Okay, it's been over a year and the effects of the credit crunch are still around us - people are starving in the street, unemployment is rife... but most importantly it's hard to buy what we need for a professional sounding home studio.
But do we need to buy it? Here are 10 ways to save money in your home studio...
2. Re-use old computers - A lot of DAWs now allow you to link up your old computer to take some of the processing strain off your main studio workstation - saves buying a new computer and gives you an excuse to reminisce about back in the old days when they had floppy disks!
3. Your girlfriend/mom won't be too pleased... - Who needs a pop shield when you can stretch a pair of tights over a coat hanger? Adds that lovely rustic touch to a studio, don't ya think?
4. Amp Simulation plug ins - Why bother spending thousands on a quality amp when you can spend about a hundred and get some amazing amp simulations at your fingertips with the bonus of being able to change the tone easily after having recorded it?
5. Acoustics ashmoustics - Don't spend all that money on expensive acoustic treatment, close-miking is the way to go, and then add space with a plug-in on your DAW; Plug-ins sure are the order of the day!
6. Keep things tidy - How many leads have you broken in the past year? More than you can count? If so then stop buying a million new ones - invest in some studio-grade storage (some coat-hooks) and keep your leads tidy when you're not using them so you don't end up treading all over them!7. Low budget mixing and mastering - Can't afford flat-response speakers? Don't worry - just try your mix on everything you have access to! It'll probably give you a better idea of how the track sounds anyway.
8. Brrrrr... - Is your computer still struggling with all these plug-ins? A lot of new producers don't know they can freeze their tracks so the plug ins are written onto the audio, saving valuable processor time when your computer is desperately trying to show you your latest masterpiece!
9. Upgrade, don't replace - If you do need a better computer, try buying a better processor and some more RAM and fitting it yourself - there are video tutorials all over the internet teaching you how!
10. (No) Sound, mate! - If you want to acoustically treat your studio, try the old classic - egg cartons and carpet. I know a friend who just asked at the local expo centre and got a warehouse's worth of carpet for free - being a bit resourceful can save a lot of money!
