Q & A
Make Better Music

A Guide to Beginner Audio

By Consult QnA

Ready to build that studio but don’t know where to start? And how much is this going to cost anyway?

We created a guide for you!

This guide provides a list of factors to consider to get you started recording better audio. We didn't include any pricing because prices of equipment are constantly changing. Instead, we decided to focus on factors to consider to help you decide what gear will best fit your budget. Along the way, we’ll mention some brands to give you an idea of what to be on the lookout for.

There are two important things to understand when it comes to spending money on audio equipment:

There is literally no limit to how much you can spend on audio equipment.

And

Generally speaking, increased price means increased quality in construction, increased quality in signal output or both.

Let’s get started!


Microphones - An online search

Using the information from the previous sections, you should be able to do a quick online search for microphones in your price bracket. Have a look at what’s out there! You’ll find a lot of microphones varying in cost and plenty of them sound good for a beginner.


You may see some common names, to name a few: 

  • Basic starter ($) brands: Behringer, Blue, Rode, AKG, Shure, and MXL 

  • Intermediate level ($$$) brands: AKG, Shure, Aston, and Sony 

  • Big ticket ($$$$$) brands: Neumann, AKG, Sony, Manley, and TeleFunken


Remember, as stated previously, the price is usually a sign of quality and sound. It is suggested that you start in the $$$ bracket, even if this means saving up for a mic. It’s better to start in a higher price bracket than saving a buck. That said, one mic is better than no mics


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