Building a Recording Studio - Solid advice

by Ian
(Surrey, Canada)

For the longest time I was stressing myself out by what my home studio didn't have and would likely never have - no Neve compressor, Avalon pre-amp, no Neumann mics, etc.

But then I had to remind myself why I wanted a studio in the first place - to help me write songs. That's such a relief and weight off the back. I still want quality but it doesn't have to compete with a downtown recording studio.

So I really like your advice re: your mic selections. I use the SM-57, what a work horse, and the Røde NT-1A, a really versatile budget condensor. It works well vocally but have also had success with it lately recording acoustic guitar. That however, was after finally taking the time to figure out a few things about how to position the mic - which is WAY more important than I ever realised.