You don't need thousands of dollars to create professional-sounding recordings at home. With careful planning and smart equipment choices, Australian creators can build capable home studios for under $500—and achieve results that rival expensive commercial facilities. This guide will show you exactly how to set up your space, what equipment to prioritise, and where you can safely save money without compromising quality.
Choosing the Right Room
Before buying any equipment, selecting and preparing your recording space is the most impactful decision you'll make. The best microphone in the world will sound terrible in a poor acoustic environment, while even modest equipment can produce excellent results in a well-treated room.
Look for a room with these characteristics:
- Soft furnishings: Carpeted floors, curtains, sofas, and beds all absorb sound reflections. A bedroom often works better than an empty spare room.
- Irregular shape: Perfectly square rooms create problematic standing waves. L-shaped rooms or spaces with furniture break up these patterns naturally.
- Away from noise sources: Consider traffic noise, air conditioning units, refrigerators, and neighbours. Recording late at night can help, but isn't always practical.
- Smaller is often better: Large rooms have longer reverberation times. A smaller space is easier to treat acoustically.
Many Australian homes feature hard floors (timber, tiles, or laminate) and minimal soft furnishings, creating challenging acoustics. Adding a thick rug under your recording area and hanging heavy curtains makes a significant difference without permanent modifications—perfect for renters.
Essential Equipment for Your Home Studio
A functional home studio requires surprisingly few components. Here's what you actually need, listed in order of priority:
1. Microphone ($50-$300)
Your microphone is the most important piece of equipment. For beginners, USB microphones offer the best balance of quality and convenience. The Rode NT-USB+ ($229) delivers exceptional audio quality with minimal setup, while budget options like the Fifine K669B ($49) can produce surprisingly good results for casual recording.
If you're planning to expand your setup later, consider starting with an XLR microphone and audio interface. The Audio-Technica AT2020 ($169) paired with a Focusrite Scarlett Solo ($159) gives you professional-grade audio and room to grow.
2. Headphones ($50-$150)
Closed-back headphones are essential for monitoring your recordings without sound leaking into your microphone. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x ($229) remains the industry standard, but the Sony MDR-7506 ($149) offers excellent value. Even budget options like the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x ($79) work well for home use.
3. Microphone Stand or Arm ($30-$150)
A proper stand keeps your microphone stable and positioned correctly. Desktop boom arms like the Rode PSA1 ($149) are popular for podcasting and streaming setups, allowing you to position the mic close to your mouth while keeping your desk clear. Budget arms from brands like Neewer ($40-60) work adequately for lighter microphones.
4. Pop Filter ($15-$40)
Pop filters reduce plosive sounds (the harsh "P" and "B" sounds that can distort recordings). Metal mesh filters last longer and are easier to clean than nylon options. Many microphones include built-in pop filters, so check your specific model before purchasing.
- Rode NT-USB+ microphone: $229
- Audio-Technica ATH-M20x headphones: $79
- Budget boom arm: $50
- Pop filter: $20
- Total: Approximately $378 AUD
DIY Acoustic Treatment
Professional acoustic panels are expensive, but effective DIY solutions can dramatically improve your recordings at a fraction of the cost. The goal is to reduce reflections from walls, floor, and ceiling that make your recordings sound echoey or "boxy."
The Blanket Method
Heavy blankets or duvets hung on walls behind and beside your recording position absorb sound reflections effectively. This is the cheapest solution and works surprisingly well. Moving blankets (available from Bunnings for around $20-30 each) are particularly effective due to their weight and density.
DIY Acoustic Panels
For a more permanent solution, you can build acoustic panels using wooden frames filled with rockwool or polyester insulation batts (available from Bunnings). Cover the frames with breathable fabric from Spotlight or a fabric store. A set of four 60cm x 120cm panels typically costs under $150 in materials and provides significant acoustic improvement.
The Reflection Filter Option
Portable reflection filters that sit behind your microphone can help reduce room reflections, though they're not as effective as proper room treatment. They're useful for renters who can't modify their space or for recording in multiple locations. The Rode Reflexion Filter is a popular choice, though budget alternatives exist.
Recording inside a wardrobe surrounded by hanging clothes is a surprisingly effective technique used by many professional voice artists. The clothes absorb reflections, creating a dead acoustic environment that sounds clean and professional.
Recording Software Options
You don't need expensive software to record professional audio. Several free options rival paid alternatives for basic recording and editing:
Audacity (Free): The most popular free audio editor. It handles recording, editing, and basic effects perfectly well for podcasting and voiceover work. Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
GarageBand (Free, Mac only): Apple's free DAW is surprisingly capable, offering multitrack recording, virtual instruments, and professional effects. Many successful podcasts are edited entirely in GarageBand.
Reaper ($60 USD): While not free, Reaper offers a generous trial period and extremely affordable licensing. It's a professional-grade DAW used by audio engineers worldwide and represents exceptional value.
OBS Studio (Free): For streamers and content creators, OBS handles audio recording alongside video capture with extensive customisation options.
Setting Up Your Recording Position
How you position yourself and your microphone matters as much as the equipment you use. Follow these guidelines for optimal results:
- Distance from microphone: Position yourself 15-20cm (roughly a hand's width) from the microphone for speech. Closer placement creates a warmer, more intimate sound; further placement sounds more natural but picks up more room ambience.
- Angle: Speak slightly off-axis (to the side of the microphone rather than directly into it) to reduce plosives and sibilance.
- Room position: Avoid recording directly against a wall or in room corners where bass builds up. The centre of the room typically offers the most neutral sound.
- Monitor position: If using speakers for playback, position them at ear height forming an equilateral triangle with your head. For recording, always use headphones to prevent feedback.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After helping dozens of Australian creators set up their home studios, I've noticed several recurring mistakes:
Buying expensive equipment before treating the room: A $50 microphone in a well-treated room will sound better than a $500 microphone in a bare room with hard surfaces. Prioritise your acoustic environment first.
Neglecting gain staging: Recording too quietly (requiring heavy amplification in post) or too loudly (causing distortion) ruins otherwise good takes. Aim for levels that peak around -12dB to -6dB, leaving headroom for processing.
Overlooking background noise: Air conditioning, computer fans, and traffic noise that you've learned to ignore will be clearly audible in recordings. Record test samples in your intended environment and listen critically with headphones before investing in equipment.
Buying too much too soon: Start with the essentials and add equipment as you identify specific needs. Many creators accumulate gear they rarely use because they bought solutions to problems they didn't actually have.
Growing Your Setup Over Time
A home studio is never truly "finished"—it evolves with your skills and needs. Once you've mastered your basic setup, consider these upgrades in rough order of impact:
- Better acoustic treatment: More panels, bass traps for corners, and ceiling treatment
- Audio interface: If using USB microphones, upgrading to an XLR setup opens new possibilities
- Second microphone: For interviews, podcast guests, or stereo recording
- Studio monitors: Proper speakers for mixing and mastering (headphones have limitations)
- Outboard processing: Hardware compressors, EQs, and preamps for those who want to go deep
Remember, content quality matters more than production quality. Many successful podcasters and content creators built their audiences using modest equipment while focusing on delivering value to their listeners. Your home studio should enable your creativity, not become a project that delays it.
Ready to choose your microphone? Use our comparison tool to find the perfect option for your budget and needs.