You may not know it, but it’s a fact that top albums ranging from Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska to Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago were recorded right in the comfort of a home studio. That’s just one of the reasons that having a well-kept and kitted out home studio is such a good idea. There are, however, some obstacles to overcome first before you can get your studio up and running, and one of these is deciding  which gadgets and gizmos you’ll need to pick up in order to make it worth it. Here are some of the top pieces of home studio equipment which you simply must have to make it work.

Sort out your acoustics

As Billboard magazine reports, in a professional recording studio there are lots of aspects of the relationship between the sound and the space that an amateur or even a semi-professional would never even have to think about. But when you’re going it alone in a home studio, that all changes. When putting together your studio for the first time, you’re going to have to work some acoustic treatment into the walls, floors and furniture in order to make sure it works for you. This could encompass everything from reflection filters to defend against sound reflections to installing diffusers to ensure that sound frequencies don’t all combine to attack your music.

Inputs and outputs

It may seem obvious, but there’s a lot to be said for investing plenty of time into finding the right basic audio equipment, such as reliable speakers and microphones. And with over 350 million headsets being sold worldwide every year, it’s important to set aside time to find the best studio equipment you can afford to kit out your space. Remember, good headphones are key to your whole audio experience and can be crucial to the smooth operation of the rest of the room. You may have a set of top end bass traps and a high quality MIDI controller, for example, but if the sound output is tinny, crackly or low quality, then you’re never going to be the next Springsteen.

Your specific needs

Different genres of music require different types of equipment, and that goes for whether you’re in a home studio or in a professional recording environment. Certain technical items are clearly used more often in certain genres, like a synthesizer for electronic dance music, so it pays to do research into whether or not you need specific items to create your sounds. But the same also applies for your personal needs. It’s likely, for example, that you’ll be spending a lot of time sat down in your home studio, so if you have back problems then an ergonomically designed chair is a must.

Kitting out a new home studio is an exciting process, and there’s certainly a lot to think about. From deciding on the gadgets you’re going to buy to even picking the furniture, your own bespoke studio is just around the corner. And by following the top tips outlined here, you can’t go wrong when it comes to building that studio of your dreams.