Start out with at least one good condenser microphone that you can use to capture vocals and acoustic instruments.

2: Don't be shy on cable costs

If you do, you will forever be chasing phantom noises, crackles, pops and intermittent connections around your studio instead of making and recording music.!

3: Listen correctly

Invest in a good set of professional headphones. You want a pair that is as neutral as possible and that is made for the home recording studio. Headphones made for consumer listening will color the sound, so avoid them. Also, set up a pair of close field studio monitors. This will allow you to reduce the coloration effects of your studio room. When you mix down or master your songs, listen to the mixes on a wide variety of transducers (your headphones, the close field monitors, your living room stereo, your car stereo, a cheap boombox in mono, etc.). This will allow you to get the best overall mix that works in most situations. Check your mix in mono (not just stereo) to make sure that elements of the mix don't simply disappear due to cancellation.

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