Before setting up your Home Recording Studio, there are a few things to consider. The best way is to sit down and put all of your thoughts on paper. You want your studio to be as comfortable as possible, for everyone in the house.

Things to think about before you build your home studio:

• How noisey is my room (inside and out)?
• Power. Do I have enough outlets?
• Privacy. Will I be left alone?
• Acoustics. How does my room sound?
• Size. How much room do I really need?
• Music Style. What kind of music am I going to be recording?
• Budget. How much money can I put into my recording studio?

Picking a room for your recording studio depends on the music you will be recording. If you are recording all direct signals, and micing almost nothing then it really doesn't matter where you set up. You can do everything with headphones on and no one will be bothered. But if you are doing a lot of quiet miced instruments without too many direct signals, then you definately will need to find a quiet, private room that you can soundproof.

The style of music will also dictate which room to use and how much soundproofing you'll need. If you are a soft, mellow, acoustic based band, you'll want to keep every outside noise out of your microphones. If you are a speed metal band, you don't need to worry too much because your loud instruments should overpower most outside noises. You will have to soundproof just as a courtesy to your neighbors though. Unless they're into speed metal too.

You'll want the room you choose to be away from everyone else in the house. The basement is a great place to start. Keep in mind: Is my basement dry? Are there noisy furnaces or air conditioners? Is the washer and dryer right next to my amplifier? Does it get too cold or hot? Do I feel comfortable having thousands of dollars of equipment down there? If you do use the basement, make sure to have a dehumidfier down there to suck up any moisture.

Depending on where you live, the garage may be an option. This would have the same considerations as the basement: Moisture, noise, temperature, security? If you live in a high crime area, I would not recommend the garage. My thoughts are, the less people that know I have expensive equipment in my house, the better.

Bedrooms are another good choice. You won't have to worry about as much as in the basement or garage. I think privacy is the main factor if you do choose to use your bedroom. You don't want your little sister getting pissed cuz all you do is play your guitar. And you want to feel comfortable when recording "just vocals." Remember, when you record, the vocal track is recorded completely seperate from the other tracks. So, at some point, it's just going to be you with headphones on singing...alone. This can be kinda embarassing. You don't want your little sister harrassing you after your session.

Kitchens and bathrooms are a great place to get a good sound. Not a great place to set up an actual recording studio, but keep these in mind when you need a nice live sound.

Keep in mind, what exactly do I want in my studio. Do I want a couch for people? Do I have enough room for the entire band or every instrument. Do I have any storage? Do I have any way to isolate my pc's? Answering these questions, should give you an idea how big your room needs to be.

Don't rush into anything. Make an educated decision when picking your room. This is going to be YOUR recording studio. Get it the way YOU want it. You will be spending hour after hour in the studio, make sure it's a great space!

If you have any other thoughts or comments on choosing a room for your recording studio at home, please post them below. I enjoy reading other people's experiences.

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