Recording Without a Studio

​While I’ve been fortunate enough to recently make a professional home studio, there was a time where I had to make do with recording wherever and with whatever I could. I figure many of the people reading this may be in the same position, so I’d figured I’d share my tips for recording in some of those “not ideal” spaces. 

(There's no better background than a pantry!)

Before we begin, I do want to say that it is always better to have a dedicated space or studio time set up, but that’s not an option for everyone, and I don’t ever like to see people get held back from their art! Even if you have a studio, it’s never a bad idea to understand how to make a quality recording on the go.

Some of you may be pondering, what if I don’t have a space I can dedicate to recording? Is professional grade recording not for me? The answer is a passionate (if not a bit stubborn) NO. You can make a microphone work in most spaces. Don’t give up hope! I’ve been trapped in the nomadic recording style for years, recording in living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, before finding a place I could make a dedicated studio in. Below are some tips for making the most of the space you have.

Equipment:

The first thing to consider is what equipment you have to work with. Most importantly, your microphone. While your phone microphone may be enough for more recreational content/posting on social media, you will want a dedicated microphone for recording. You’ll also need to consider the space you’re choosing to record in, and what DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) you’ll use.

When working in a less than ideal space, often a dynamic microphone is the direction you want to go in when shopping. The dynamic mic will allow for closer placement of your mic, and minimize the impact of background sounds on your recording. If budget is a concern, I would recommend looking into USB microphones as you can plug them directly into your computer, without needing additional equipment. The simplest advice for finding the right mic would be to look at the frequency response and judge whether or not it suits your needs based on the range of whatever you’ll be recording. The RODE Podcaster was a good choice for me as it was designed to suit the human vocal range, which conveniently covers most of the cello range. It also comes in at a fairly reasonable price: $229 on Amazon. (It's currently on sale for $190!)

You can pick it up here through my affiliate link if you'd like to send some of the money my way:
amzn.to/46Bjv7M

DAW:

​When it comes to choosing a DAW, there are many options. I would recommend starting out with a free one (or at least a free trial) and then consider paid options once you’re certain the investment is worthwhile for you. The current paid product I use is FL Studio. However, both Audacity and Reaper are good programs and can be used for free. I still use Audacity in a pinch to clean up or cut audio files together, even with having FL Studio.

Location:

​Photo by Devon Janse van Rensburg on Unsplash

The next thing to consider is the location you have to work with. As I said before, you can make most locations work, but if you have the ability to pick a space with natural sound insulation, that can work to your advantage. A bed with blankets catches a ton of sound. Curtains, rugs, couches, and carpets can also make a world of difference too. Make sure to take exterior sounds and activity into account (traffic, music, people talking loudly) if your bedroom is too close to the street or a noisy neighbor, the natural insulation might not be enough. If the kitchen or living room is a quieter space overall, go for that.

Cleaning Audio Files:

​Sometimes, even after taking every step possible, there may still be considerable background noise for you to contend with. However, don’t fret about always re-recording that perfect take. There are ways to clean an audio file after recording. 

The simplest way is in whatever DAW of your choice. Set up volume automation on the track in question, and then duck the volume out whenever there are silences in your track. This is helpful if the sounds are not necessarily conflicting with your recording, just sticking out in the spaces. If you find you have a consistent pitch sounding in the background of a recording (usually an AC or other appliance of some kind) you can use a filter (EQ) to isolate that single pitch and cut it out. I may release a tutorial on how to do this later on. If I do, I'll make sure to link it here.

Finally, the most useful method I’ve used is with Audacity. They have a wonderful “Noise Reduction” tool built into the program. It’s incredibly easy to use, and has helped me save so many noisy concert and rehearsal recordings. The best part is the fact that Audacity is free, so anyone can use this tool right now if they need to. Keep in mind that it can alter the quality of a track in more extreme cases, but I’ve had it do absolutely remarkable work. I’ve included a tutorial here on how to use it: 

Summary:

​While people may find there are many barriers standing in the way of their ability to produce high-quality professional recordings, there are ways to mitigate a cheaper set up. Many of these tools are free and easy to use too! I hope the above information is helpful to those just dipping into the wonderful world of recording, and even to those more experienced and on the go. Until next time, thank you for reading, and happy jamming!