How To Set Up a Home Recording Studio in 7 Days Flat - Day 4

Having your own home recording studio is one of the biggest advantages you can provide for yourself as a musician. In this 7 part report on setting up your own home recording studio, we are discussing some of the technical specifications and advantages to necessary recording equipment. As we arrive at Day 4, we are past the halfway point and it is time to discuss the various amplifier options available and how to choose the right one for your home recording studio.

When you are gathering the necessary equipment for your home recording studio, the amplifier is a component that can greatly improve the quality of your recordings. Depending upon your budget and other equipment, you may be able to bypass the need for an external amplifier unit and use software options instead.

If you choose to use a physical amplifier unit instead of software, either out of personal preference or necessity, there are a few options you need to consider.

Does the amplifier you are considering have enough hook ups to connect all of the equipment you want to run? There is nothing worse than assembling your whole band for a recording session and discovering your amplifier is two inputs short.

Does the amplifier have phantom power jacks? If you are running microphones that require a phantom power source, your amplifier needs to fit the bill.

Does the amplifier have RCA output jacks? RCA output jacks are industry standard on many amplifiers but it is always best to check before you buy. If you don't have RCA outputs, you may encounter real difficulty when you try to hook your amplifier up to your recording system. Amplifiers lacking the RCA outputs may still produce a great sound but we are discussing how to create a recording studio. If you can't connect your amp to your recording system, it defeats the purpose.

Cost is always a factor when purchasing equipment for your home recording studio. There are many cheap amplifier options on the market today but, unfortunately, a lot of them sound cheap too. Try the system before you buy it and, as always, purchase the best quality for the money you can afford to spend.

Size is also a consideration. In most home recording studio settings, space is limited. Amplifiers come in a variety of sizes and, in your eagerness to buy the best amplifier money can buy, you might find yourself with a goliath sized monster that won't fit through your front door.

As a final note, you can save a lot of money on your amplifier purchase by shopping around a bit. Check online electronic sales and catalogs for good deals. Even second hand equipment is fine if you check it before you buy it. Hit up the local pawn shop or the classifieds and you might find yourself taking home a Mark Levinson amplifier for $20.

Check back soon for Day 5 when we will discuss software options for home recording studios.