The Gear

After years of tinkering, I’ve finally landed on a home recording setup that sounds great without breaking the bank.

Microphone

Rode NT1-A — The workhorse. Clean, quiet, and forgiving. I position it about 18 inches from the bell, slightly off-axis to avoid harshness.

Interface

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 — Nothing fancy, just solid preamps and reliable drivers. Does the job perfectly.

DAW

Reaper — I tried Pro Tools, Logic, and Audacity before landing here. Reaper is lightweight, customizable, and the license is incredibly affordable.

Room Treatment

This is where most people skimp, and it makes the biggest difference. I’ve got moving blankets on two walls and a thick rug on the floor. It’s not a professional studio, but it tames the reflections enough for clean recordings.

Tips for Horn Players

  1. Record yourself every day. Even just scales. You’ll hear things you never notice in the practice room.
  2. Don’t over-process. A little reverb goes a long way. If your raw take doesn’t sound good, the fix is more practice, not more plugins.
  3. Invest in the room before the mic. A $200 mic in a treated room will sound better than a $2000 mic in a bathroom.

Happy recording!