CHAPTER 6: The Complete Recording Studio Equipment List

TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
1. Studio Rack Mounts
CHAPTER 6: The Complete 2. Power Conditioners

3. Microphone Preamps
Recording Studio 4. Headphone Amps

5. Monitor Management
Equipment List 6. MIDI Controllers
7. Electronic Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
Regardless of whether you’re a total
newbie… 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
12. Direct Boxes
Or you’ve had a decent home studio for a
<< Switch Chapters >>
while now…
1/2/3/4/5/6
The same question always lingers

somewhere in the back of your mind:
“ What’s the next step?

Because when you see all those incredible
images of pro studios on the internet…
And you compare that to where you are

right now…
It’s only natural to want that one piece of

the puzzle which gets you a step closer to where you someday want to be.
Which is why for today’s post, the goal is to help you nd that next step.
Which we will accomplish by covering a list of 33 items you can eventually add to
your studio…from beginner to advanced.
But rst…let’s determine exactly what level you’re

TH E 6 Sat right
TUDIO C Hnow…
AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The 4 STAGES of Growth

2. Power Conditioners
Starting from day one…
4. Headphone Amps
Studios go through 4 KEY stages in their
evolution: 5. Monitor Management
6. MIDI Controllers
1. Bedroom Studio – which is typically a 7. Electronic Drum Kits
small setup next to your bedside, 8. Control Surfaces
and is the absolute minimum you
9. Software/Plugins
need to record sound into your
computer. 10. Snake Cables
2. Dedicated Home Studio – which is 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
typically a room in your house used 12. Direct Boxes
solely for recording, that includes
both studio furniture, and acoustic treatment.
3. Semi-Pro Studio – which can be either at your1/2/3/4/5/6
home, or a di erent location,
and typically includes the equipment necessary to record multiple musicians
simultaneously.
4. Pro Studio – which is typically located at a commercial facility, and includes
whatever tools necessary to produce professional results in the most e cient
way possible.
Up next, I’ll show you exactly what’s required in each of these 4 stages.
If you’re new to this website, go through them in order, so you don’t miss anything.
HOWEVER…
If you’ve already made it through the rst 5 chapters of the site, STAGES 1 & 2 will
be refresher content…
So if you want, CLICK HERE to skip straight to STAGE 3.
If you’re still here, let’s continue…

Chapter 6: Upgrades
STAGE 1: The “Bedroom” Studio
While beginners always have that natural 2. Power Conditioners

desire to want to learn everything, right 3. Microphone Preamps
away… 4. Headphone Amps
The truth is…you really only need a few
6. MIDI Controllers
items to get started.
And anything more will probably just 8. Control Surfaces
confuse you. 9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
So if you don’t have a studio yet, a simple
11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
bedroom studio is the rst milestone to
aim for. 12. Direct Boxes

And for a setup like this, you need the following 9 items:
1/2/3/4/5/6
1. Computer
2. DAW
3. Audio Interface
4. Microphones
5. Headphones
6. Studio Monitors
7. Cables
8. Microphone Stands
9. Pop Filter
Now let’s look at each one in more detail…
1. Computer
These days, since recording studios are almost ALL digital…
The rst thing you obviously need is
a computer.
And while you can just use any old TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS

Chapter 6: Upgrades
computer, at- rst…
You should eventually invest in the best 2. Power Conditioners
one you can a ord.
4. Headphone Amps
Because today’s DAW’s can be EXTREMELY
hard on processing resources. 5. Monitor Management
6. MIDI Controllers
And making full-use of its features requires a blazing-fast
7. Electroniccomputer.
Drum KitsSo when
you’re ready to upgrade, here’s what I recommend:
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
The Best Computers/Laptops for Music Production 2018
10. Snake Cables
Classic Example: 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies

12. Direct Boxes
Macbook Pro – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
1/2/3/4/5/6
2. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
The digital audio workstation is the
primary software used to record, edit,
and mix music on your computer.
Originally designed to mimic look-and-feel

of analog mixing boards from the pre-
digital era…
Their visual design has remained basically

the same ever since.
Pro Tools, which has long-been the most

famous DAW, great for studios of all
levels…but it is by no means the only option.
Depending on your budget and style of music, the best one for you could be any
one of around 10 possible options.
To learn more about each one, check out this

THarticle:
E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The Ultimate Guide for DAW Software for 1.

2018
Studio Rack Mounts
Classic Example:
4. Headphone Amps
Avid Pro Tools – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
6. MIDI Controllers
3. Audio Interface
Once you’ve got the software, the next 8. Control Surfaces
thing you’ll need is an audio interface…
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
Which has the primary purpose of
providing all the necessary connections to 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
send your music: 12. Direct Boxes

INTO the computer when recording,
and… 1/2/3/4/5/6
OUT the computer during playback.
Originally, this was pretty much all they did…
But today’s modern interfaces have evolved into incorporate many other features
as well. Those include:
digital conversion
mic preamps
DI boxes
headphone amps
monitor management
In pro studios, each of these items normally exist as high-end stand-alone

units, organized within a rack.
In home studios though, these “all-in-one” budget interfaces can be a great way to
save money, and still get exactly what you need.
To see which ones I recommend, check out TH

this
E 6article:
S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The Ultimate Guide to Audio Interfaces for

1.2018
Studio Rack Mounts
Classic Example:
4. Headphone Amps
Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
6. MIDI Controllers
4. Microphones
The oldest item on this list by far… 8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
Microphones have been around since long
10. Snake Cables
before recording studios ever existed.
12. Direct Boxes
Yet ironically, in all those years, very little about
them has changed.
1/2/3/4/5/6
And many of the top models from a half-
century ago are still among the industry standards of today.
That’s not to say that microphones are a simple topic, because it’s actually quite
the opposite.
Recording studios typically carry several-dozen mics or more…each one used to

achieve:
a di erent sound

from di erent instruments
in di erent situations
And in the following post, I give you the complete run-down on everything you
should know about the topic:
The Beginner’s Guide to Recording Studio Microphones
Classic Examples:
Chapter 6: Upgrades
Dynamic Mic
Shure SM57 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Large Diaphragm Condenser 2. Power Conditioners
Rode NT1A – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Small Diaphragm Condenser
4. Headphone Amps
AKG P170 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
5. Headphones 6. MIDI Controllers

Unlike most studio gear, headphones are one item
8. Control Surfaces
that we’re all thoroughly familiar with.
9. Software/Plugins
At least…that’s what most people assume. 10. Snake Cables

But truth is, while you may own a great pair of12. Direct Boxes
“consumer” headphones…
For pro audio, there are 2 special types of studio 1/2/3/4/5/6

headphones intended for 2 very speci c tasks:
1. closed back headphones

2. open back headphones
And in this post, I reveal what they are, what they do, and which ones I
recommend:
The Ultimate Guide to Studio Headphones for Home Recording
Classic Example:
Sennheiser HD280 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
6. Studio Monitors
In the pro audio world, we call them either
studio monitors, or near eld monitors.
And while they might look similar to plain old

Chapter 6: Upgrades
speakers…THEY’RE NOT.
Compared to consumer speakers, which 2. Power Conditioners
typically accentuate certain frequency bands in
order to improve the listening experience for
certain audiences… 4. Headphone Amps
Studio monitors are designed with the opposite goal of
6. MIDI providing a perfectly FLAT
Controllers
frequency response, so engineers can hear a mix as it trulyDrum
7. Electronic is, aws
Kitsand all…so
they can adjust accordingly.
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
In pro studios, these monitors can often cost 10 grand or more.
10. Snake Cables
11.
But luckily for the rest of us, there are plenty of Uninterruptible
great Power Supplies
a ordable options as well. To
see which ones I recommend, check out this article:
12. Direct Boxes
The 10 Best Studio Monitors for Home << Switch Chapters >>
Recording
1/2/3/4/5/6
Classic Example:
KRK Rokit5 G3 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
7. Cables
In a typical pro studio, you’re likely to nd hundreds of cables…
With dozens of connectors that you’ve probably never even heard of.
And the time will come when you own more cables than you can count.
The good news is…in the beginning, all you need is 3:
One XLR cable to connect a mic to your audio interface.

And two more to connect the interface to
your monitors.
For help nding these, check out this article:TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The Ultimate Guide to XLR Mic Cables for 1. Studio Rack Mounts
Stage and Studio 2. Power Conditioners
Classic Example:
4. Headphone Amps
Mogami Silver – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
6. MIDI Controllers
And to learn more about the other types of studio cables asDrum
7. Electronic well, Kits
check out this
article: 8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
The Ultimate Guide to Audio Cables for Home Recording
10. Snake Cables
8. Microphone Stands
12. Direct Boxes
The same concept applies with
microphone stands as with studio cables.
1/2/3/4/5/6
Eventually you’ll have many.
But for now, all you need is 1 or 2.
And while you might assume that all

stands are pretty much the same…
They actually come in many shapes and sizes, each designed for speci c tasks.
To learn more about each type and what they’re for, check out this article:
The Ultimate Guide to Microphone Stands for Stage and Studio
Classic Example:
DR Pro Boom – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
9. Pop Filter
Chapter 6: Upgrades
Despite the fact that pop lters are in no
way “essential” to a bedroom studio… 1. Studio Rack Mounts
For some strange reason, all newbies seem
to want one.
4. Headphone Amps
And most probably don’t even know what 5. Monitor Management

they’re for. 6. MIDI Controllers
So let me explain…
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
One peculiar fact about your mouth is that it
10. Snake
expels a strong burst of air whenever you pronounce “p”Cables
or “b” sounds.
In normal conversation, you don’t even notice 12.
it. Direct Boxes

But when singing into a microphone, that blast of air is heard as a low frequency
1/2/3/4/5/6
“thump” known as popping, which is both unpleasant to the ears, and
unacceptable on a recording.
Pop lters are designed to solve this problem by catching the blast of air before it
hits the diaphragm of the mic.
If you’re interested in trying one out, here are the ones I recommend:
The 7 Best Pop Filters for Recording Vocals
Classic Example:
Stedman Proscreen XL – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
Now at this point, we’ve concluded STAGE 1. Once you’ve got everything we just
covered, you should be fully equipped to record audio in your little bedroom
studio.
And while many people will be more than satis ed to remain at this stage…some
of you will want something better at some point.
Chapter 6: Upgrades
In which case, it’s time to graduate to… 1. Studio Rack Mounts

STAGE 2: The Dedicated3.Home
Microphone Studio
Preamps
4. Headphone Amps
After recording music in a simple
bedroom studio for a few months… 5. Monitor Management
6. MIDI Controllers
You’ll probably start to notice a few things 7. Electronic Drum Kits
that bug the crap out of you. 8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
Besides the fact that your workspace is
10. Snake Cables
extremely cramped…
Your biggest problem is probably that all 12. Direct Boxes
your music sounds like it was recorded…
well…in a bedroom!
1/2/3/4/5/6
And after doing some research to gure out what’s going wrong…
You will undoubtedly come to the conclusion that you now need a dedicated
room for your studio…
Where you can cultivate both a creative environment that will improve your
work ow, and an acoustic environment that will allow your recordings to at
least sound semi-decent.
So when that time comes, here are the 8 KEY items you need:
1. Desk/Workstation
2. Studio Chairs
3. Bass Traps
4. Acoustic Panels
5. Di users
6. Re ection Filters
7. Monitor Isolation Pads
8. Studio Monitor Stands TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
Now let’s take a closer look at each one… 1. Studio Rack Mounts
1. Desk/Workstation 3. Microphone Preamps
In virtually any home studio, regardless of size4.orHeadphone Amps

purpose… 5. Monitor Management
6. MIDI Controllers
The centerpiece of the room will undoubtedly 7.
beElectronic Drum Kits
the desk.
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
So it makes sense then, that it be the very rst
item you add to your new room. 10. Snake Cables
But don’t go overboard here. Because in the 12. Direct Boxes
beginning, any desk you already have in your house can work just ne.
So you don’t have to spend a fortune on a custom1/2/3/4/5/6

mixing desk if you don’t want to.
However…
The truth is, at some point, you will want something better. And if that day is
today, check out this post to see which ones I recommend:
The 6 Best Studio Mixing Desks for Home Recording
Classic Example:
Studio RTA Producer – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
2. Studio Chairs
Just like with your desk…a high-end studio chair, while nice to have, is not a
necessity.
Truthfully, a folding chair works just ne. TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS

Chapter 6: Upgrades
For a while… 1. Studio Rack Mounts

But home studios having a curious way of consuming
your entire life…
4. Headphone Amps
And it’s quite possible that at some point, you 5. Monitor Management
will
spend more hours in that chair than you do in6.yourMIDI Controllers
bed. 7. Electronic Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
In which case, a little bit of comfort and back support may not be a bad idea.
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
So to see which ones I recommend, check out this post:
12. Direct Boxes
The 6 Best Studio Chairs for Home Recording

3. Bass Traps 1/2/3/4/5/6
The fact is…that without some acoustic

treatment in your room…
Chances are slim-to-none that you will have

any chance at recording decent sound.
And the rst type of acoustic treatment to

add is…bass traps.
The reason they come rst is because unlike other types of acoustic foam…
Bass traps o er broadband absorption across the entire frequency spectrum, and
are particularly good at absorbing lower frequencies…which cause the majority of
problems in any studio, especially in smaller rooms.
And since it’s the most-important item, it makes sense to check it o your list rst.
To learn more about bass traps, and see which ones I recommend, check out this
post: TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The Ultimate Guide to Bass Traps for Home Recording

Classic Example:
4. Headphone Amps
Auralex LENRD – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
6. MIDI Controllers
4. Acoustic Panels
While they don’t absorb bass frequencies 8. Control Surfaces
very well…
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
Acoustic panels are great at absorbing
frequencies in the low-mid to high range. 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
12. Direct Boxes
More importantly though…
1/2/3/4/5/6
They are particularly good
at taming standing waves…
Which have a tendency to cause major

acoustic problems in rooms with parallel walls, where sound re ections bounce
back-and-forth in the same spot.
In typical home studios, where the room is likely to be cubical, standing waves are
especially problematic, which is why acoustic panels are a must-have.
To see which ones I recommend, and how to put them up, check out this post:
The Ultimate Guide to Acoustic Foam Panels for Home Recording
Classic Example:
Auralex Studiofoam – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
5. Diffusers
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The nal item to add to add to your room is…
di users. 1. Studio Rack Mounts
In pro studios, with big budgets and big rooms…
4. Headphone Amps
Di usion is an important element of their
acoustic treatment plan because creates a nice
natural ambience without removing too much6.ofMIDI Controllers
the “liveliness” from the room. 7. Electronic Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
Di users do this by scattering whatever sound
9. Software/Plugins
energy exists in the room…
10. Snake Cables
Allowing all frequencies to disperse randomly,11. Uninterruptible
rather Power
than build up Supplies
unnaturally in
certain spots. 12. Direct Boxes

Common wisdom states though, that di usion is signi cantly less e ective in
smaller rooms. 1/2/3/4/5/6
And since di users can get quite expensive, most home studios will elect to not
use them. However, the choice is completely up to you.
Classic Example:
Auralex T’Fusor – (Amazon/B&H/Thomann)
6. Re ection Filters
While “real” acoustic treatment will always be ideal…
Often times, it’s simply too expensive for a small project studio.
In which case, re ection lters o er a workable alternative.

Intended mainly for vocal recording, this device
allows you to skip the hassle of treating your
entire studio…
Chapter 6: Upgrades
By instead capturing sound re ections before
they ever enter the room. 1. Studio Rack Mounts
While noticeably less e ective than “proper”
acoustic treatment, they’re still way better than
nothing-at-all… 4. Headphone Amps
And they can even be ideal for simple bedroom
6. studios that only do vocals.
MIDI Controllers
To see which ones I recommend, check out this post:
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
The 6 Best Re ection Filters for Recording Vocals
10. Snake Cables

12. Direct Boxes
sE Electronics Re exion Filter PRO –
(Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
1/2/3/4/5/6
7. Monitor Isolation Pads

Once you’ve gotten the acoustic treatment
part out of the way…
You can still improve your sound one step

further with monitor isolation pads.
You see…by placing your studio monitors

directly on the desk, sound vibrations
transfer through the surface of the desk…
Which decreases the accuracy of the monitors themselves, and can even create
new and unpredictable resonances from any other objects receiving those
vibrations.
Monitor isolations pads solve this problem by creating a bu er of acoustic
isolation between your monitors and desk, preventing any vibration from
transferring.
Chapter 6: Upgrades
Plus, some models even provide added options for positioning your monitors, by
allowing you to tilt them at various angles. 1. Studio Rack Mounts
To see which ones I recommend, check out this article:
4. Headphone Amps
The 6 Best Monitor Isolation Pads to Improve Your Sound
Classic Example: 6. MIDI Controllers
Auralex Mopads – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
8. Studio Monitor Stands 10. Snake Cables
To take monitor positioning one step further…11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
12. Direct Boxes
A better option might be to use studio monitor stands
instead.
1/2/3/4/5/6
Because rather than limit your positioning to the

surface of your desk…
With stands…distance, height, and angle are fully

adjustable, so you can move them wherever you like.
And they’re a big help, because to get the most accurate sound from your
monitors, they need to be in very speci c locations in relation to your ears.
To see a list of the top stands I recommend, check out this article:
The 7 Best Studio Monitor Stands for Home Recording
Classic Example:
Ultimate Support MS90 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
So that concludes STAGE 2.

Chapter 6: Upgrades
With the items we just covered, you should have a pretty awesome home studio by
now. 1. Studio Rack Mounts
And if you only plan on working by yourself in your studio, this may be all you ever
need.
4. Headphone Amps
But when the day comes when you want to want 5. Monitor
to recordManagement
other people, and
6. MIDI
possibly even charge them for your services, it’s time Controllers
to graduate to…
STAGE 3: The “Semi-Pro” Studio
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
The biggest problem with the studio we
10. Snake Cables
just set up…
Is that it only o ers a limited number of 12. Direct Boxes
input channels.
1/2/3/4/5/6
What this means is…it will be very di cult
to record more than one person at a
time…
And you certainly can’t record acoustic drums, which can easily require 8 or more
mics depending on the size of the kit.
A studio of this caliber is ne for yourself and maybe one other person, but
anything more and you’ll need some new gear.
The other issue with our current studio is speed/e ciency…
If you’re recording a lot, or you expect to charge clients by the hour…you should be
able to work a relatively time-e cient manner. Which is harder to do without
certain tools.
So if you’re ready…let’s begin with this new round of equipment:
1. Rack Mount
2. Power Conditioner TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
3. Microphone Preamp
4. Headphone Amp 1. Studio Rack Mounts
6. Virtual Instruments
7. MIDI Controller
8. Electronic Drum Kit 4. Headphone Amps
9. Control Surface 5. Monitor Management
10. Software/Plugins 6. MIDI Controllers
11. Snake Cable
12. Uninterruptible Power Supply
13. Direct Box 8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
Now let’s look at each one in more detail… 10. Snake Cables
1. Studio Rack Mounts 12. Direct Boxes
The nal “BIG milestone” in the evolution of<< Switch Chapters >>
your home studio… 1/2/3/4/5/6
Is the inevitable addition of your rst rack-

mounted setup.
Because prior to this step, the simple

desktop gear you’ve been using can only
record a small number of simultaneous
tracks.
And if you want to record bands (which

most people eventually do) you need more channels.
The beauty of the “rack system” is…it allows you to mix-n-match your equipment,
so you can customize your routing and signal ow however you like.
That way it can always do exactly what you need it to.
Of course, the rst step in building any rack to buy the case itself. So check out this
article to see which ones I recommend: TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The Beginner’s Guide to Studio Rack Mounts for Home

1. Studio RackRecording
Mounts
Classic Example:
4. Headphone Amps
Raxxess Economy Rack – (Amazon/B&H)
6. MIDI Controllers
2. Power Conditioner
While every person’s rack setup will be 8. Control Surfaces
entirely unique…
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
The one item common to virtually every
rack is a power conditioner. 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
12. Direct Boxes
Because rather than having a half-dozen
power cables sticking out the back of your
rack from each unit… 1/2/3/4/5/6
A power conditioner consolidates power for the entire rack down to a single cable.
And as a HUGE side-bene t, it also lters the power using various technologies

such as:
surge protection
voltage regulation
noise ltration
Which extends the life of your gear, and allows it to always perform at its best.
To see which ones I recommend, check out this post:
The 7 Best Power Conditioners to Safeguard Your Equipment

Classic Example:
Furman M-8×2 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
Chapter 6: Upgrades
3. Microphone Preamp
Now that the rack and the power is taken 2. Power Conditioners
care of…
4. Headphone Amps
You’re nally ready for those extra input
channels we’ve been talking about… 5. Monitor Management
6. MIDI Controllers
Which you will get by adding a multi- 7. Electronic Drum Kits
channel microphone preamp to your
8. Control Surfaces
setup.
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snakesingle-channel mic
Another common variety of this device is the high-end Cables preamp,
which studios often use on vocals or any other11. Uninterruptible
particularly Power
important Supplies
track in a
mix. 12. Direct Boxes

To see which models I recommend for both single and multi-channel preamps,
check out this article: 1/2/3/4/5/6
The 9 Best Microphone Preamps for Home Recording
Classic Example:
Presonus Digimax D8 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF)
NOTE: Whenever buying a multi-channel preamp, you must also make sure that
you audio interface has enough line inputs to accommodate the extra channels.
If yours doesn’t…check out the audio interface post again to nd one that does.
4. Headphone Amp
Once you have plenty of input channels to work with…
The next thing you’ll need is a few more
OUTPUT channels.
First, so that when you work with multiple TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS

Chapter 6: Upgrades
musicians…
Each person can monitor themselves as
they perform.
Since most audio interfaces have only 1-2 4. Headphone Amps

headphone outputs…you’ll need a headphone5. Monitor
amp if youManagement
want more.
6. MIDI Controllers
Typical headphone amps o er stereo outs for 7.
anywhere from
Electronic 4-8Kits
Drum sets of
headphones.
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
Advanced headphone amps…can send multiple tracks of audio to personal mixers
10.control
for each musician, allowing them to individually Snake Cables
exactly what they want to
hear, without a ecting what is heard by everyone else.
12. Direct Boxes
And in studios that can a ord one, this added functionality can make the entire
recording process much easier for everyone<< Switch Chapters >>
involved.
1/2/3/4/5/6
The 7 Best Headphone Amps for Home Recording
Classic Example:
Presonus HP4 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
Now that you’ve got plenty of output channels for headphones…
The next thing you may want to add is some extra outputs for multiple studio
monitors.
And here’s why:
Sometimes in advanced studios, engineers

need to compare how their mixes sound TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
over a variety of playback devices.
That way, when their work is heard 2. Power Conditioners
through cheaper “consumer” speakers…
4. Headphone Amps
They can be con dent that it sounds just
as awesome as it does in the studio. 5. Monitor Management
6. MIDI Controllers
To accomplish this task, a tool known as a monitor management
7. Electronic system is used…
Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
Which allows engineers to switch back and forth between di erent speakers with
9. Software/Plugins
the push of a button.
10. Snake Cables
11. Uninterruptible
If and when you ever need this in your studio, check Power
out this article Supplies
to see which
ones I recommend: 12. Direct Boxes

The 6 Best Monitor Management Systems for Home Recording
1/2/3/4/5/6
Classic Example:
Mackie Big Knob – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
6. Virtual Instruments
If you record mainly by yourself…
Then you already know how di cult it can be to play the part of “multi-
instrumentalist“.
Not only do you have to be at least semi-pro cient at a bunch of di erent

instruments…
You need to actually OWN each of those
instruments as well.
Which for many of us, is simply not possible.

TH Home
E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
recording is expensive enough without having to buy
a dozens of instruments as well. 1. Studio Rack Mounts
The solution to this common problem is of course…
virtual instruments.
4. Headphone Amps
With a single software bundle, you get access 5.
to Monitor Management
hundreds of instrument sounds for less than the
6. MIDI Controllers
price of a single “real” instrument.
8. Control Surfaces
And while they can’t replicate every instrument (like guitar), they can sound
9. Software/Plugins
surprisingly realistic on certain instruments (such as piano and drums).
10. Snake Cables
Which is why for most people, what I recommend for starters is: Power Supplies
11. Uninterruptible
12. Direct Boxes
one good drum program, and…
one good keyboard/synth program. << Switch Chapters >>
1/2/3/4/5/6
And using just those two, you can accomplish a hell-of-a-lot.
Classic Example for Drums: Toontrack EZ Drummer –

(Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusicianF/Thomann)
Classic Example for Keyboards: Spectrasonics Omnisphere –
(Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusicianF)
7. MIDI Controller
The biggest problem with virtual instruments is…
It SUCKS to play them on a computer keyboard and mouse. Not only is it no-fun…
it takes forever to program even a simple rhythm/melody, and…

the level of “feel” you can inject into a performance is minimal.
Because to truly add your own expressive
touch, you need an actual “physical”
instrument to control your “virtual”
instrument. TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
And that’s where MIDI controllers come 1. Studio Rack Mounts
in…
While they aren’t perfect, they allow for at
least some degree of expression, by giving 4. Headphone Amps
you something real to touch with your 5. Monitor Management
hands. 6. MIDI Controllers
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
The 8 Best MIDI Controllers for Home Recording
10. Snake Cables
12. Direct Boxes
M-Audio Axiom AIR mini – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
1/2/3/4/5/6
8. Electronic Drum Kit
While virtual instrument drums might be
good enough for some…
For drummers, probably not.
The problem is…while acoustic drums might

be ideal, they simply aren’t practical for 99%
of home studios.
But there’s good news…
Because electronic drum kits provide an excellent compromise between the “real”

and the “virtual“.
Now if you haven’t played one in a few years, you may have a negative opinion of
them based o the ones you might remember back in the 80’s.
However, in the 20-30 years since, they’ve gotten

TH E 6 MUCH
S TUDIO better.
C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
Today, they can sound almost as good, and in 1.

some cases
Studio even
Rack better than a real
Mounts
acoustic kit. And for the home recording musician, that’s wonderful news.
If you’re interested, check out this article to see which ones I recommend:
4. Headphone Amps
The 8 Best Electronic Drum Kits of 2018 5. Monitor Management

6. MIDI Controllers
Classic Example: 7. Electronic Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
Roland TD11 KV – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
9. Control Surface 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
The stereotypical fantasy which initially 12. Direct Boxes
sucks us into the world of recording is…
1/2/3/4/5/6
that vision of you…
in the control room…
Crafting your latest masterpiece on

the massive analog mixing board of your
million dollar studio.
Of course, it doesn’t take long to discover that the actual world of home recording
is far less glamourous.
Because in this reality, mixing is usually done on a computer keyboard and mouse.
Which to be honest…kinda sucks.
And not only does it look lame…

More importantly, it slows down your work ow, and makes it much harder to
perform some of the more advanced mixing techniques, such as automation.
The solution to this problem is of course, a control surface,

TH E 6 S TUDIO which
C H AP TER S is TH
essentially a TS
E IN S TR UMEN
Chapter 6: Upgrades
MIDI controller designed to mimic the look and feel of the analog boards from
decades-past. 1. Studio Rack Mounts
Only…in a much smaller package.
4. Headphone Amps
And while they aren’t a must-have item, they’re still pretty awesome. To see which
ones I recommend, check out this post: 5. Monitor Management
6. MIDI Controllers
The 7 Best Control Surfaces for Home Recording
8. Control Surfaces
Classic Example:
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
Avid Artist Mix – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
10. Software/Plugins 12. Direct Boxes

These days, virtually all DAW’s o er a
bundle of free software plugins as part of 1/2/3/4/5/6
their package.
And most of them aren’t half bad.
However, the fact is that top engineers will

spend thousands of dollars on premium
plugins…
Which are somehow better than the free

ones.
And while beginners often make the mistake of believing that these premium
plugins are a “magic pill” that will solve all their problems…
The truth is…that if your skills aren’t up to par, then no plugin in the world is gonna
help.
However… TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS

Chapter 6: Upgrades
If you do have some skills, they can make a BIG

1. di erence.
Studio Rack And I won’t even have
Mounts
to explain how… 2. Power Conditioners
Because you will hear it yourself.
4. Headphone Amps
5.software
To learn more about the di erent categories of Monitor Management
plugins available, check
out this post: 6. MIDI Controllers
The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Music Production Software
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
Classic Example:
10. Snake Cables
Waves Gold Bundle – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
12. Direct Boxes
11. Snake Cables << Switch Chapters >>

1/2/3/4/5/6
At this stage in the game, with the gear you now
own…
It’s quite likely that your studio is looking pretty

cluttered.
Cables everywhere…right?
Well once you reach this point, the standard solution to turn to is a snake cable
like the one shown in the picture.
By combining several individual cables into one, snake cables allow you to
dramatically clean up the look of your studio, and more importantly…
They keep your cables permanently organized, so never-again will you need to
trace-back an entire length of cable through a tangled web just to nd out where it
leads.
The only problem is…most snakes are designed for much larger rigs than a typical
home studio, and it can be di cult for beginners
TH E 6 Sto
TUDIO H APright
ndCthe TER S one
THfor
E INtheir
S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
purpose.
So for more info on this topic, check out this article:
The Beginner’s Guide to Snake Cables for Home Recording
4. Headphone Amps
Classic Example: 5. Monitor Management

6. MIDI Controllers
Hosa Little Bro – (Amazon/B&H) 7. Electronic Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
12. Uninterruptible Power9. Supply (UPS)
Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
Do you know what can happen during a
recording session when the power goes 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
out? 12. Direct Boxes

If your studio uses a desktop computer
(instead of a laptop, which has batteries), 1/2/3/4/5/6
and the computer SHUTS OFF improperly…
All of your work can potentially be LOST.
Which is why anytime a computer holds

important data, it makes sense to use an uninturruptible power supply (UPS).
Essentially functioning as a back-up battery, a UPS gives you several minutes of

power to shut down your computer safely in the event of a blackout.
Now unlike every other item on this list, which should be added in sequence…
a UPS is one of those items you can add at virtually any time.
Some people get them early-on. Others never get them at all.
But here’s when I suggest you get one:
Once you’re at a point where you’re creating work you’re actually proud of, and that
you’d be devastated if you’d lost… TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
It makes sense to buy a little “insurance” so you’re protected.

To learn more about UPS’s, check out this post:
4. Headphone Amps
The Average Joe’s Guide to Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Classic Example: 6. MIDI Controllers
APC BR700G – (Amazon/B&H) 8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
13. Direct Boxes 10. Snake Cables
In the studio, where cables sometimes extend11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies

as long
as a hundred feet to reach their destinations…12. Direct Boxes

Guitar cables are especially susceptible to excessive
1/2/3/4/5/6
signal noise.
And direct boxes solve this problem by taking an

(unbalanced) instrument level signal, and converting it
to a (balanced) mic level signal…
Which can then be sent for several hundreds of feet if necessary, while gathering
virtually no noise at all.
Because of the fact that most audio interfaces and microphone preamps have at

least 1 or 2 direct box channels built-in…
It’s possible you may never need a direct box.
However, if you need more DI inputs, or…if would like to add a guitar jack to a new
location in your room…a stand-alone DI box could be exactly what you’re looking
for.
To see which ones I recommend and why, check out this post:
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The Ultimate Guide to Direct Boxes for Stage and Studio
Classic Example: 2. Power Conditioners
Radial J48 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)
4. Headphone Amps
So we’ve nally reached the end of STAGE 3. At this point with the new additions
6. MIDI to
we just covered, your studio should be good enough Controllers
record bands and possibly
even charge clients for your services. 7. Electronic Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
However…
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
If you aspire to actually turn your hobby into something resembling a full-time
11. Uninterruptible
career, there’s still one more set of upgrades that remain… Power Supplies
12. Direct Boxes
STAGE 4: The “Pro” Studio

1/2/3/4/5/6
For 99.9% of us, STAGE 3 will have been
the nal level of our journey.
Because the truth is…it’s extremely tough

to be successful in the pro audio
business.
And most of us aren’t really looking to be

professionals anyway.
But since many of you are at least curious about it, I might as well give you a
few examples of how pro studios di er from amateur ones.
So if you’re ready, here’s the nal list of equipment for STAGE 4:

1. Digital Converters
2. Master Clocks
3. Analog Hardware
Chapter 6: Upgrades
And here’s more about each one…
1. Digital Converters 2. Power Conditioners
Hidden within your audio interface, and
many other devices in your studio… 4. Headphone Amps
Is a device known as a digital converter, 6. MIDI Controllers
that has 2 simple jobs: 7. Electronic Drum Kits
8. Control Surfaces
converting analog audio into digital (A/D), and…
9. Software/Plugins
converting digital audio into analog (D/A).
10. Snake Cables
The reason you may not have heard of it is…in11.
99%Uninterruptible Power
of cases, digital Supplies
converters
exist as a side-feature within some other device.
12. Direct Boxes

However…
1/2/3/4/5/6
In pro studios with big budgets, it’s common to nd high-end stand-alone digital
converters costing several thousand dollars each…
Which have no other function than to deliver the absolute best digital conversion
money can buy.
Will it be the di erence between a good mix and a bad one? Probably not.
But for professionals, every little advantage counts.
Classic Example:
Lynx Aurora(n) – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusicianF/Thomann)

2. Master Clocks
Another little-known device hidden within
virtually every digital recording device is… TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS
Chapter 6: Upgrades
The master clock (aka word clock, aka digital 1. Studio Rack Mounts

clock).
Whenever you connect digital signals from
two or more devices… 4. Headphone Amps
The individual digital “samples” must align perfectly
6. MIDIinControllers
sync.
Otherwise the resulting audio will be lled with annoying “clicks” and “pops” from
8. Control Surfaces
the misaligned samples.
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake
In most setups, the audio interface clock defaults as the Cables
master, and the others as
11.follow.
slaves. Meaning one clock leads, and the others Uninterruptible Power Supplies
12. Direct Boxes
However with more complex systems, it’s much easier to use a stand-alone digital
master clock to lead the entire system.
1/2/3/4/5/6
And while there’s much debate about their impact on sound quality, some sources
will tell you that a high-end master clock makes a noticeable di erence.
Classic Example: Apogee Big Ben
3. Analog Hardware
Long before the days when mixing was done
with software plugins…
Common tools like EQ and compression

existed only as stand-alone hardware in a rack.
These days many of those units cost several thousand dollars each, and o er only
1 or 2 channels.
Classic Example:
Universal Audio LA-2A – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusicianF)

Chapter 6: Upgrades
Now you might be wondering…
“ So wouldn’t I need dozens of those things justConditioners
2. Power to mix a song?
Well the answer is…yes you would.
4. Headphone Amps
Luckily for us, we now live in an age where the5.modeled

Monitor “digital
Management
versions” of these
tools make our jobs both cheaper and easier…6. MIDI Controllers
Yet surprisingly… 8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
Many of the world’s top studios still rely mainly on these ancient tools to get the
10. Snake Cables
job done. Because according to many of the best ears in the business…analog
gear still sounds better than any plugin. 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies
12. Direct Boxes
As such, many of us “normal” guys blow absurd amounts of cash on a single
purchase that may (but probably won’t) be that one missing ingredient we’ve been
searching for. 1/2/3/4/5/6
Would I recommend it in most cases? Not really. But I promise I won’t judge you if
you buy one anyway.
Anything else?
Now obviously, there’s way more to a pro studio than just these 3 additional items.
In fact, much of what makes a recording studio “professional” has more to do with
the rooms themselves than the actual gear.
But all that stu is pretty far outside the scope of both this article and this website.
So for now at least, that will conclude this insanely long post. Hope you enjoyed it.

Chapter 6: Upgrades

4. Headphone Amps
6. MIDI Controllers
8. Control Surfaces
9. Software/Plugins
10. Snake Cables
12. Direct Boxes

1/2/3/4/5/6
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TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS

1. Studio Rack Mounts

CHAPTER 6: The Complete 2. Power Conditioners

Recording Studio 4. Headphone Amps

The same question always lingers

“ What’s the next step?

And you compare that to where you are

It’s only natural to want that one piece of

But rst…let’s determine exactly what level you’re

The 4 STAGES of Growth

If you’re still here, let’s continue…

While beginners always have that natural 2. Power Conditioners

<< Switch Chapters >>

Now let’s look at each one in more detail…

And while you can just use any old TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS

Classic Example: 11. Uninterruptible Power Supplies

Originally designed to mimic look-and-feel

Their visual design has remained basically

Pro Tools, which has long-been the most

To learn more about each one, check out this

The Ultimate Guide for DAW Software for 1.

<< Switch Chapters >>

Originally, this was pretty much all they did…

In pro studios, each of these items normally exist as high-end stand-alone

To see which ones I recommend, check out TH

The Ultimate Guide to Audio Interfaces for

Recording studios typically carry several-dozen mics or more…each one used to

a di erent sound

5. Headphones 6. MIDI Controllers

At least…that’s what most people assume. 10. Snake Cables

For pro audio, there are 2 special types of studio 1/2/3/4/5/6

1. closed back headphones

The Ultimate Guide to Studio Headphones for Home Recording

And while they might look similar to plain old

KRK Rokit5 G3 – (Amazon/B&H/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

One XLR cable to connect a mic to your audio interface.

Eventually you’ll have many.

But for now, all you need is 1 or 2.

And while you might assume that all

The Ultimate Guide to Microphone Stands for Stage and Studio

And most probably don’t even know what 5. Monitor Management

<< Switch Chapters >>

The 7 Best Pop Filters for Recording Vocals

Stedman Proscreen XL – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF)

In which case, it’s time to graduate to… 1. Studio Rack Mounts

In virtually any home studio, regardless of size4.orHeadphone Amps

So you don’t have to spend a fortune on a custom1/2/3/4/5/6

The 6 Best Studio Mixing Desks for Home Recording

Studio RTA Producer – (Amazon/GuitarC/MusiciansF/Thomann)

Truthfully, a folding chair works just ne. TH E 6 S TUDIO C H AP TER S TH E IN S TR UMEN TS

For a while… 1. Studio Rack Mounts

<< Switch Chapters >>

The fact is…that without some acoustic

Chances are slim-to-none that you will have

And the rst type of acoustic treatment to

The Ultimate Guide to Bass Traps for Home Recording

Which have a tendency to cause major