In this article, we’re showing you what you need if you want to record vocals at home. And we’re talking about affordable products that still deliver solid performance, even for total beginners. A Perfect Match for recording vocals and spoken word.
Record Vocals at Home: The Perfect Budget SetupA Small Setup to Record Vocals at Home, for Relatively Little MoneyAudio-Technica AT2020: An Affordable Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic to Record Vocals at HomeRecord Vocals at Home With a K&M 210/9 Mic StandMicscreen: An Absorber and Diffuser for MicrophonesA Fitting Audio Interface to Record Vocals at HomeAn Affordable Pair of Headphones to Round Out Your Recording SetupVerdict: An Affordable Perfect Match for Vocal Recording at HomeRelated Information
A Small Setup to Record Vocals at Home, for Relatively Little Money
Who hasn’t thought about wanting to record vocals at home at some point, whether that’s actual singing, a few bars, or a voice recording for a podcast or voice-over?
With the gear available today, setting up your own home studio is definitely straightforward, vocal recording included. Depending on your budget, solutions range all the way up to a full professional vocal booth.
Today we’re looking at a setup that won’t cost you much and will still serve you well. Everything here is also very compact and doesn’t need permanent installation. You can set it all up and pack it away quickly, and storage is no problem either.
An affordable condenser mic like the Audio-Technica AT2020 is already a great starting point to record vocals at home · Source: Audio-Technica
Specifically, we’re looking at a condenser microphone that delivers a lot for a modest price, plus two interesting alternatives. We’ll also cover matching accessories like a proper mic stand and a compact absorber panel that can noticeably improve your recording quality.
On top of that, we’ve got three recommendations for affordable USB audio interfaces that pack the right connections, deliver solid performance, and include the essential software to get you started. To round out the setup, we’re also suggesting a cheap pair of headphones to support you during recording.
Audio-Technica AT2020: An Affordable Large-Diaphragm Condenser Mic to Record Vocals at Home
You can grab the Audio-Technica AT2020 on its own* (Sweetwater*), but this bundle throws in extra accessories you’ll probably need anyway if you want to record vocals at home. The included t.bone MS 180 pop filter helps cut down on distracting plosives during recording, and it clips right onto the mic stand (more on that in a second).
Audio-Technica AT2020 · Source: Audio-Technica
A six-meter pro snake TPM 6 professional mic cable is also included, connecting the mic to your audio interface. Just a heads up: your audio interface needs a mic input with switchable phantom power to actually run the AT2020!
The AT2020 built its reputation on an excellent price-to-performance ratio, and it’s already a great choice for capturing vocals at home with professional-sounding results. It also works well for recording instruments like acoustic guitar.
Audio-Technica delivers a fairly linear frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz, with a slight boost between 5kHz and 10kHz, vocals often benefit from that little lift. The mic runs a cardioid polar pattern, the most common and widely used type for mics like this. That pattern means the mic mainly picks up whatever’s directly in front of it, while everything around it gets pushed further into the background.
Thanks to the proximity effect (which kicks in the closer you get to the mic), your voice picks up a bit more character too, very useful for spoken-word recordings. And since the AT2020 handles fairly high SPL reasonably well, it’s flexible enough to point at a guitar amp on occasion too.
Source: Audio-Technica
Two alternatives worth mentioning, starting with one from Audio-Technica itself: the Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X* (Sweetwater*) performs comparably to the AT2020, but adds a built-in A/D converter for recording straight into your computer over USB. This one’s also built to record vocals at home, just with more of a streaming and podcasting focus. The second alternative comes from Rode: the NT1-A comes in plenty of bundles* (Sweetwater*) too, and it’s another large-diaphragm condenser widely recommended for affordable vocal recording.
You’ll find the Audio-Technica AT2020 bundle at Thomann* / Sweetwater*. We’d also recommend the AT8458a shock mount* (Sweetwater*), which better protects the mic from vibrations when paired with a stand.
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Audio-Technica AT 2020 Bundle
Customer rating: (43)
$109.00 / £98.00 / 112.00€ at
Audio-Technica AT8458a
Customer rating: (47)
$28.00 / £24.90 / 29.00€ at
Audio-Technica AT2020
$119 at
Audio-Technica AT2020 Microphone Bundle with Shockmount, Stand, and Cable
$249 at
Record Vocals at Home With a K&M 210/9 Mic Stand
Condenser mics are pretty sensitive, which makes them a lot less suited than dynamic mics for just holding in your hand during a take. If you want to record vocals at home with a mic like the AT2020 above, using a proper stand is absolutely worth it.
A mic stand like the K&M 210/9 is a fitting companion for the mic · Source: K&M
That’s exactly why a mic stand like the K&M 210/9 is the right companion for your small vocal setup. Built from steel, this stand is rugged and stable, while still setting up and breaking down quickly. Transport is easy too, since everything telescopes down to a compact size.
For a bit less money, there’s the K&M 210/2* (Sweetwater*), which skips the extendable boom arm. That arm can come in handy if you want more flexibility positioning mics though. It’s probably why the K&M 210/9 is Thomann’s best-selling mic stand, with the 210/2 variant having been sold since 1967.
This stand delivers a nice and solid price-to-value ratio. The K&M 210/9 is available at Thomann* / Sweetwater* in a range of color combinations.
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K&M 210/9 Black
Customer rating: (2406)
$53.00 / £45.00 / 55.00€ at
K&M 210/9 White
Customer rating: (27)
$60.00 / £51.00 / 62.00€ at
K&M 210/9 Chrome
Customer rating: (150)
$60.00 / £51.00 / 62.00€ at
K&M 210/9
at
Micscreen: An Absorber and Diffuser for Microphones
The t.bone Micscreen XL · Source: Thomann
This accessory, the Micscreen XL* from the t.bone, clamps onto your mic stand or sits directly on a tabletop. An absorber and diffuser like this saves you from needing a full vocal booth, which obviously takes up a lot more space and costs more too. If you actually want a quick-to-set-up vocal booth though, take a look at the t.akustik PET Vocal Booth.
Okay, back on track: a Micscreen is simply the most compact and affordable option when you want to record vocals at home and keep the sound as controlled as possible. This tool cuts down on unwanted room effects like reflections, background noise, and echo, the kind of stuff that bounces off walls. The cardioid pattern on your mic already handles a lot of that, but a Micscreen adds an extra layer of protection.
The t.bone Micscreen XL features five foam-lined segments that fold open and closed in different positions, so you’re covered for a range of recording situations.
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the t.bone Micscreen XL
Customer rating: (751)
$75.00 / £68.00 / 79.00€ at
A Fitting Audio Interface to Record Vocals at Home
A condenser mic like the AT2020 we covered here connects via XLR cable (included in the bundle above) and also gets powered through that same connection via phantom power. That required 48V typically comes from your audio interface, a mixer, or a dedicated preamp in most home studio setups.
If you want to record vocals at home, you’ll usually use an audio interface to connect the mic via XLR and supply the necessary phantom power. So it’s important that your interface has at least one XLR input with switchable phantom power.
Here are three USB interfaces that check those boxes, stay affordable, and still deliver solid performance. These connect your mic and computer together and handle the actual recording.
The first two picks are USB interfaces from Focusrite, one of the most popular audio interface manufacturers out there. These particular models rank among the most popular interfaces period. The built-in preamps sound good, the converters run at high resolution, and the switchable Air mode adds high end during recording that makes everything sound a bit “airier.”
The absolute cheapest option right now is the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen* (Sweetwater*), which isn’t the newest generation anymore, but still packs a lot for around 89 Euro/$119.99. It has one mic input plus a second input for line signals and instruments. If you want two line inputs (and two mic inputs) for recording stereo sources, go with the bigger model instead. The Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen already covers everything you need to record vocals at home, or on the go with a laptop too!
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Generation* / Sweetwater* is the newer, slightly bigger model with two Scarlett mic preamps offering up to 69dB of gain. It also gives you two instrument/line inputs.
The Universal Audio Volt USB Recording Studio is a Complete Solution · Source: Universal Audio
For one more solid, affordable recommendation, there’s the Universal Audio Volt 2 USB Recording Studio* / Sweetwater*. While the two Focusrite interfaces offer a switchable Air mode for extra high end, the compact Volt 2 features a switchable Vintage Mic Preamp mode instead, adding character reminiscent of the classic UA 610 preamp when you want it.
The Volt 2 USB Recording Studio also ships with a very nice software bundle, including plenty of quality effect plugins plus UA’s own LUNA DAW, letting you jump straight into a recording project. Worth noting, the Focusrite interfaces come with a solid software bundle too!
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Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen
Customer rating: (2703)
$88.00 / £77.00 / 89.00€ at
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Generation
Customer rating: (333)
$185.00 / £166.00 / 189.00€ at
Universal Audio Volt 2 USB Recording Studio
Customer rating: (197)
$145.00 / £129.00 / 149.00€ at
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen
$119.99 at
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Generation
$224.99 at
Universal Audio Volt 2 USB-C Audio Interface
$199 at
An Affordable Pair of Headphones to Round Out Your Recording Setup
Last but not least, let’s talk headphones. If you want to record vocals at home, there’s really no getting around a pair. You need to hear the backing track while recording, and if that comes through speakers instead, it’ll bleed straight into your recording too.
So, you need headphones. Ideally closed-back ones, so no signal leaks from the headphones back into your sensitive mic. A closed-back design also isolates you nicely from whatever’s going on around you during the take.
t.bone HD 815 · Source: t.bone audio
Since affordable beginner gear is the focus here, we’re recommending a budget-friendly model that’s earned plenty of great reviews thanks to its price-to-performance ratio. the t.bone HD 815*, that’s the name of this pair, runs a closed-back, over-ear design. The cable is single-sided and even replaceable. All the interfaces covered here have adjustable headphone outputs too, so you can dial in your own personal monitoring sound exactly how you like it.
The HD 815 also works fine for mixing, though there are more professional (and pricier) options out there if that’s your focus. For recording itself, that’s not quite as critical though. If headphones interest you further, check out this buying guide.
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the t.bone HD 815
Customer rating: (328)
$31.00 / £28.00 / 32.00€ at
Verdict: An Affordable Perfect Match for Vocal Recording at Home
You don’t need much to get started if you want to record vocals at home. Quite the opposite actually, the gear covered here already sets you up well for both singing and spoken word.
For a mic, we’re suggesting the Audio-Technica AT2020, this large-diaphragm condenser delivers an excellent price-to-performance ratio and stays flexible too. To mount it on a stand like the K&M 210/9, grab the matching AT8458a shock mount as well.
Combined with the stand and shock mount, the mic sits solidly right in front of you, adjusted exactly to your height. The t.bone Micscreen XL clips onto the stand too, keeping reflections and other unwanted room noise out of your recording. If you’re on a tighter budget at first, just skip the Micscreen for now.
You’ll also need an audio interface that connects to your computer over USB and offers the right input for your mic. The interface also supplies the necessary phantom power. Alongside two affordable Scarlett interfaces from Focusrite, the Universal Audio Volt 2 USB Recording Studio is a solid pick too. Handy detail: every interface featured here also comes bundled with matching software, so you can dive straight into your first recordings.
With a closed-back, over-ear pair of headphones, you’ll hear the music while recording vocals. An affordable and popular option is the t.bone HD 815.
You can set this whole rig up and pack it away quickly anywhere, and transport is easy too, the mic just goes right back in its included pouch. Put together, this gear adds up to a genuine Perfect Match to record vocals at home.
Related Information
The Best Budget Audio Interfaces: Get Great Recordings Affordably!
The Best Vocal Plugins for Music Production
Microphone Polar Patterns: A Beginner’s Guide
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