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Your Home Studio: What you ABSOLUTELY need

 

  1. Steady Internet

  2. Laptop or computer to run Zoom with Original Sound (tablets OK, but not great)

  3. Set of headphones (your earbuds will work) 

  4. Microphone (can be inside headphones)

  5. Printer or some way to print your music- we will be using a lot of  music online. If you have no way to print your music, let me know. I have a work-around. 



 

If you would like to upgrade, here are my suggestions. Upgrade suggestions are listed by importance: Internet, microphone, headphones. For all the products sold on Amazon, click here. 

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*****Please keep in mind that I do not know everything about audio set-ups. These are just some general suggestions, and not all of these devices are compatible with yours. If you are not sure which of these will work for you, email me, call Sweetwater (a great audio company online), or walk into a Guitar Center, MicroCenter, Fry’s Electronics, or Best Buy and ask for help.*****

 

UPGRADE YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION

Wifi boosters- best if you have steady, reliable wifi, just not in your room. Ranked by quality

  1. TP-Link RE650 AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender.                                                           $119 Amazon.com

  2. Netgear Nighthawk X6S EX8000 Tri-band WiFi Extender                                         $150 Best Buy

  3. Netgear EX6200 Dual Band AC1200 WiFi Range Extender                                       $110 Amazon

  4. Linksys RE7000 Max-Stream AC1900+ Wi-Fi Range Extender                                  $100 Best Buy

  5. D-Link DAP-1720 Wi-Fi AC1750 Range Extender                                                        $60 (used) Amazon

Go to tomsguide.com to learn more about each. 

 

Ethernet boosters- best if you don’t have great wifi. May cause a bit of lag, but shouldn’t drop:

  1. If you have a gigabit data plan :

       TP-LINK TP-Link TL-PA7017 KIT Bridge- Gigabit Ethernet - 2 Pack                            $54 Best Buy

   2.  If you have less than a gigabit 

        TP-LINK TP-Link TL-PA4010KIT Bridge - 500 Mbps - 2 pack                                       $40 Target

                    (this is what I have)

****You should not need an ethernet cord, as both of these come with 2 cords*****

 

UPGRADE YOUR MICROPHONE 

  1. Blue Yeti USB Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphone- most popular                         $130 Dell

  2. Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone $99 Amazon

  3. AmazonBasics Desktop Mini Condenser Microphone With Tripod  (white)              $43 Amazon

Go to the New York Times to read more about these microphones

 

***IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT MICROPHONES*****

You get what you pay for, dollar by dollar. The more expensive, the better the mic. If you are looking to have the best microphone quality, you have to get a separate mic, interface, and mic chord (like I have). If you are interested in this kind of setup (which is not cheap), please email me. 

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UPGRADE YOUR HEADPHONES- LEAST IMPORTANT. If you are strapped for cash, just get the microphone. 

The best setup is to have a separate microphone from your headphones. If you would like to use headphones with a built-in mic, pick a wireless option.

 

Headphones without Microphones- remember, your microphone is more important. You can easily use any headphones along with your microphone, including earbuds. Below is a list of open-backed headphones that will allow you to hear your music and yourself.

 

  1. Philips Audio Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones            $75 Amazon

(These are the ones that I have) 

  1. Samson Technologies SR850 Semi Open-Back Studio Reference Headphones      $45.88 Amazon

  2. Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones                               $92.20 Amazon

  3. KOSS KSC75 Clip On Headphones $20 Amazon

  4. Audio-Technica ATH-P1 Lightweight Open-back Headphones                                   $10 Sweetwater

  5. Your earbuds that you already own                                                                                free

***Go to This Article for more expensive options****


 

Headphones with Microphones- will work, but not best sound. 

  1. Apple Airpods- I would look for used ones 

  2. Anything similar to Airpods- ex: Samsung Galaxy Buds                                              $150 Target

  3. JBL Quantum 200 Gaming Headset                                                                                $50 Amazon

 

*Avoid noise- canceling headphones. They will restrict your ability to hear yourself and your track!*

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