Home vs Professional
The subtle beats of the rhythm, the rise and fall of the melody, the elegant melodies of music are what make life worth living. Music is an art form that transcends time and space; it is one of the most cultural aspects of humanity. It is unclear how or when music first came into being, what we do know is that music has been around since the early days of humanity. The first audio recording was made way in 1860, and ever since then, music production has come leaps and bounds.
Music Recording
The recording of music has always been a three-tiered process. The first step is Production; it is where one chooses what, when, and how something will be recorded. The next step is Engineering; it is where engineers use microphones, amps, and other recording gizmos to record stuff. The last step is Mixing; it is where mixers add sound effects to the music. Mixers are also responsible for making cohesive tracks from multiple recording sessions.
The music recording industry was born in the footsteps of humanity’s darkest hour. The two great wars had utterly decimated the world, yet even in that bleakness, the world turned to music as a refuge. Each nation caught in an endless cycle of war strived to one-up each other, and radio communication soon became a key player in military strategy. The radio technology would soon trickle down into commercials, and through this, music production was born. The first radio advertisement dates back to 1923, and people would regularly tune in to radios to listen to music to distract themselves from the chaos of the war. More people tuning in meant more money for the company.
In those early years, profit was assured if you had the right equipment and basic knowledge of the music recording process. Nowadays, things are slightly different; owning a recording studio is a good investment, but the sheer number of recording studios means that you have to acquire top-notch equipment and the required skills to know what you are doing. Other factors like; your location, business acumen, and familiarity with the music industry are also of paramount importance. Despite the long and hard road to profits, long-term profits are genuinely immense if everything falls into place.
Home-based studio vs. Professional studio
What kind of equipment should I buy? Where should I set up? Is it better at my home or in a professional space? Some of these questions and/or even more might help you decide between a small home-based business model or a studio business model.
Home vs. professional sometimes doesn’t make sense since “professional” actually means you’re making a living out of it, and it is also possible to run a home studio professionally. If we are merely talking about budget size, in a vague sense, then the main difference between a low-budget studio and a high-budget one is that the high-budget one will [hopefully] have good acoustics.
The recording business is a tough nut to crack because of the too many decisions that have to be made initially. What kind of equipment should I buy? Where should I set up? Is it better at my home or in a professional space? Some of these questions and/or even more might help you decide between a small home-based business model or a studio business model.
You will need to bear in mind that a recording studio business will not be profitable in the short term and will operate at a loss for a while. The startup costs of the venture are just too high, and the nature of the business makes progress difficult for the young startup. If you master the craft, you should be able to bare the rivers of gold that might flow in time.
In any case, a small home-based studio is more likely to make a profit, but note that it will take some time to realize these profits. It might take you a couple of months or more just to break even. Owning a studio recording business is expensive; renting a proper space, paying staff, utility bills, equipment, etc. A smaller home-based recording studio will be the best for most independent producers, as the pressure of expenses will not bring you down. A home-based studio would even survive on the service of one client, which client can be you.
Investing in opening a studio
The cost of setting up a recording studio as a business is relatively vast and diverse. Depending on whether you want a professional studio or a home-based studio, the cost will be varied, but no matter the studio that you choose, you will need to splurge some cash for:
Equipment cost
Insurance (Might be necessary)
Fees for licensing, zoning, etc.
Monthly building rent
Separate utilities
Salaries
Supplies Marketing
Advantages of a home-based recording studio
The decision between whether to invest in a home-based studio or a professional studio usually depends on the investment in the beginning. A home-based recording studio is always an excellent option for those looking for creative freedom and the freedom to express themselves. You can indulge in lengthy recording sessions from the comfort of your home. The startup cost is low compared to owning a grade-A level recording studio, and the upside is virtually the same. If it all comes to naught, if your first foray into the exotic realms of music recording comes to naught, then you will still have a recording studio. In the long term, the amount of profit you earn will be on you. You will have minimal staff, and only yourself. You will also be only able to handle 1/2 clients at most.
Advantages of a professional recording studio
Professional recording studios have so many long-term advantages. With this kind of investment, patience is needed because the amount invested in the beginning can’t be realized through a one-month pay check. However, the studio always comes with its kind of freedom and opportunities to create a legacy for yourself. The upfront cost is massive, but so is the potential for profits. In the Short term, you will be able to make connections, steadily grow your business, and quickly build a name for yourself. If you do all of that, then you are setting yourself for a life of luxury, yachts, airplanes, and a long list of endorsements in the long term. The growth potential of a professional studio is way more significant than that of a home studio.
Setting up a home studio
Setting up a home studio is a gradual process that involves a couple of steps. Choosing the best layout for the amount of space you have is seemingly as important as recording your first track. With a few steps listed below, we explain some of the roadblocks that make up the beginning.
- Choosing the Best Room
Some rooms are better for recording than others. The simple rule of thumb is that; when it comes to recording rooms, there are no good choices, only try to avoid the bad ones.
- Avoid a small spaced room.
- Avoid a recording room with poor floors. Choose a concrete, tile, or hardwood floored room.
- Avoid a room with poor acoustics. Ideally, a recording room should have high ceilings, asymmetrical walls, and lots of irregular surfaces.
- Clear Out the Room
It sounds like grunt work, but this is very important. You wouldn’t want your first project to be done in something that is threadbare.
Add Acoustic Treatment
Very important! Try to add acoustic treatment to the room because this will give you excellent results in the end. Some of the best materials for perfect acoustic treatment are; wool and foam.
Arrange Your Workstation
If all the other steps are well handled, then what is left is to arrange your home studio and get started.
Here are a few tips on which setup might work for your home studio design;
Small home-studio set up
The Standard SOLO Setup
The standard SOLO recording setup is designed for an efficient “one-man” team. The engineer in this setup will just cram their gear around themselves in a circle to maximize productivity. This setup is excellent for those looking to be both engineers and musicians.
The Standard DUAL Setup
The standard Dual setup is the conventional setup for two or more people. It is the one most widely used. Usually, there is one station for yourself (The engineer) and another for the musician. It is an excellent option for many startups.
The Hybrid Setup
The Hybrid setup is what the pros use. It can be used for both solo and group recording. The Hybrid Setup is a dual setup with one key difference: you have control over your recordings regardless of where you are in the studio. There is usually a remote that allows you to record wherever you are.
People will always turn to music in the good and the bad times. This marks a recording studio as a wise decision for a business. It is a hugely profitable enterprise and carries a vast number of career opportunities. Apart from becoming a renowned music producer, engineer, or even master mixing tracks with your home studio, there is more to accomplish.
Just by spending time in the industry and studying the art around music in the studio, one has an opportunity to sharpen skills like; songwriting, marketing music, offering workshops and courses, Branding and Graphic design, Photography, Videography, Social media marketing, and so much more.
A recording studio investment is not a limitation to your potential but rather a reality to your dreams. We hope this has opened a whole new world for you.
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