Recording

Audio Studio Equipment for Recording and Music Production

Here you will find our large selection of recording and studio equipment.

Recording equipment is a collective term for professional audio equipment used in studios and recording, covering several product groups such as mixers, speakers, microphones, headphones, and much more.

SoundStoreXL is always available to provide guidance on our many recording products to our customers, and to give the best service, so you get the professional product you need.

How do I choose the right studio equipment?

When building a studio, you can start small with some basic equipment and then supplement from there. Here we go through the most essential elements in an audio studio.

Audio Interface / Sound Card

An audio interface is an important part of an audio studio. The audio interface allows your computer and your analog devices to work together, reduces latency, and ensures high sound quality. An audio interface is essentially a device that allows a computer to send and receive audio data to and from devices outside the computer.

On the computer, the sound is digital, while the sound from a synth or microphone is analog. The audio interface thus converts the incoming analog signals to digital sound and vice versa, when the sound is transferred to headphones or studio monitors.

An important characteristic of the audio interface is that it is polyphonic. Polyphony is the ability to process and output several independent voices or sounds simultaneously. Audio interfaces can usually be used on both PC and Mac. If the interface has FireWire, you should double-check that your computer has a FireWire port. Not all have it, especially if it is a cheaper computer or laptop.

FireWire vs. USB

Audio interfaces are available with both FireWire and USB connections.

The choice between FireWire and USB largely depends on the complexity of your audio project.

As a rule of thumb, you should choose an audio interface with FireWire if you want to record multiple tracks at once and need many inputs and outputs. On the other hand, you can easily settle for an audio interface with USB connection if you only need to record a couple of tracks at a time.

Studio Monitors vs. Other Speakers

In principle, a studio monitor is also a speaker. The actual difference lies in the sound. While studio monitors have a flat and linear response, other speakers provide a more dynamic sound.

A studio monitor is a speaker designed for sound production, where it is necessary for the sound to be neutral. This is the case when used for music recording, film production, and in TV- and radio studios. Studio monitors exert minimal pressure on frequency, allowing for precise reproduction of sound.

You can use other speakers for studio use. However, it is important to know that these color the sound, and it can therefore be difficult to know exactly when there are problems with your audio material and what to do about them. On the other hand, if you have some neutral monitors, you can quickly hear if there is balance in the sound and make the right decisions for the mixing process.

Conversely, you can also use studio monitors outside of a studio. But generally, you will find the sound a bit flat and dull instead of large and impressive as it would be with a good set of speakers.

How do I get started producing my own music?

Home studios are becoming more and more popular. It is faster, simpler, and cheaper than ever to pursue the dream of making your own music. However, as a beginner, it can be difficult to figure out which programs and equipment to use to record and produce music. At SoundStoreXL, we have the right products to create a cool and professional home studio, and we have therefore prepared a guide for you who want to get started. The guide has been prepared in collaboration with music producer Jahbo.

Computer for music production

Whether you choose to work on a desktop or a laptop computer is not so relevant, as long as your machine has good RAM and a good CPU. Additionally, it may be beneficial for you to work on multiple screens rme, as this can give you a better overview.

Music programs

Two music programs, also called music software, that are definitely recommended: Studio One and Propellerhead Reason. These types of programs are called DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation). Studio One is the newest of these two DAWs and is primarily aimed at those who want to be singer/songwriters. Reason is aimed at those who want to produce electronic music, as this DAW includes plugins such as drum machines, synths, etc.

Audio interface/interface

There are many different audio interfaces. Focusrite Scarlett and RME are some of the very best on the market for the price. Focusrite Scarlett is one of the best audio interfaces for the price and comes in different sizes. RME produces compact 'high speed' USB audio interfaces, and here you will also get a good audio interface for the price.

Microphone

Whether you want to be a singer/songwriter or produce electronic music, you will need a microphone. Studio microphones from RØDE and sE Electronics are quality microphones and quite affordable compared to high-end professional microphones. sE Electronics individually quality tests their products, which guarantees a good product.

Headphones

Audio Technica and Beyer Dynamic both make good microphones, as they both provide you with a good compromise between price and precision.

Monitors

Even though you have a couple of good speakers at home in your room, this is not where you should compromise on sound. There is a big difference between regular hifi speakers, which provide good sound, and monitors, which provide the best sound for producing music. KRK makes some of the most popular monitors for home studios. Two other good options for manufacturers that make good monitors are JBL and Yamaha.

MIDI Control

To control your DAW, you can either choose to work with a MIDI-keyboard, if you are a musician and know how a piano works, or you can choose products like Ableton Push or Novation Launchpad, which give you midi control without needing to understand how a piano works. All these products give you good control over your DAW.

We hope you have gained a lot from our little guide, and you are always welcome to reach out to us for further guidance. You can also always take advantage of one of our cool package solutions, which give you everything you need for a home studio. We have package solutions from Presonus AudioBox and Focusrite Scarlett.