Most musicians ask themselves this question at the start of their careers: should I invest in building my own home studio, or should I pay to record at a professional facility?
We must first assess your preferences, skills, expectations, and long-term goals before we can discuss how to respond to this important topic. Take a look at the inquiries below and start by providing sincere responses:
Priority Questions to Address
What part do you play in making music? (Artist, songwriter, producer, engineer, etc.)
The answer will help you decide how much equipment you need, whether using a professional studio will advance your career, and how quickly your investments will pay off.
For instance, if you want to concentrate on engineering, you can work with clients and eventually charge them to mix their songs. This will help you recover the cost of the home studio you purchased. However, if you’re an artist, you might find it advantageous to employ a professional studio or both in order to reach more people, produce recordings of higher quality, and establish new relationships.
How seriously do you currently take music? Are you attempting to become a professional and do it full-time, or are you just doing it as a pastime for fun?
The answer will help you decide whether or not you should focus on using a professional recording studio and how much should really be invested in building a studio. For instance, if you’re a hobbyist, building your own studio and keeping costs low will likely be more advantageous as you probably won’t be seeking to make a return on your investment like a touring artist would.
Are you confident with technology and the engineering side of music production? Or do you simply want to perform for the sake of making art, leaving the technical aspects to someone else?
Your responses will determine whether you should establish a home studio, visit a professional studio, or do both. Let’s now examine the advantages and disadvantages of having a home studio versus employing a commercial recording facility.
Do I need to construct my own home studio?
The quick response is yes. Having a professional or project studio at home ensures that you can always create music when it’s convenient for you. You never know when an idea will strike.
This may require more or less equipment and be easier to set up depending on your function. For instance, a music producer can benefit greatly from a simple setup that includes a suitable computer, software, two speakers, and an audio interface. But in order to record, an artist would also require a microphone and, depending on the quality of their interface, perhaps an extra microphone preamp.
Should I record in a professional studio?
The short answer to the second question is “yes,” particularly if you want to make a career out of music.
It’s beneficial to record and compose music in different places. Not because you couldn’t record at home in your home studio, but rather because creating in a different setting can help you grow, connect with new people, forge new relationships, and find inspiration. Not to mention that hiring an engineer to work on your song might give it a completely new dimension and improve its overall sound.
Verdict
Focus on creating your own home studio if you’re a hobbyist; you probably already know the answer. Have fun. We advise you to keep your ongoing costs low unless it’s crucial for you to invest in a professional studio merely for the experience.
But if you’re trying to make a career out of music, we strongly advise you to do both. Owning a home studio is crucial because you will always need a space to work in. At the same time, you should try to visit reputable studios in your city to put on a show, strengthen ties with the neighbourhood, and improve your sound by having other musicians work on your music.