You Need These Accessories In Your Home Studio
You need smart solutions like desktop monitor control, re-amping capability, line isolators and more for a truly optimized home studio experience. We have found these small problem solvers to be just as important in our home studios as our microphones, preamps and monitor speakers. The accessories below will remove friction points in your studio and improve your sound.
Why You Need a Desktop Monitor Controller
A desktop monitor controller puts volume control at your fingertips, allows you to check mono compatibility easily, and can offer additional input sources and monitor outputs. Instead of connecting your speakers directly to your audio interface, use a monitor controller like the PreSonus Micro Station BT monitor controller with Bluetooth. This puts a big volume control right where you need regardless of where your audio interface is located, and gives you convenient controls for Mute and Sub Bypass. The Bluetooth is handy for streaming audio from your phone.
For multiple monitor sets and headphone amplification too, the Audient Nero is one of the best desktop monitor controllers for home studio duty. It offers comprehensive control over your monitoring system, delivers loud and clear headphone amplification, and can be used as a talkback system too. If you’re still connecting your studio monitors directly to your audio interface, a desktop monitor controller should be on your short list of studio upgrade.
- Put volume, mute, and other vital controls at your fingertips.
- Expand your monitor input sources and support multiple speaker sets.
- Enhance your headphone monitoring and talkback capabilities.
Use a Line Isolator for Unbalanced Signals
When you need to record an unbalanced signal in your studio, you should use a line isolator like the ART T8 for the best possible sound quality. For example, popular synthesizers like the Korg Volca FM or the quirky Stylophone S-1 generate fantastic sounds, but deliver them through a noisy 1/8-inch unbalanced headphone-level output. An in-line transformer such as the ART T8 balances the signal for a stronger signal with no noise.
The ART T8 has long been a favorite solution in our own home studios for basically anything that doesn’t offer a balanced audio output for our audio interfaces. Connect your device with RCA or unbalanced TS cables, and the transformer-isolated XLR output on the rear carries your signal to your audio interface with more fidelity and lower noise than you ever thought possible.
Use a line isolator to transform unbalanced signals into balanced signals and vice versa.
Capture low-noise, high-fidelity audio from consumer-level devices.
Ideal for pocket synths, drum machines, and any electronic instrument with unbalanced output.
ART T8 8-channel Hum Eliminator / Isolation Rack
$184.99
Are You Ready to Re-Amp Guitars (and Software Instruments)?
The Walrus Audio Canvas Re-Amp device is the best way to get into re-amping without complicating your workflow. Just connect an audio output from your audio interface to the Re-Amp device, connect it to your guitar amp (or pedals) with an instrument cable, and you’re ready to send your DAW tracks through real pedals and amps. Re-amping guitar tracks gives you a ton of flexibility when it comes to mixing. And it’s not just for guitars: a simple re-amping setup allows you to run software instruments through your amps to give digital sounds an analog vibe.
What’s the Best Way to Manage Cables in the Studio?
Here are our two favorite solutions for keeping cable runs neat, organized, and out of the way in our home studios. The first is a pack of Hosa Hook and Loop Cable Ties, perfect for attaching to individual cables for easy wrap-up and storage. The second is a roll of Hosa AstroGrip, which is similar but can be cut to whatever size you need: it’s great for holding multiple cables together, or for securing cables to stands.
Be Ready to Write Stuff Down
Every studio should have some Sticky Notes on hand (just make sure you keep some pens handy too). Whether you’re working solo or with other artists, there are countless situations where jotting down a note is the fastest way to preserve information. For making notes on your gear (like labeling console channels), check out Hosa Scribble Strip Tape. This console tape won’t leave residue on your gear, and allows you to label channels and desired settings.
The Best Multi Tool for Home Studio
When it comes to the best multi-tool for day-to-day home studio maintenance, we’re big fans of MusicNomad’s The Octopus 17-in-1 multi-tool. The Octopus has everything you need for a band, from tightening drum hardware to opening pedal battery compartments. You may choose to keep other tools handy for specific applications, but if we could only have one tool in our home studios, it would be The Octopus.
Troubleshoot Faster with a Cable Tester
Cable failure is one of the simplest problems you can encounter in your home studio, and also one of the most troublesome to sort out if you’re not prepared with a cable tester like the dbx CT2. Every home studio should have a cable tester, and we think the CT2 is your best bang for the buck and fairly easy to use. It’s ready to test every type of cable in your studio, including TRS/TS, XLR, MIDI DIN and more. There is another good reason to own a cable tester for your home studio, and that is…
Get a Soldering Iron and Bulk Cable to Save Big
Buy a soldering iron like this Weller Soldering Station, some bulk cable and connectors, and you’ll be able to make your own custom cables for a fraction of the price of factory-made cables. Check out some YouTube videos to get started, and you’ll get the hang of it in no time. Use your cable tester to check them as you make them, and you’ll be able to outfit your studio with high-quality cables that are the exact lengths you need.
Don’t Ignore These Home Studio Solutions
Sometimes a simple problem solver can make the difference between a smooth, productive session and a troublesome afternoon. Whether it’s the simple convenience of a desktop monitor controller, or the session-saving power of a good multi-tool to tighten loose drum hardware, you should never ignore the power of items discussed above. We rely on these accessories in our home studios almost as much as our audio gear. Are you ready for anything that comes your studio’s way? You’ll be better prepared with the solutions in this article!
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- Introduction
- Why You Need a Desktop Monitor Controller
- Use a Line Isolator for Unbalanced Signals
- Are You Ready to Re-Amp Guitars (and Software Instruments)?
- What’s the Best Way to Manage Cables in the Studio?
- Be Ready to Write Stuff Down
- The Best Multi Tool for Home Studio
- Troubleshoot Faster with a Cable Tester
- Get a Soldering Iron and Bulk Cable to Save Big
- Don’t Ignore These Home Studio Solutions
