How to DIY the Music Studio of Your Dreams

Having a music studio in your home may seem like a dream, but it’s actually not that difficult to accomplish. A studio may make it easier for you to practice with your band, and when done well, studios can allow you to create quality demos and recordings. Plus, with a studio in your home, you’ll save on professional studio fees as well as save on time driving to a practice or rehearsal space, allowing you to maximize your practice time. In short, a home studio can be a worthwhile investment in your music career. 

Building a studio won’t be cheap, but there are ways that you can save money. If you’re handy with some basic construction techniques, chances are you can build a studio on your own and save money over the cost of a professional build. 

Choose Your Location Carefully

Start by determining just where you’ll locate your studio. You can convert an existing room into a studio, but you’re likely to run into issues like limits on the studio’s size and soundproofing problems. Another option is to build a large garden shed. Because the shed isn’t connected to a building, you can practice without disturbing others, even if your soundproofing isn’t completely effective. You will need to insulate the shed and run electricity to it, but this can be a convenient option for a smaller home studio.

After you decide on the right location for your studio, you’ll need to do some research on how to design the studio. The specific design that will be best will depend on how you plan to use the studio. Consider factors like the number and types of musicians that will be in the space at one time, whether you want the studio to serve as a practice space or to double as a recording space, and the acoustic properties that you want the studio to have. If you prefer a more live sound, then plan to invest in some carpeting and some hard flooring materials. You’ll also need sound absorption panels to help regulate the studio, and installing and finding the right balance of these panels can take some trial and error.

If you can thoroughly plan out your studio with plenty of detail before you start building, you’re less likely to run into unexpected problems or expenses during the process. 

Be Prepared to Strategically Invest

Building a studio yourself will help you to save money, but be prepared to strategically invest some money to get the results that you want. One area that you can’t skimp on is insulation. Insulation is important both in conserving heating and cooling energy, but also in preventing sound from traveling into and out of the studio. If you’re working in a new space, like a shed, investing in insulation will pay off in the long run. 

Proper soundproofing will be your next major expense. Start by looking for and sealing gaps in windows, under doors, and cooling ducts. You’ll need to cover your windows with weatherstripping and install soundproofing panels on the walls and ceiling. These panels are not cheap, but they’ll make a big difference in soundproofing the space, which is important if you have neighbors or want to use the studio for recording. 

Your equipment will be another large expense. You likely already have most of the equipment needed for a home recording studio, like mic stands, a PC, headphones, and a digital audio interface. When outfitting your studio, you’ll probably need to splurge on a few more pieces of quality equipment, so be sure to include that in your budget. Quality microphones suited for recording your instruments are a must since they’ll directly affect the quality of the music that you produce. Be sure to also purchase mixing software, monitors, and all of the other elements necessary to produce a quality track. 

Get Others Involved

If you’re planning to build your own music studio, get others involved from the start. Reach out to other musicians and studio owners to find out how they created their studios and what they wish they had — and hadn’t — done. These insider tips may save you money and potential headaches during the process. 

As you start construction, keep your fans and community in the loop. Sharing photos of your project will help to get people invested in the process, and you’ll probably receive advice and input as you progress, too. Take the time to get some quality mobile photos while you’re building the studio. These make great material for your social media pages as well as for your website.

Building a music studio well will take plenty of time, so be prepared for this to be an ongoing project. But it will also be worth the effort. If you take your time, do your research, and create the studio well, you’ll have the music studio of your dreams right in your own home. What better way to support your music career?  

Courtesy of Indiana Lee