The Audio Interface
Your audio interface converts the signal from your microphone into 1s and 0s for your computer to process, and good quality starter options come are cheaper than you might think. For example, the Audient EVO 4 comes in at £99 ($130) with a great sound and simple design. Alternatively, the Focusrite Scarlett Solo can be found at £88 ($120).
Remember, if you are using a large-diaphragm condenser microphone, then you will require an audio interface with phantom power. This sends electricity to the microphone and powers it; phantom power is often marked with a button that reads '48v'.
Check out our full guide to the best audio interfaces to learn more.
Room Acoustics on a Budget
Ideally, you want the cleanest sound possible on your vocals and this means not picking up unwanted reflections from your room.
What do we mean by reflections? Every room has reflections of sound bouncing from wall to wall.
Go to your nearest car park and clap your hands; you will hear the sound bounce between surfaces. These reflections occur within your home too. It may not be as noticeable as in the echoey space of a church or a hall, but your voice will resonate around the room, eventually making it back to the microphone. Fret not; there are ways to minimise these reflections.
If you already have acoustic panelling in your room, then this is great - you're on your way to a Christmas number 1, but if you can't invest in posh room treatment just yet, there are still ways you can optimise your room for recording.
Firstly, furniture helps; big objects like sofas, beds and chairs are great at absorbing sound and stopping those reflections, so try recording in a room that has some furniture.
In studio environments, you will notice acoustic panelling on the walls. Some studios will have a large piece of furniture, such as a sofa. Objects such as sofas or beds can reduce reflections because they're not flat surfaces.
Think about a tennis racket; the strings are pulled tight so they are as flat as possible and give the best bounce. If you had a tennis racket or a trampoline that wasn't tightened and had sections jutting out, then you wouldn't have an effective or accurate bounce. This concept also applies to the movement of sound in your room.
Continuing the trend of minimising flat surfaces, try covering walls and windows with soft material; you can use objects such as quilts and blankets to achieve this.
Windows are the enemy of home studio spaces due to their flat, highly reflective glass surfaces. For the best sound, record in a room without large windows.
Coats are also effective at absorbing sounds. Place them in front or behind wherever you are recording to lessen those bouncing sounds. You can also consider going one step further by fashioning a makeshift recording booth out of blankets and duvets—covering the front, top and sides of the vocalist. In most cases, though, some light treatment of your room consisting of furniture and bedspreads will do just fine.
An obvious but important point to make; keep your door closed. If you've gone to the trouble of taming reflections to create a clean sounding space, the last thing you want is sound coming straight back in from the neighbouring room! Further to that, your flatmates, parents or pets might not appreciate listening to you recording your latest metalcore record.