9 Reasons to Use a Professional Recording Studio

Recording equipment has been reduced in price over the last few years – so much so, that it’s possible to create a basic studio at home or in a secondary location. However, the trouble is that it will not get enough usage to pay for itself. Also, the equipment can quickly become outdated, which comes as something of a surprise. On the other hand, there is the option to use a professional recording studio. There are several beneficial reasons why this is a better idea for budding musicians and even for people for whom music is still a hobby. 

1. Latest Recording Equipment

A properly outfitted music studio Houston area and beyond will have the latest equipment installed. This is necessary to capture every note or vocal track to perfection. Once a music studio has captured what’s been recorded, it can be tweaked to emphasize some aspects of each track and deemphasize others to achieve the perfect result. The degree to which this is possible with amateur equipment is highly variable. A music studio in Houston provided by a reputable name like Pirate is capable of producing exactly the sound and style desired. Working closely with the solo musicians or bands to achieve this result is seen as essential. 

When it comes to making connections with other musicians and occasionally playing together, you may run into difficulties with a home studio setup. More accomplished musicians could refuse to join the band or have a jam session if it won’t be recorded to a professional level. This could limit the ability to make better connections in the industry, including with A&R executives in search of new acts to sign. 

2. Proper Soundproofing

Residential or industrial locations provide a poor environment for a music studio. There is too much sound emanating from these areas. It can permeate the recording space and find its way onto the track. Also, home music studios won’t have the best acoustics to avoid frequency cancelation or low-band issues too.

Listeners are used to digital recordings to the highest quality today. Background noise – even on a podcast recording – is unacceptable to most listeners. Anyone wanting to perform or establish themselves as a solo artist or as the lead in a band should be aware of this expectation. Music studios are designed and built from the ground up to create spaces that are soundproofed and tuned for better acoustics. Home studios simply cannot meet this need well. 

3. Fixing the Mix Is a Time Suck

While it’s possible to resolve some mic issues or to remove background noise from a mix, it’s difficult to do to everyone’s satisfaction. At the very least, it is a distraction to creating new songs. Whether the AC unit is playing up again or there are roadworks outside causing havoc, anything can mess up a recording. Losing many hours trying to fix it to avoid having to lay down the track a second time is unfortunate. If this fails, then re-capturing a perfect vocal is going to be a pain. With professional recording studios, this is not something musicians need to worry about. 

4. Get the Right Ambiance

While a studio can allow for individual recording sessions, it can also have several spaces for specific purposes too. For example, larger halls might be utilized with a set of drums to capture the bigger sound this allows for. While this may be done digitally, many musicians prefer live drums with some inclusion of electronic drum kits, rather than going entirely digital. 

Also, some musical instruments need a more intimate setting such as a small space just to record their sound. Guitars are often like this. Other instruments with a more delicate sound that could get overwhelmed are too. Getting the right ambiance and mix of recording spaces ensures a higher quality recording. 

5. Get an Engineer You Can Trust

Sound engineers are there to ensure every musician gets the most out of each recording session. Depending on the type of music being played, they know what settings will work best. Anyone using a recording deck in a home setting won’t have this experience, plus they will lack the wide range of adjustment options from a proper digital audio workstation. Ultimately, this will provide unnecessary limitations for the finished product. 

6. Advice is Freely Available

When using recording studios, you’ll find that they’re a small community. Visiting artists will want to discuss record deals, best recording approaches, how to market music digitally, and so on. This isn’t easy to access when recording on your own or in a home studio. The musicians who move through studios will vary in age and industry experience too. It will provide access to a wealth of knowledge from a place well outside of your circle of musically inclined friends and current contacts. You never know where that might lead or the different direction it could take your music. 

7. A Separate Environment Has Benefits

Keeping separate places to create new lyrics and put them to music versus recording the songs avoids getting bogged down in recording minutia. Hours can be wasted trying to get a recording right, which slows down the creation of a collection of high-quality songs for a debut album. 

It’s important to allow yourself the creative freedom to play around with fresh musical ideas away from a recording studio. This way, you’ll know when it’s time to book a session. At that point, you’ll be eager to record and rely on a music producer to help craft the final sound in a collaborative process. 

8. Equipment Selection

Most recording studios stock many different musical instruments and gear. Therefore, it’s possible to select different microphones to best capture the music type. Whether this means using a Neumann U47, or one from Earthworks, a sound engineer will know the mics that sound best with certain vocal styles or music. The same thing goes for amps. A few musicians prefer to bring their own, but this is a pain. Most studios have different amps in live rooms to plug into, whether these are Marshalls, an Engl, or another brand. 

9. Take Your Music More Seriously

Playing around with music at home is fine. If it’s simply a hobby and you never intend to go anywhere with it, then it becomes just another way to pass the time. However, when you’re sincere about it and would like it to achieve results, it’s necessary to begin to take your music more seriously. Recording in a professional studio might seem daunting if it’s your first time, but it’s this kind of leap that’s necessary. 

When you hear your music in a professional studio, it’s not something you quickly forget. There is a world of difference between using amateurish recording equipment at home and putting it on a professional footing.