So you don’t have access to a recording studio? So what? There are plenty of hobbies that start out in a humble garage. In short, a garage recording studio will be more than adequate to take you to worldwide stardom—or, if nothing else, we’re sure your mom will love your album.
Check out our expert tips on how to fulfill your dreams and build a garage recording studio in a few basic steps.
Set a Budget
Every rock star has bills to pay, so before you run wild with your grand plans, keep it grounded in reality: You’re going to need a budget. Have you been saving up for a full garage conversion? Do you plan to get by with a few acoustic blankets and a laptop? Or maybe you’re landing somewhere in-between?
In any case, make sure you set off knowing how much money you have to spend (plus some cushion for unexpected expenses).
It's worth it to design a space where you can focus, and let go, and get those performances you will want to revisit to again and again
Declutter the Garage
If you’re like most people, your garage isn’t exactly the pillar of cleanliness and organization. Maybe you’re not quite at Hoarders status, but you’re not winning any accolades for World’s Most Beautiful Garage.
In this situation, it’s essential to declutter the space. You’ll be amazed at the possibilities that open up when your elementary school trophy collection goes off to the thrift store. Goodbye, soccer MVP, and hello, award-winning recording artist!
Analyze the Acoustics
Any true musician knows that great acoustics can be found in some unexpected places. (Don’t we all sound like Frank Sinatra while singing in the shower?) But is your garage that place? There’s only one way to find out. Test the garage acoustics using an app called Room EQ Wizard—then you’ll know what equipment you need to invest in to get that professional studio sound.
Making a floor plan can save you a lot of time when you are bringing all the parts of your studio together
Create a Floor Plan
Once you’ve EQed the room, you’ll be ready to choose a floor plan for your garage music studio. Decide where you want to place your desk, recording equipment, and storage. Ideally, you’ll want to create a room within a room for the best acoustics.
This is also a great time to invest in cabinets, shelving, and anything else you might need to store your gear. If you’re working with a small garage recording studio, you can maximize storage by using wall panels and ceiling racks.
There is nothing like fine-tuning your projects in the solitude of your own studio
Soundproof the Space
With your floor plan designed, it’s time to soundproof the garage. Use the information you’ve gathered while testing the acoustics to invest in insulation materials for the walls and ceiling. You may want to invest in acoustic blankets (or moving blankets!), acoustical caulk glue, or isolation pads to dampen noises and vibrations.
If you’re committed to a full garage conversion, you’ll also want to seal off your garage door to make it a permanent wall. (This will involve removing the garage door and building a new wall in its place.)
Create a mood with your favorite lights and shelves for each piece of equipment, and don't forget to add some plants
Bring in the Light
Sure, you might imagine the great artists sitting around in a dark and moody room to bring about their masterpieces—but if you’re spending a lot of time in your recording studio, you’re going to need some decent lighting. You may even want to consider adding solar tubes to bring in natural light, or LED lights to help you read sheet music (assuming you can read music, unlike that poser Paul McCartney).
The right fan can help with ventilation in your garage plus it can add to the mood you are trying to create
Consider Ventilation & Climate
When you’re really in the zone, you may not be thinking about petty concerns like garage ventilation or climate control, but in the long run, you don’t want to be hanging out in a stuffy, hot (or cold) room for too long. Make sure your garage is equipped with fans, insulated walls, and proper airflow to make it comfortable enough for even the longest jam sesh.
Bring in the Instruments
Your garage recording studio is bright, airy, well-furnished, and organized. It has amazing acoustics and a great floor plan. The dream is alive! Now you just need to bring in your instruments and hit record. And it’s about time! The world is definitely ready for some bassoon rock.
Singing can be healing for the soul, plus you can record your songs to share with friends and even the world.
Get Ready to Rock
Of all the things you could be doing with your garage, using it to record music is clearly a brilliant idea. And by following these steps, you’ll soon have a garage recording studio to rival the pros. Make sure your equipment is well-organized with cabinets, wall panels, shelving, and accessories by shopping at Flow Wall today. No matter what you’re in need of, you’ll find high-quality garage equipment at Flow Wall.
