The age of the internet has ushered in an era of incredible creative freedom. Why? Well, it’s not just because more people have affordable tools to produce art than ever before; it’s also because they have the tools to self-publish it.
Today, you can just upload your music on Soundcloud or YouTube and gather a following. You can start a Patreon and get people who like your music to support you financially.
Does this mean that you no longer need a studio? Well, both yes and no! You see, the thing is that even with all the editing tools, the original recording will depend on the quality of equipment and the studio.
Fortunately, you can create a great studio in your home, even on a budget. Now, the acquisition of equipment is a topic for another time, but here are some of the best acoustic treatment solutions that you should do, as well.
- Acoustic foam panels
The whole point of using acoustic foam panels is to help you absorb reflections and give you a lower reverberation time, both of which drastically help you get a better sound quality. When it comes to high-end studio recording, every little thing can be heard; however, this is far from being little.
You want panels on the wall behind the monitors to absorb the first impression. This is the most important place to have panels because this wall will still be affected even if you use specialized equipment like directional microphones.
Remember that just because the microphone is not pointing toward the other walls, you also want to cover them. You see, the noise bounces, and even though you might not mind while watching a video or listening to a podcast, when you record something, it will be noticeable.
The ceiling doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves. You see, these vibrations are reflected off the ceiling. Not only that, but if there’s someone in the room above, chances are that they’ll be disturbed by noises from your recording studio, and you’ll be disturbed by the foot traffic. However, not a lot of people do anything about it. At best, they might buy a carpet for the room above. Installing an acoustic panel or ceiling cloud can be a big game-changer.
- Covering reflective surfaces
Smooth surfaces will make the noise waves bounce, which will make recording a clear-looking sound and eliminating echo quite difficult. This is why you want to cover them as best as you can.
The first thing you want to do is hang a curtain. Ideally, you’ll look for curtains with soundproofing properties. The thicker you get, the better. You’ll rely on artificial lighting fixtures either way. Moreover, you want to go with a floor-to-ceiling length.
Remember that even though you’ve covered the curtain, the sound is still getting out and coming in. The curtain is there to change the surface of the window, not make it impenetrable to noise. If you’re serious about soundproofing the room, install a soundproof window. Still, we’ll return to the topic of soundproofing a bit later.
Just remember that this is not the only smooth surface in your studio. Your screens also fall under this category, yet not many people remember to look for things like monitor isolation pads. This is quite inexpensive, even if it’s not that easy to find. Most importantly, this is not a piece of equipment that gets worn out with time, which means that you make a one-time purchase, and you’re done.
- Installing bass trap
One of the most amazing things you could get for your home is some great bass traps. They can improve the acoustics of your room, reduce the boominess, enhance clarity, and minimize flutter and echo.
This way, you’ll get a more professional sound clarity and increase the overall sound quality. It minimizes the flutter echo, which means that you’ll get a more controlled and accurate representation of your audio. This means that what you hear is what you get on the recording, and there are no unpleasant surprises.
Now, these bass traps come in different shapes and forms. Some of them are made in the shape of a panel, while others are designed to fit into a corner.
Membrane bass traps are especially effective, even if they’re slightly more expensive.
The key thing to remember here is that these are all one-time investments that will keep paying themselves off. If you’re serious about your studio and are keen on making things work, it’s vital that you treat it as a business and invest in it. The ROI is bound to be amazing.
- Soundproofing your studio
Music played and recorded in your studio will sometimes be quite loud, and since it’s a home studio, the last thing you want is to disturb other residents or neighbors. So, regardless of what kind of equipment you’re using, you need to soundproof your studio. This is true even if you mostly rely on virtual instruments.
We’ve already mentioned some methods like installing soundproof windows, adding a curtain, and installing acoustic panels, but there’s more to do. Your door needs to be soundproof, as well. It’s not just the door but the space between the door and the floor. The best way to resolve this is to buy a draft stopper. This is simple and easy to fix to the door on your own.
It’s also worth mentioning that the most important thing when soundproofing lies in noticing gaps and cracks and caulking them.
Most importantly, even the furniture layout makes a difference. This is true not just for soundproofing but also for audio quality. So, make sure to look up some home studio layouts and try to figure out what they’re doing and why.
Wrap up
Making a music studio at home will allow you to make money creating music, practice your skills as a musician, and even start a podcast. While the initial investment may sound expensive, it’s definitely worth it, especially when you consider all the possibilities that this opens up for you.
