How to Make a Cheap Recording Studio As computer technology has developed, more and more performance is possible on a lower and lower budget. As a result, building a simple home recording studio around your existing computer can be quite inexpensive. For an affordable option in a Mac computer, beginning recording artists might consider the Mac Mini—a small, desktop box that connects to an external monitor and delivers all the features musicians love about Macs. In terms of power, both are sufficient for audio recording, and GarageBand is included on any new Mac, which is a great start for getting into DAWs. I'd personally get a new iMac, rather than a 2nd hand Mac mini - newer machines will last longer, and be compatible with OS X updates further into the future.
Recording Equipment from Amazon.com
You don’t need to wait for a major label to notice you before you start making your own records. Setting up a cutting-edge digital studio with professional, quality recording equipment is easier and more affordable than ever for the first timer, and experienced audio engineers have access to an enormous variety of outstanding mics, preamps, monitors, and other recording equipment.
In the age of the digital audio workstation, the heart of most home recording equipment is a quality interface. At Amazon.com, we have a huge selection of home recording gear, whether you need a two-channel interface for recording podcasts and simple music projects, or a 32-channel board for full band recordings. A reliable, great sounding interface is the crucial link between the performance and your computer. All your other recording equipment will be routed through your interface, so it’s important to choose the right model. Browse user reviews written by other musicians to find products with great real-life performance from top brands like Focusrite, M-Audio, and Tascam.
From studio staples like the Shure SM57 to newer, trend-setting recording equipment like the Blue Blueberry, you’ll find microphones for vocals, electric guitars, acoustic instruments, and more at Amazon.com. For live applications, dynamic cardioid mics are perfect for vocals, but in the controlled environment of the studio, a large diaphragm condenser mic will more accurately capture the depth and nuance of your performance. Choose from brands like AKG, Sennheiser, and Rode to find the perfect mic for your style and budget.
Before you can get your tracks on the radio, they need to be mixed and mastered on accurate, transparent studio monitors. Home speakers equalize and color audio, and make it difficult to mix accurately. What sounds good on one set of home speakers might sound muddy on another, which is why professionals rely on recording equipment like quality monitors to solidify their mixes. From legendary Yamaha reference monitors, to affordable KRKs, there’s a set of speakers for every studio at Amazon.com.
Let’s clear one thing up, if you don’t want to buy a Mac then stop reading now. This article is not about the merits of Macs v PCs, been there, done that, got the t-shirt.
If you are thinking of building a home studio and want a Mac then you might be tempted to get a Mac Pro or full spec MacBook, but before you dive in don’t write off the Mac Mini.
I own a Mac Pro, a Mac Mini and a MacBook Pro, which gives me a unique view on the pros and cons of all three Macs. I have to say that the Mac Mini has a lot going for it for a home studio, here are my thoughts.
Connectivity
The Mac Mini has a lot of connectivity for the small footprint it has. Thunderbolt and 4 USB3 connectors. Firewire 800 was dropped for the Late 2014 model. Either way, this offers a comprehensive range of choice when considering an audio interface. Connectivity is also important for hard drives and other interfaces such as keyboards. One small thing to be aware of, in some cases USB3 creates issues and a hub is needed to make items such as iLok2s and some drives work. iLok3s are fine on USB3 ports.
Cheap Mac Mini For Recording Studio Bundle
One reason some people don’t even consider the Mac Mini is the lack of internal expansion, however, the Thunderbolt port allows for the use of expansion chassis, both Magma and Sonnet make solutions that can give users HDX and HD Native card connectivity, Avid also makes the HD Native Thunderbolt box that will connect to the Mac Mini.
Mac Mini Size
When building a home studio one thing to consider is size, the Mac Mini has one of the smallest footprints out there, so can sit on a desk and hardly be noticed.
Mac Mini Fan Noise In The Studio
The Mac Mini is whisper quiet, in fact far quieter than the older Mac Pro silver tower. If you want to record through microphones in the same room as your computer then fan noise is an important consideration - I’m impressed by the lack of noise from the Mac Mini.
Expansion Considerations
I’ve pimped my Late 2012 Mac Mini, installing 16GB of RAM and a Crucial SSD, both of these options cost around $300 and around 30 minutes to install. Now the little baby flies like a rocket.
Conclusion
Cheap Mac Mini For Recording Studio Complete Recording Setup
Having run some tests my pimped Mac Mini can easily record 64 audio tracks in a single pass on a low buffer setting and play them back too with plug-ins installed. It may be Mini by name, but the performance of a Mac Mini belies its unassuming size.
Apple Mac Recording Studio
If you are building a home project studio and want to take the Mac route then the Mac Mini is well worth consideration.