Recording Fundamentals at Home

Elliot Voss · 21 Aug 2026 · 7 min read

Gain staging, room treatment on no budget, and why your take is more important than your mic.

A $90 microphone in a treated corner beats a $900 microphone in an untreated room. Every time.

Gain staging Peak around -12dBFS and stop worrying about loudness until mastering.

Elliot mixes records out of a converted garage in Leeds and has spent fifteen years arguing about compressors.

Tracks, buses, sends and the four windows you actually need.

Making a mix that holds up on phone speakers, car stereos and headphones.

Advanced-level decisions that separate a finished record from a good demo.