The Minimal Setup
You don't need a $10,000 studio. You need:
Computer
Laptop or PC
Microphone
Headset, USB mic, or smartphone
Headphones
For monitoring
Smartphone
As recorder app
Room
Small, furnished space
👆 Click on an item for details and tips
Pro Tip: A full wardrobe closet makes a better "studio room" than an empty garage. Fabrics absorb sound and prevent echoey recordings.
The Software
We mainly work with Open Source tools free, legal, professional:
- Audacity Your main tool for recording, editing, effects
- Suno AI Free tier: 50 credits/day for AI music
- ElevenLabs Voice cloning with free trial
- Audimee Alternative free voice models (10 min/month)
Installing Audacity
- Visit audacityteam.org
- Download the version for your operating system
- Install FFmpeg for MP3 export (prompted on first export)
- Launch Audacity the interface looks complex, but it's not
Important: Download Audacity ONLY from the official website. "Cracked" versions often contain malware. The real software is free.
First Recording
Before making music, we record your voice. This is the fastest way to get familiar with the workflow.
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6-12 inches
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Keep the microphone 6-12 inches away. Don't breathe directly into it speak from the side or at an angle.
Setup Check
- Move laptop fans away or use silent mode
- Close windows (street noise)
- Enable airplane mode on phone (no interference)
- Prefer small rooms (less reverb)
- Place towels in front of hard surfaces (table, wall)
Courage to Practice
Your First Exercise
- Open Audacity
- Click the red Record button
- Say: "This is my first recording at Pansonic Lab. Today is [date]."
- Talk for 30 seconds about your favorite song why do you like it?
- Click Stop (square button)
- Play it back (Spacebar or Play button)
- Export as MP3: File → Export → Export as MP3
- Upload your recording here in the Audio Player (left)!
Click to start a test recording
Analysis: Listen to your recording critically. Do you hear echo? Laptop fans? Your breathing? These aren't failures they're learning opportunities for your next recording.
What's Next?
In the upcoming modules you'll learn:
- Module 01: How sound works (frequencies, waveforms)
- Module 02: Understanding rhythm and groove
- Module 03: Better recordings through microphone technique
- Module 04: Audacity in detail cut, copy, effects
- Module 05: AI vocals with ElevenLabs & Audimee
- Module 06: Complete production with Suno AI
- Module 07: Mastering for streaming quality
- Module 08: The future of music production
Each module builds on the previous one. You won't just press buttons you'll understand why you're pressing them.