In this post I am going to give you a list of the things you need and have Amazon ads that should both give you an idea of what to look for, and easy access to one of the best places to look for bargains online.
I will also assume you are building a digital workstation, because you cannot make a cheap analog (old-school) music studio.

Lets get started.

The First thing you need is a Computer that can handle a decent amount of abuse. Most home computers can handle Software like Acid Music Studio without much (if any) problem.
I recommend at least a 2Ghz processor, 2 gigs of ram and duel (two) monitors.

Next is Storage Space. No matter if you are going to be recording your own stuff, or using loops, or a combination you are going to need plenty of room for your recordings, and backups, least you lose anything.
A larger hard drive, burnable dvd’s for extra back-up protection and even an external hard drive are all good ideas.
The best thing to do is set up your computer for RAID. With this system (not all computers can do it, but most can nowadays) if one Hard Drive fails it loads a back-up onto a spare drive in the system thus protecting your data.
However this is about a cheap set up, so a single larger drive to give you space, and plenty of DvD-Rs is your best bet on storage and protection.

Next you will need a soundcard. Okay, this is where we get into specialized gear. If the computer you already have checks off, and you already have plenty of storage that gives you an all clear on the hardware front right? Wrong.
Does your machine have a sound card?
I don’t mean built in software and ports for plugging speakers into. I mean an actual sound card that plugs into a slot on the machine.
If not, you need one, because you will never get great sound quality, or control from the software based “Soundcards” most computers are sent out with.
Now I am not going to go into a long speech on Sound Cards but some cards are built for audio production work, and most aren’t. Since we are talking cheap, just get what you can afford.
Do not go with USB sound cards, you need a real card that you plug into one of the white slots on the motherboard of the computer.

Got a SoundCard? Even if you do you still need speakers. There are speakers called studio monitors that are built for audio production work, but any decent set of computer speakers will work. I advise you get more traditional style speakers. The more standard, and “old school” the build the more general the sound production from them will be.
That is what studio Monitors do. Give you play back with as little “hard ware color” as possible. By which I mean, the speakers don’t affect the sound playback much. All speakers playback sounds different to some degree, try to find ones that don’t too much.

Right, I hear you say… I’m no noob, I got game, and I play them. I’ve got sweet gear, tell me about something I don’t already have.

Right then. Do you have a Microphone? If you game, then you might have one for chatting. Believe it or not that will work just fine to get you started. This is one place you can spend an arm and a leg on, but you don’t have to right away. I get decent results with a 10$ chatting mic. You just do what you can with it.

If you want higher quality, try something like this.

So now you have the Hard Ware you need to get started. Next you need recording software. That’s easy. Just go here Sound Engine”
It works and it’s free. Can’t get cheaper than that.

Next you will need your production software. Please read through this page to decide what software you want to use. For a beginner, I recommend Acid Music Studio based on an easy learning curve, a good price, and the fact you will have all of the instruction videos I am/will be putting up to learn more about the program, and my tricks for it.

Those are the things you need to get started. Lets get more involved.

Next is where to put it. Obviously space is an issue, as is sound control, both incoming and outgoing. Neighbors or your Mom might not care for you blasting your creations at 3 in the morning while you try to figure out just what is off in that one part of the song.
There are many ways to go about sound proofing. From remodeling your home to just putting up home made baffles. Baffles are objects that catch sound rather than letting it through or reflecting it.
A card Board box with pieces of other boxes stapled to it to form spikes , maybe with some cheap carpeting stapled onto that, is a cheap way to create a baffle.

They also come in handy when recording. Letting you do your thing without as much bleed over from what’s playing.
Another trick is to record in a closet that you have packed some blankets and other soft stuff into.
The idea is to get as pure a recording as you can, without the environment interfering.If you have a nice space, letting the ambiance of that space work it’s way into your work is never a bad thing.
There is a reason why some of the best Studios in the world attract so many musicians. The space you work in can be very important to how your work ends up sounding.

Steps Two and Three are all on you. Give your computer a good look over, even if you think you have everything you need. Look around to see what you have to work with as far as space goes. Your imagination is your best tool, use it well.

Things you might want. Loops. When you are just starting out loops are your best friends. Even if you plan to record a lot, or even most of your own material, having a selection of loops to play around with is never a bad idea. Just keep in mind they can get expensive, and take up space.
Below is selection from what Amazon has available. Just do a search on Acidized loops, or Sound Loops and you will find a whole universe of sounds and samples to play with.

Getting a pair of nice headphones is also a good idea. You can work away and not have to worry about bothering anyone. They also come in handy while recording. Allowing you to hear the playback, and record without getting bleed over.
A good sound card is a must for doing that.

1. Acid Music Studio: My Program Of choice and the best one I have used. Interface is smooth and user friendly. Makes it easy to work with my loops, and third party loops. Acidized loops have Pitch and BPM information directly in them, allowing for incredible precision. I honestly feel its the best bang for your buck. I will use it as my yard stick for the others.

2. Garage Band: Since it comes with most Mac’s you cant beat the price. It has many of the same features as Acid, but lacks some of the better ones. Its also pretty user friendly. The main draw-back is that you need a Mac to use it.
GarageBand Adds

3. MAGIX Music Maker 14. MAGIX has some good products. Its a bit more expensive than Acid music studio, but it has some nice features. Its a bit better for people looking to make their own loops. It has really good built in instruments, and effects.

4. FlexiMusic Kids Composer: A cool program for kids. Its bare bones, but it helps kids compose music with colorful Images and a very easy to use interface.

5. Logic Express: At $199 its a tad pricey. However If you can afford it, and you have a Mac, Apples Logic Express is a prince amongst Home Music Making Software. It has some of the best features, for one of the best prices you will find.

6. Sequel 2: Simple to use and fun. At $99 its affordable for the beginner, and doesn’t have so many features it will set your head spinning. The features it has a perfectly suited to producing music at home. Its particularly good with Electronica styles, and also features a large library of free loops.

7. Sonar Home Studio: At $139 its a bit high for a beginner, but CakeWalk produces some great products. If you want something that gives you incredible features for a great price, Sonar Home Studio is good. I still prefer Acid Music Studio, if for no other reason than the better price.

8. Honorable Mentions:
Pro Tools, Reason, Logic, Fruity Loops (FL studio), and Acid Pro all get an honorable mention from me.
Pro Tools is the Mack Daddy of Music Production Software. However even the seriously cut down versions of it are expensive, with the full program requiring it’s own hardware to run and costing thousands.
Reason and Logic are good if you really like making your own sounds, and working with full digital synths and stuff. I personally find them frustrating, and too involved for my taste. I will eventually move on from loops, but not any time soon.
Fruity Loops is also a good program with a lot of nice features. It’s prices are in the same arena as Acid, and it actually is a better program for getting into more involved audio production. I will likely start using it when I feel Acid Music Studio has become too limited for me.
Acid Pro is the full version of Music Studio. It has more functions, and a lot more to offer. It also costs around 400-500$

You can take up Music production for the same reason some take up painting. You dont need to be great, you dont even need to be good. Its more about the personal satisfaction of having made something yourself. With the vast array of loops available, and the ease at which you can record your own, there are limitless possibilites for making something fun to please yourself. You never know, you might create something super catchy that can make you lots of money, and all for doing something fun. I highly recommend buying a copy of Acid Music Studio, and learning to use it. The simple fact you can spend a few hours blowing off steam in a productive manner, is reason enough.

All you really need is a computer, some production software, and some loops.

I use Acid Music Studio. You can pick up a copy for around $40 new. Ive tried other software in the same price range, and the free programs ive found, but Acid MS is the best ive found for under $100. If you want to try free software, there are a few decent ones.

Ive bought about $300 worth of loops.

And I have my computer.

Those are the basics. What you absolutly must have. You production software, loops, and your computer.
After that its just about learning to arrange loops and make good music with them.

It starts getting tricky when you want to record things. I have a $10 mic I use to record. I use a $30 karaoke machine and my entertainment system as an amp. I have a $20 radioshack Mic, and a couple of electric instruments I bought used, I can plug in.

The overall theme here is I found ways to get around needing thousands of dollars of equipment.

There are some tricks you can use to clean up, and enhance lower quality recordings.

It is possible to put together a nice home studio, without breaking your budget to do it.

If you are mostly going to be making beats for rapping over you might want to take a look at this.

Beat Software

Awesome new Production Software for Beats. It wont take the place of a real studio and Pro software, but if you don’t have a few G’s to drop down on the gear, you wont find a better program than this one.

You can be making some great sounding beats in minutes. This software is an affordable alternative, and a time saver. If you’re looking for some nice beats to rap over, this will let you make your own, and not break your wallet to do it.

If you want to make great beats on a budget click this link

Whatever your reasons for wanting a home studio chances are you are feeling it is out of reach. In today’s world computers this is completely untrue. In the old days; and some would say better days, you needed lots of hardware analog equipment. Multi track tape recorders, hardware effects machines, a mixer board, so on and so on. Then you need your instruments, microphones, synths, and enough wires and cords to build a net.

Today all you need is a computer. Microphones and other equipment are useful, but all you really need is a computer, a music creation program like acid music studio, and some loops. Best of all unlike all the old-school equipment which required lots of education and experience these programs are very user-friendly. With acid music studio you can be making your own music in a matter of minutes.

This power gives you the freedom of all musicians desire. But it’s not only for musicians. You can also use it to make audio for video tracks, or perhaps you are more interested in producing than creating your own music. With some know-how; which I’ll help with, and compared to hardware bargain-basement equipment it’s all at your fingertips.

Currently I’m using a good Dell PC, a good sound card, acid music studio six, a $10 microphone, a few loop libraries and a few goodies I’ve downloaded for free. Compared to the thousands of dollars needed to fund a hardware-based studio, my little home studio is dirt cheap. In my blogs, and these articles I’m going to help you learn how to use acid music studio as a base for your own home studio.

If your focus is on making Hip Hop and Rap Beats to Rap over, take a look at this.

Beat Software

Awesome new Production Software for Beats. It wont take the place of a real studio and Pro software, but if you don’t have a few G’s to drop down on the gear, you wont find a better program than this one.

You can be making some great sounding beats in minutes. This software is an affordable alternative, and a time saver. If you’re looking for some nice beats to rap over, this will let you make your own, and not break your wallet to do it.

If you want to make great beats on a budget click this link

Most people have music in their souls, aside from the rare person that is completely tone deaf. It is the universal language. A way anyone can communicate. I don’t need to speak German to understand Beethoven, his music speaks to me.

I love to make music of my own, and while I don’t think I will ever have the ability to speak the way the great composers did, I still have a voice. That is a wonderful feeling. To be able to make something all on my own, that I can give to anyone form any country and they will hear me. No need for words, just the pure soul and wonder of music.

Is there any wonder why I consider making music to be the greatest hobby?

The best part is that modern software and affordable loops make it obtainable for anyone. If you have a computer, and can afford to spend a months worth of fast food stops, on your software and sound loops, you can make any kind of music you want. It doesn’t matter if the only one that hears it is you. The ability to sit down and make something beautiful is worth the effort it takes.

With a little knowledge and heart you can make music a fruitful and rewarding hobby, even a potential career.

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