Christmas or any other holiday season is just the right time to give gifts, and also to receive some. You definitely don’t want to miss out on the great deals that are on offer.
Have your own home recording studio? Probably its time to add some equipment!
If you have been waiting to upgrade your home recording studio, and want the best bang for your buck, here are 10 studio upgrades that you should seriously consider.
Available for dirt cheap prices.
We have also included some books to enhance your recording knowledge.
Seagate External HD (2 TB USB 3)
Photos, videos, music…even those who’re not audiophiles have so much to store nowadays and find the storage space on their computer limiting. Audioheads have to be more careful about losing data and need to take backups regularly; its definitely not fun to lose your compositions & recordings. Most pros have backups of their current projects on least 3 devices.
Powered USB Hub
Almost every gadget seems to be going the USB way now. Besides your computer mouse, you may also have a USB
midi controller, microphone, audio interface in your studio. So why not get a POWERED HUB and make your studio more organized, and also free up your computer to deal with other tasks. You may go in for a regular USB hub as well, but a powered hub draws power directly from the outlet, which frees up your computer’s resources.
Power Conditioner
You may not realize it at first but a good quality power conditioner is a must have in every studio. Without one, you’re prone to get all sorts of odd noises through your speakers, and also interference from other electrical devices. Get a power conditioner and it gets rid of all these problems. The Urman M-8x Merit 8 Power Conditioner is a top quality product for the price, and fits nicely in a rack allowing you to keep everything neat and organized.
Sound Proofing Blankets
For those with modest budget, this is a practical, cheap and effective solution to control sound reflections. Some use foam, sound panels or diffusers, but these blankets are cheap, easy to move around, and they cover more area than foam. I’ve seen them in lots of studios and they do a pretty good job, definitely better than using nothing at all.
Focusrite VRM Box
Perfect for the mobile setups where it may not be possible to carry studio monitors, especially in your backpack. Focusrite VRM BOX simulates monitors and mixing environments. It comes with 15 speaker models as well as 3 mixing environments. Having the ability to do this without physically moving from studio to studio or hooking up different pairs of monitors is definitely a lifesaver.
Akai MPK Mini
Easiest way to get the notes recorded on a computer is using a midi controller, and Akai does make some cool ones. If you want to make more space in your backpack studio, this is definitely a must have.
Behringer Mic200 Vacuum Tube Preamp
Great little tube preamp for the price, to add little character to your recordings, more so if you use a lot of guitar in your recordings. It can get little noisy (not a class A preamp) but still produces good results if you pay attention to your gain staging.
Sony MDR 7506
Trusted and loved by professional recording studios, field recorders, boom operators because of their sound quality and comfort. No fancy features, just a good pair of inexpensive headphones.
Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio
If you’re looking for a book that provides a simple understand of mixing, and how to get the most out of your home recording studio, then this book is all you need. The author provides great detail about monitors and sound treatment, and provides several practical suggestions to those working with budget studios.
Smartphone Tripod Clip
You have to promote yourself and your music to get noticed, and video is one powerful marketing tool. You don’t need fancy cameras, especially if you’re going to promote online; smartphones are capable of shooting high quality images and videos nowadays. All you need is stabilization, a mic, good lighting and you’re in business. Turn your smartphone into a powerful video camera using this tripod clip.
Checkout more studio recording gear here…
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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