind when adding new plug-in instruments and processors to your studio — you don’t want to make your studio system unstable just because you added a new software tool. Whenever you’re considering adding new software, or upgrading existing software, check out Sweetwater’s SweetCare knowledge base for the latest info and compatibility guides on new software.

Toontrack EZdrummer 2 Virtual Drum SoftwareToontrack EZbass Virtual Bass Guitar SoftwareCelemony Melodyne 5 editorWaves Chris Lord-Alge Signature Series Plug-in BundleFabFilter Essentials Bundle Plug-in Collection

Toontrack EZbass Virtual Bass Guitar Software

Explore All Software And Plug-Ins

Upgrade from the Bottom Up

Hopefully you’ve already identified the weakest link in your signal chain, whether it’s a lack of acoustic treatment, lackluster microphones, inaccurate monitoring, or an insufficient selection of software tools. Focus on upgrading your weakest link first, then move on to the next weakest link. While we’ve listed some of the most popular options in each of these areas, the best option for you depends on your workflow preferences, the unique attributes of your studio space, the style of music or audio work that you focus on, and much more. Give your Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700, and they’ll be happy to make personalized recommendations to help you achieve sonic bliss in your studio.
The post Take Your Home Studio to the Next Level appeared first on inSync.