What Is a Recording Studio?

A recording studio is a specialized facility designed to record instrumental and vocal musical performances, or spoken words. It can range in size from a small in-home project studio to a large building with space for a full orchestra of musicians. Studio spaces are usually soundproofed to minimize external noise interference. Professionals such as vocalists, musicians and audio engineers use recording studios to produce high-quality recordings for commercial music or other uses.

Many smaller recording studios do not own the musical instruments they rent to bands and artists, who are expected to bring their own. Major studios may have a selection of instruments and amplifiers in their “live room” for bands to set up and use, and they often have a separate vocal booth, amp cabinet rooms and other acoustically treated spaces. These rooms are specifically designed to isolate and filter out specific sounds like guitar and bass amp feedback or drum mic leakage into the vocal track.

Some recording studios offer post-production services, which include mastering and sound design to fine-tune and polish the final product. This can take the form of remastering an existing album, or creating new music from scratch. Many recording studios also employ experienced audio engineers who can help guide artists through the recording process and advise them on external equipment that will best complement the studio’s microphones.

If you want to start your own recording studio, it is important to register your business as a formal legal entity. This will separate your personal assets from those of the business and may make it easier to address legal issues in the future. You can register your business as a sole proprietorship, corporation or limited liability company; consult with a lawyer for advice about which option makes the most sense for your situation.