Home studio basics on a budget
You don't need a $50K room. You need clean vocals, honest mixing, and a file that sounds good on phone speakers — because that's where most jukebox listeners are.
The essentials (in order)
- Room treatment — blankets, closet, or corner with soft surfaces. Free beats expensive gear in a bad room.
- Microphone — large-diaphragm condenser (e.g. AT2020, SM7B if budget allows). One good mic > three cheap ones.
- Audio interface — 1–2 inputs (Focusrite, Presonus). Powers your mic and sends clean signal to your computer.
- Headphones — closed-back for recording (no bleed into the mic).
- DAW — GarageBand (free), Reaper ($60), or Logic. Pick one and learn it deeply.
Export for Alabasta upload
- WAV or high-quality MP3 (320 kbps minimum)
- Peak around -6 dB — leave headroom, don't clip
- Listen on phone speakers before you upload