MusicRadar sets out its rulebook for home studio recording

MusicRadar published a set of ground rules for home recording on 16 October 2026, as part of its Recording Week 2026 series. The magazine's starting point is that recording and production skills, like playing an instrument, improve with practice.

The first rule concerns microphone placement. According to MusicRadar, a poor sound is better fixed at the source than patched with EQ or added reverb. Placing a mic too close boosts low frequencies through the proximity effect, while moving it too far away captures more room reverberation. On an acoustic guitar or violin, the magazine suggests aiming at the sound hole rather than the fingerboard.

The second rule is to record and keep everything, since first takes are often the best and digital work means nothing has to be deleted. With guest players, nerves can make them rush, and a small amount of track delay can help a take sit in time.

The guide also calls for a pop shield on every vocal session, saying the built-in protection advertised on many microphones offers little defence against plosives such as “B” and “P”. Its fifth rule covers the room: spaces with soft furnishings tend to sound better than bare walls, and a recording that sounds too roomy can be tamed by placing the performer with their back to curtains, which works best with a cardioid microphone.