DIY At-Home Recording

This guide will help you set up a recording space at home and introduce you to various digital audio workstations, whether you are making music or podcasts.

Visit the Studio to learn about services to help you improve your multimedia projects and effectively use technology and tools.

What is a DAW?

DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation, and it is a computer software where you can record, edit, and program audio. DAWs typically feature multiple editing tracks and are non-destructive, meaning that your original files will not be changed while editing. There are many DAWs out there but this guide will focus on the ones available in the UTC Library Studio, and they can be used to make both music and podcasts. If you would like help using any of the software listed here, please reach out to libstudio@utc.edu.

Beginner

Audacity

Audacity is a free tool that is available for desktop on Windows, macOS, and Linux machines. There is no online or mobile version of Audacity. It offers an easy entry to recording and editing with streamlined capability. Because it is freeware, it is very popular with musicians and podcasters alike. Audacity is a great tool for podcasting and recording music, but you may need to download additional plugins in order to make beats.

GarageBand

GarageBand is free and compatible with all macOS and iOS devices. It is a good entry point for recording, programming, and producing music, and has great built-in help tools. GarageBand can also be used to record and edit podcasts.

Intermediate

Audition

Adobe Audition is a great intermediate audio editor, especially or podcasting. Audition is commonly used by podcasters and journalists, and offers more effects, filters, and tools than Audacity. It can also be used for general recording and editing music, but is not the best choice for music production.

Logic

Another iOS product, Logic has a similar interface to GarageBand and is a great tool to transition to more advanced music production. Logic keeps GarageBand's user friendly attitude with strong preset sounds and effects, clear interface, and built-in help. It is not recommended for general recording or podcasts.

Advanced

Ableton

Ableton is an incredibly powerful but extremely complex DAW. Ableton has a tool for everything from timing changes to slicing samples, but the interface is complex. There is a bit of a learning curve, but Ableton is a great tool if you already have a general understanding of music production and DAWs and want to expand your engineering and production knowledge.

Native Instruments

Unlike the other DAWs available in Studio, Native Instruments does not offer recording features. It is a production program that pairs with Native's Maschine software. Combined, these tools can result in live looped performances or fully fleshed out beats. 

Using a DAW

Each one of these templates focuses on recording efficiency. There are tracks for multiple takes of Hooks, Verses, and Bridges to prioritize taking several takes, then listening through to see which is the best! Once you have recorded on a single track you can turn it down or mute it and start the next!

We recommend looking up EQ, Reverb, and Compression tutorials. These three tools are how you get a demo or early mix sounding solid enough to share or send to an engineer. Understanding and employing these three tools are all it takes to make a great foundational mix.

Vocal Templates

What is a Vocal Template?

A Vocal Template is a project file or preset (on Garage Band and Logic) that you can open and there will be a project session full of tools and tracks centered around recording vocals. Attached are some templates to get you started or to give you an idea of how to create your own.

To start using a Vocal Template, download the file from the Google Drive link, select destination, then open it into your DAW.

Sound Treatment for Music Recording

When making music, the best space is a large room with high ceilings, asymmetrical walls, and irregular surfaces. This can be hard to find for at-home producers, because bedrooms tend to have lower ceilings, be fairly square, and have drywall surfaces. With some easy to find materials and careful set up,  you can modify your room to make it better for recording and production.

Paneling with Blankets

The goal here isn't to create a perfectly soundless room, but to get the best sound possible. Mixing has come far in the 21st century, so the ideal is to dampen the sound as much as possible.

First, gather some blankets to hang up on the walls. Hanging up three or four blankets around your space will create a noticeable difference in the acoustics of your room. Tack the blankets up across the corners of your room. When you hang these up in the corners they will absorb the sound that would otherwise bounce sporadically from the corners. Refer to the diagram ere, focusing first on dampening the corners where three surfaces meet, the lines where two surfaces meet.

Image source: ehomerecording studio

Microphone and Monitor Placement

Set your microphone in the center of the room, making sure that a blanket or comforter is behind the microphone. This blanket will absorb the sound that comes back at the performer and microphone. If this blanket isn't there, the audio will bounce off the hard wall and hit the microphone a second time, muddying the sound.

If you are using stereo monitors place your production station along the longest wall, leaving 1-2 feet between the wall and the monitors. Place the monitors so that your head is perfectly in the middle, then angle your monitors so that they make an equilateral triangle with your head. The speakers should also be a couple of feet away from and slightly above from your head when seated. This gives the audio frequencies enough space and time to travel to your ears so that you can hear the full sound.

Image source: ehomerecording

Other considerations

It can be very difficult to get a perfectly quiet room in a home studio because you can't control the noise other people make. Instead, make efforts to reduce background noise like fans or air conditioners running when recording. If you live with other people, consider recording when you are home alone, and keep pets out of your recording space. Avoid setting up microphones near windows where they are likely to catch more noises from outside, like vehicles, birdsongs, or construction work.

Don't want to create your own sound treatments?

The Studio has a sound-treated Audio Suite that is great for recording vocals and acoustic instruments. UTC students, faculty, and staff can reserve it online for up to three hours at a time, and it's free!

Sound Treatment for Podcasting

Before you start recording, you should scope out a good place to set up your recording equipment. Your ideal space should:

• be pretty quiet,
• have lots of soft surfaces like carpets, curtains, or blankets,
• have few hard surfaces like windows, hardwood floors, or tile, and
• have enough space for you to be comfortable.

DIY and at-home podcasters tend to record either in a closet or under a blanket to get this ideal space. Let's look at some pros and cons of each of these solutions.

Recording in a closet

• Pros
  • Free.
  • Private. A closet door is a great way to keep roommates, children, pets, or other podcast interrupters out of your recording.
  • Hanging clothes are a great form of soft surroundings
• Cons
  • Small. Most closets tend to be pretty small, and feel smaller when the door is closed.
  • Dark. Most closets don't have lights in them, and who wants to sit in the dark while they're recording?
  • Not much space. Closets typically don't have a lot of space for you to set up a comfortable recording space, like for a chair or a table for your equipment.

"Podcasting on the road in Omaha - good acoustics in Deb's closet, I hope. The new TKC is on its way soon." by LenEdgerly is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Recording under a blanket

• Pros
  • Free.
  • Portable -- you can put a blanket over yourself anywhere.
  • No hard surfaces.
• Cons
  • Hot. Recording under a blanket can get really hot.
  • Like a closet, recording under a blanket can be dark. It's already going to warm under the blanket, and adding a light to the mix will just make it hotter.

"#podcasting studio: moving blanket, Samson usb mic." by GregoryH is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Now that you know what you need in a recording space, you can start putting your at-home recording space together. 

Make Your Own Recording Cube

A recording cube is a portable tool you can use to capture high-quality spoken audio. You can buy a recording cube, but they are often both expensive and not very durable. This video shows you how to you can make your own recording cube.

Don't want to make your own recording cube?

You can check one out from the Studio along with a microphone or audio recorder!

Helpful Links

These links have additional information about recording high quality audio at home.

Studio Pathfinders

These pathfinders will help you get started with the DAWs available in the Studio.