! of !1 22

EPISODE 18: HOW TO SETUPA DIY RECORDING STUDIO

HOW TO SETUP A DIY RECORDING STUDIO

THere’s what a normal day looks like for me:

• Wake up at 6 AM

• Eat breakfast and chat with my wife about the day

• Jump into my office and start working through the day’s tasks

• Grab a quick sandwich for lunch (when I remember)

• Meet with a coaching client

• Host a webinar/live call

• Run out to do a few personal errands

• Chill with my awesome family for the rest of the night.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

The other day on my personal errands run, I did something I had never done before. I needed to run to the bank and instead of driving to the ATM, I decided to go inside.

! of !2 22

There to greet me was a plate of cookies and a nice lady named Alice. She stood up, shook my hand, asked if I wanted a cookie, and asked how she could help me.

I was blown away. Alice did something that people almost never do.

She treated me like I was special.

Whether you have an audience of 200 or 20,000, never lose sight of the importance of treating people like they are special.

HOW I USE A RECORDING STUDIO TO CONNECT WITH MY AUDIENCE

Videofruit started out as a service company where I helped create online tutorial videos for businesses. Three years later, I have over 100,000 people who read my blog and I’ve grown into creating and selling products.

But I’ve never lost my passion for creating audio and video.

Here’s why: Audio and video give your audience the chance to hear from you personally.

It’s like sitting down with a friend: You can hear their voice, understand what they’re emphasizing and why and, in the case of video, see their actions to help you understand where they’re coming from.

! of !3 22

It makes people feel special and establishes a strong connection between you and your audience.

Before you jump in and start recording “selfie-style” videos from your iPhone, hear me out on one important thing.

The better quality your connection is, the more people will value it.

There’s nothing that will make me turn off a podcast, webinar or video tutorial faster than poor lighting and crappy sound quality.

That’s why I created my own recording studio to record audio and video that give off a professional look and sound.

Here are some of the ways I use a recording studio to connect with my audience:

• Be interviewed for podcasts

• Record information products

• Record explainer videos for my products

• Communicate with my team

• Host webinars

! of !4 22

Today, I’ll show you how to create a DIY recording studio from scratch. This can be done on ANY budget, and I’ll show you the tools that pros like myself and Michael Hyatt are using to get the job done.

WHAT IS A RECORDING STUDIO?

You’re ready to start creating audio and video for your team and audience. That means you’re also ready to create your own DIY recording studio.

If you don’t already know what a recording studio is, here’s a brief explanation: A recording studio is a dedicated space to record video and audio. It’s a room without a lot of outside noise (no windows, or blocking off windows, is preferred) and with the proper sound and lighting components to create high-quality recording.

! of !5 22

A recording studio doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, you can create your own recording studio with almost any budget.

There are three basic steps you’ll need to go through to set up your own DIY recording studio.

These steps are:

1. Decide on your price range and purchase your items.

2. Set up your systems.

3. Test your systems.

Let’s break each one of these steps apart into detail.

Step #1: Decide on your price range and purchase your items.

Your first step is to decide how much you’re able to spend on your recording studio. Obviously, the more you can spend, the better quality equipment you’ll be able to purchase. However, you can create an entire recording studio for less than $100, if that’s all your budget permits.

! of !6 22

Here’s a list of the basic equipment you’ll need to create your recording studio:

FOR AUDIO ONLY:

● A computer with an audio card

● Microphone

● Microphone stand

● Recording software

● Headphones

● Quiet or well insulated room

FOR VIDEO, YOU’LL NEED TO ADD:

● Backdrop

● Lighting

● Camera

● Video editing software

! of !7 22

Let’s take a look at each of these individually and see what’s the best option for your price point.

Computer with an audio card

This is an item I’m going to assume you have already. Any modern laptop will come equipped with this. An important factor to note is that you’ll need to purchase the unique cables needed for your device to import the files you’ll be recording

Microphone

Low-end: Rather than use your iPhone earbuds and mic, try upgrading to the Sony ECMCS3 Clip style Omnidirectional Stereo Microphone. This simple clip-on mic is the perfect upgrade for creating video or audio recordings at home. Cost: $17

Middle-end: The BlueYeti Microphone (pictured on the left) is a top-rated microphone perfect for webinars and podcasts. Cost: $129

High-end: If you want the best sound quality money can buy, I recommend the Heil Sound PR 40 Dynamic Cardioid Studio Microphone. This pack includes a shock mount, two-section broadcast arm and microphone cable. Cost: $400

! of !8 22

Microphone stand

The microphone you purchase may come with a microphone stand. If not, you’ll need to purchase a floor or desk stand that fits your mic.

Low-end: If you’re using a clip-on mic, you won’t need a microphone stand. Just be careful not to hit the mic with your clothing or hands as you speak! Cost: FREE

Middle-end: The Blue Yeti Microphone already comes with a stand (score!), but if you want a swivel stand, this one works great with it. Cost: $14

High-end: This version of the Heil Sound PR 40 mic (pictured at right) already comes with a mic arm. This is the mic that I currently use. Cost: FREE (no extra cost).

! of !9 22

Audio recording software

Low-end: Audacity (pictured below) is a FREE recording software that is perfect for beginners. Use Audacity to record and edit audio tutorials and podcasts with this completely free software. Cost: FREE

Middle-end: Adobe Audition is the software used by professionals to capture audio files and edit them. This software has better multi-track editing and faster crossfades, among other features, than Audacity. Cost: $20 per month

! of !10 22

High-end: If you purchase Adobe Audition and need more creative software for your business, it may be worth it to get the entire Creative Cloud package, which includes Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and more. Cost: $50 per month

Headphones

Low-end: If you’re wanting to get started quickly, you can use a pair of headphones or earbuds you already own, but look to upgrade quickly. Cost: FREE

Middle-end: This Blue Yeti Microphone package comes with the headphones you’ll need. Cost: $30 additional for the package.

High-end: When you’re ready to take your quality to the next level, check out the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones (pictured at left). Cost: $100

! of !11 22

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Quiet or Well Insulated Room

It’s important to condition the acoustics of your room so you can remove as much unwanted sound as possible. This means choosing the quietest room possible to record in, and putting up some kind of sound panels to prevent echo and reverberation from the walls.

Low-end: Do as much as you can to deaden sound in the room. If you’re really strapped for cash, grab one or two moving blankets to hang on the walls for soundproofing. Cost: $15

Middle-end: An isolation shield is a great way to block out sound for audio recordings without having to place sound panels on the entire room. I recommend the Monoprice Microphone Isolation Shield. (pictured below) Cost: $86

! of !12 22

High-end: Placing sound panels on your walls is the best way to prevent unwanted reverberation and echo showing up in your recordings. I recommend the Auralex Acoustics D36-DST Roominator Acoustic Absorption Treatment Room Kit. Cost: $156

Backdrop

Low-end: You will want to have a backdrop for your on screen video recordings. If you’re strapped for cash, simply get a black sheet to hang on your wall. Cost: $25

Middle-end: For an upgraded system, I recommend purchasing a Backdrop Support System and a ream of Savage Seamless background paper (pictured below). Cost: $66

! of !13 22

High-end: Purchasing a green screen is an easy way to get any background you want for your videos. This package is a great deal, considering you get your backdrop stand, three backdrops including a green screen and your lighting included. Cost: $153

Lighting

Lighting is one of those things that can make or break the quality of your video. For a full rundown on how to create the best lighting for your videos, check out this guide from Wistia.

Low-end: If you don’t have the funds to purchase lighting, you may choose to film in a space with natural light. You’ll be limited to the time of day you can film with this option, and a window in the room may affect your sound quality. Cost: FREE

Medium-end: This Cowboy Studio Lighting Kit is a perfect lighting kit for starting out shooting professional videos in your DIY studio. It’ll create the soft light needed for professional shots. Cost: $68

High-end: Here’s the lighting kit I most recommend when you’re ready to go pro. It’s from Stellar Lighting Systems and includes three soft lights for perfect lighting without shadows (pictured on next page). Cost: $459

! of !14 22

Camera

Low-end: If you’re starting out shooting tutorial videos, you may be able to get by with a simple web cam. You’ll see a definite upgrade from your standard laptop camera. Cost: $25

! of !15 22

Medium-end: Once you’re ready to shoot professional videos, you’ll need to invest in a DSLR camera. This is one from Canon that I recommend if you’re just starting out (pictured below). Cost: $399

High-end: Professional videographers lust after the Nikon D810. It is the top full-frame DSLR camera on the market. Cost: $3,096

! of !16 22

Video Editing Software

Low-end: iMovie is an inexpensive option (or free if already included in your Mac purchase) if you have a Mac. If not, you can use Loopster for FREE or very inexpensive editing (as in $1.99 per video). Cost: FREE

Medium-end: Adobe Premier is an all-encompassing editing suite which can be used to create professional-looking videos with all the bells and whistles. Cost: $20 per month

High-end: Final Cut Pro X (pictured below) is the video editing software used by professional filmmakers. It takes some skill to learn the program, but once you do, the possibilities are endless for what you can do with your editing. Cost: $299

On the next page, we’ve included a handy chart to help you decide which options are the best for you:

! of !17 22

! of !18 22

Step #2: Set up your systems.

Once you’ve got the items needed to create your recording studio, it’s time to get to work. I recommend setting aside 4-8 hours to get your studio finished. Don’t stop ‘til it’s complete. A project like this is one that’s easy to let carry on for days, which turn into weeks, then months. Don’t let that happen. Schedule a day, set up your studio and get it done.

Some tips for setting up your DIY recording studio:

1. Your quality will go up dramatically as you purchase better equipment. Start out with what you can purchase immediately and gradually invest in better tools as you go along.

2. Choose the room carefully for your studio. Think of unexpected places like a basement room or large closet. Carpeted rooms with the fewest windows or doors are optimal.

3. Grab a friend to help you on the day you choose to set up your studio, preferably someone who has some type of audio/visual experience.

4. Keep learning. You can have all the right tools to create a DIY recording studio and still create a terrible video product. Read and watch tutorial videos constantly on how to improve your skills.

! of !19 22

5. Experiment often. Challenge yourself to record some type of audio or video every day. Send it to a friend or post it on social media for others to critique.

Step #3: Test your systems.

Once you have your recording studio entirely set up, now it’s time to have some fun! Start testing your systems. Go ahead and create a recording to use for a small project.

! of !20 22

I recommend planning a small event, even if it’s just for your team or for a segmented portion of your list. There’s nothing like the pressure of having to plan for an event to get you motivated to learn how to use your new recording studio.

Here are some great examples of audio and video done well from DIY studios. Make this your end goal for the sound and look of the product you’re creating.

Example of a podcast with Michael Hyatt:

Example of a video with me:

! of !21 22

Whether you’re planning a webinar or you want to meet face-to-face with your team, teach tutorials, or record videos of yourself dancing to Nirvana, video and audio recordings are tools to add a personal touchpoint from you to your audience.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO NEXT?

Your three action items for setting up your DIY recording studio are:

1. Decide on your price range and purchase your items.

2. Set up your systems.

3. Test your systems.

Do you already have a studio setup? If not, which of these setups would you like to model for your studio?

Join us in the Platform University Forums and let us know what you are going to implement as a result of this How To. See you over there!

! of !22 22