Create your first video course
Set Up a Simple Home Studio
You don't need a Hollywood studio to create professional-looking courses. With smart planning and the right approach, you can turn almost any space in your home into a recording setup that produces great results consistently.
The key isn't spending lots of money on equipment — it's understanding how to work with your space and creating a setup that you'll actually use. A simple, reliable studio you use regularly beats a complex setup that intimidates you into procrastination.
This guide will show you how to set up a home recording studio that produces professional results, works within your budget and space constraints, and makes recording feel effortless rather than overwhelming.
The Home Studio Mindset: Function Over Flash
Before diving into specific setups, let's establish the right mindset for home studio creation:
What Makes a Great Home Studio
Consistency trumps perfection: Your studio should produce reliable, repeatable results rather than occasionally perfect footage
Simplicity enables action: The easier your setup is to use, the more likely you are to record regularly
Flexibility handles real life: Your studio needs to work around your living situation, not take it over
Quality focuses on what matters: Invest time and money where it makes the biggest difference (usually audio and lighting)
Common Home Studio Mistakes
Overcomplicating the setup: Buying too much equipment before understanding what you actually need
Ignoring acoustics: Focusing on cameras while neglecting the room's sound properties
Perfectionism paralysis: Waiting for the "perfect" setup instead of starting with what you have
Not planning for consistency: Creating a setup that requires extensive reconfiguration each time
Forgetting about comfort: Building a studio that's physically uncomfortable for long recording sessions
Choosing Your Recording Space
The foundation of any home studio is the physical space. You don't need a dedicated room, but you do need to choose wisely.
Space Assessment Framework
Evaluate potential spaces using these criteria:
Size Requirements
- Minimum: Enough room for you plus camera/tripod (about 6x8 feet)
- Optimal: Space for lighting equipment and comfortable movement (10x10 feet)
- Considerations: Can furniture be moved easily? Is ceiling height adequate?
Sound Quality
- Hard surfaces (tile, hardwood, bare walls): Create echo and reverb
- Soft surfaces (carpet, curtains, furniture): Absorb sound and reduce echo
- Background noise: Traffic, appliances, neighbors, family activity
Lighting Potential
- Natural light: Direction, consistency, and controllability of windows
- Artificial lighting: Existing fixtures and ability to add lighting equipment
- Light control: Can you block outside light when needed?
Practical Considerations
- Power access: Enough outlets for equipment
- Storage: Where to keep equipment when not recording
- Privacy: Can you record without interruption?
- Ventilation: Will you be comfortable during long recording sessions?
Common Home Studio Locations
Living Room
Pros: Usually the largest space, often has good natural light, existing comfortable seating
Cons: High traffic area, may have hard surfaces that create echo, family interruptions
Best for: Course creators who record occasionally and need flexible space
Home Office
Pros: Existing desk setup, usually quieter, can stay set up between recordings
Cons: Often smaller, may lack good lighting, can feel cramped
Best for: Screen recording and talking head videos, frequent recording
Bedroom
Pros: Naturally quiet, soft furnishings absorb sound, private space
Cons: May feel unprofessional, limited space, personal items in background
Best for: Intimate, conversational course styles
Basement
Pros: Quiet, controlled environment, often unused space
Cons: Potential humidity/temperature issues, poor natural light, can feel sterile
Best for: Dedicated course creators willing to invest in lighting
Dining Room
Pros: Often has good natural light, less traffic than living room, usually good size
Cons: May echo due to hard surfaces, furniture may need moving
Best for: Professional-looking setups with window light
Optimizing Your Chosen Space
Sound Treatment (Most Important)
Quick wins for better audio:
- Add soft furnishings: Throw pillows, blankets, upholstered furniture
- Hang curtains: Even thin curtains help absorb sound reflections
- Use rugs: Especially important on hard flooring
- Position strategically: Record facing soft surfaces when possible
Professional sound treatment:
- Acoustic panels: Foam or fabric panels for walls ($50-200)
- Bass traps: For corners where low frequencies accumulate ($40-100 each)
- Portable booth: Reflection filter around microphone ($50-150)
Background Control
Create a clean, non-distracting background:
- Solid wall: Best option for professional look
- Bookshelf: Adds credibility and visual interest (organize neatly)
- Curtain backdrop: Simple and controllable
- Plants or artwork: Minimal, tasteful decoration
Avoid these backgrounds:
- Busy patterns or colors
- Personal photos or items
- Cluttered shelves
- Windows (unless very well controlled)
- Kitchen or bathroom elements
Lighting Setup Zone
Plan for lighting equipment:
- Outlet access: For powered lights
- Space for stands: Light stands need room and stable footing
- Light direction: Plan key light and fill light positions
- Storage: Where lights go when not in use
Essential Studio Components and Setup
Component 1: Camera Positioning and Framing
Camera Height and Angle
Optimal positioning:
- Camera at eye level: Prevents unflattering up-nose or down-on-you angles
- Slight downward angle: Can be flattering for most people
- Avoid extreme angles: Too high or too low looks unprofessional
Distance from camera:
- Close-up: 3-4 feet (head and shoulders visible)
- Medium shot: 5-6 feet (waist up)
- Wide shot: 8+ feet (full body, good for demonstrations)
Framing Guidelines
Rule of thirds: Position your eyes about 1/3 down from the top of the frame
Headroom: Leave some space above your head, but not too much
Looking room: If looking slightly off-camera, leave space in that direction
Consistency: Use the same framing throughout your course
Component 2: Audio Setup
Microphone Positioning
For USB microphones:
- 6-8 inches from your mouth
- Slightly off to the side (not directly in front)
- Angled toward your mouth
- Use a boom arm to position precisely
For lavalier microphones:
- Clip to shirt about 6-8 inches below your mouth
- Avoid clothing that rustles against the mic
- Hide the wire under your clothing
- Test for optimal placement with your specific outfit
Audio Monitoring
Always use headphones while recording:
- Monitor audio levels in real-time
- Catch issues immediately
- Hear background noise you might miss otherwise
- Adjust positioning if needed
Component 3: Lighting Design
Three-Point Lighting Setup
Key Light (Primary light):
- Position at 45-degree angle to your face
- About 2 feet higher than your head, angled down
- Should be your strongest light source
- Creates natural-looking shadows
Fill Light (Secondary light):
- Opposite side from key light
- Softer and less intense than key light
- Fills in shadows created by key light
- Can be a reflector instead of powered light
Background Light (Optional):
- Lights the background or creates separation
- Prevents you from blending into background
- Adds depth and professional polish
- Usually colored or patterned light
Simplified Two-Light Setup
For most home studios, two lights work well:
- Main light: LED panel or softbox at 45-degree angle
- Fill source: Large window, reflector, or second light
Single Light Solutions
When space or budget is limited:
- Large window: Provides soft, even lighting
- Ring light: Even, shadowless illumination
- Large LED panel: With diffusion material
Component 4: Set Design and Background
Professional Background Options
Solid colored wall:
- White: Clean, professional, but can be stark
- Light gray: Warm, professional, hides small shadows
- Light blue: Calming, trustworthy feeling
- Avoid: Dark colors (make you blend in), bright colors (distracting)
Branded backdrop:
- Company colors or logo (subtle, not overwhelming)
- Consistent with your course materials
- Professional banner or backdrop stand
- Fabric or vinyl materials work well
Practical backgrounds:
- Bookshelf: Shows expertise, adds visual interest
- Office setting: Desk, monitor, professional environment
- Workshop space: Tools, examples of your work (for hands-on courses)
Background Styling Tips
Keep it simple: Background should support, not compete with you
Maintain consistency: Use the same background throughout your course
Consider your subject: Background should match course topic appropriately
Test on camera: How backgrounds look in person vs. on camera can be very different
Budget-Friendly Studio Setups
Starter Setup ($100-200)
Equipment:
- Smartphone with good camera
- Lavalier microphone (Rode SmartLav+ $79)
- Phone tripod ($25)
- White poster board for reflection ($5)
Space optimization:
- Use window light as main illumination
- Position white poster board opposite window for fill light
- Record during consistent time of day
- Choose corner with solid wall background
Results: Clean, professional-looking videos suitable for most course content
Intermediate Setup ($300-500)
Equipment:
- Webcam (Logitech Brio) or smartphone
- USB microphone (Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB $69)
- LED panel light with softbox ($100)
- Desktop tripod and boom arm ($75)
- Audio monitoring headphones ($50)
Space improvements:
- Add acoustic treatment (foam panels or heavy curtains)
- Create dedicated recording corner
- Invest in comfortable chair for long recording sessions
- Better organization for equipment storage
Results: Reliable, repeatable setup with professional audio and lighting
Advanced Setup ($800-1200)
Equipment:
- Mirrorless camera with lens (Sony a6400 $900)
- Professional microphone with audio interface (Shure MV7 + Focusrite $400)
- Two-light setup with stands and modifiers ($200)
- Professional tripod ($100)
- Acoustic treatment and set design ($200)
Space design:
- Dedicated recording area with proper acoustics
- Professional lighting setup that stays in place
- Branded background elements
- Climate control and comfort considerations
Results: Broadcast-quality setup suitable for premium courses and professional use
Which Setup to Choose?
Start with Starter if:
- This is your first course
- You're testing course creation as a business model
- Budget is the primary constraint
- You have good natural light available
Move to Intermediate if:
- You're committed to creating multiple courses
- You need more consistent results
- You're recording frequently
- Audio quality is crucial for your content
Invest in Advanced if:
- Course creation is your primary business
- You're creating high-value courses
- Consistency and professional appearance are essential
- You have dedicated space for recording
Room Acoustics: Making Any Space Sound Good
Understanding Your Room's Acoustics
Quick Acoustic Test
Clap test: Clap your hands sharply and listen for:
- Echo: Sound bouncing back clearly (bad)
- Flutter echo: Rapid-fire bouncing between parallel walls (bad)
- Reverberation: Gradual decay of sound (depends on amount)
- Dead sound: Quick absorption with no reflection (usually good)
Common Acoustic Problems
Hard surfaces: Tile, hardwood, drywall, glass create reflections
Parallel walls: Cause flutter echo and standing waves
Large empty spaces: Create long reverberation times
Small enclosed spaces: Can create boxy, confined sound
DIY Acoustic Solutions
Temporary Treatments (Removable)
Moving blankets: Hang on stands or hooks, very effective and affordable
Thick curtains: Install on tension rods, easy to remove
Pillows and cushions: Strategic placement around recording area
Mattress: Lean against wall behind recording position
Permanent Improvements
Acoustic foam panels: Professional look, effective absorption
Fabric-wrapped panels: DIY option using rigid fiberglass and fabric
Bass traps: Corner treatments for low-frequency control
Rugs and carpeting: Especially important on hard floors
Strategic Furniture Placement
Bookcases: Filled with books provide excellent diffusion
Upholstered furniture: Sofas and chairs absorb sound
Irregular surfaces: Break up parallel walls and flat surfaces
Plants: Large plants can help absorb and diffuse sound
Recording Technique for Better Audio
Microphone Positioning for Your Room
Close-mic technique: Get microphone very close to reduce room sound
Directional mics: Point away from reflective surfaces
Corner positioning: Record in corners to minimize parallel wall reflections
Absorption zone: Create small area of acoustic treatment around microphone
Workflow and Organization
Pre-Recording Setup Routine
Equipment Check (5 minutes)
- Power on all equipment
- Check battery levels
- Test audio recording levels
- Verify video framing and focus
- Confirm adequate storage space
Environment Preparation (5 minutes)
- Close doors to minimize outside noise
- Turn off phones, computers, appliances
- Adjust room temperature and ventilation
- Set up lighting and check for shadows
- Remove distracting elements from background
Personal Preparation (5 minutes)
- Review lesson outline or script
- Check appearance in camera
- Do vocal warm-ups if needed
- Get water and any needed materials
- Put recording materials within easy reach
During Recording Best Practices
Maintaining Consistency
Same time of day: If using natural light, record at consistent times
Same setup: Use marked positions for equipment
Same settings: Save camera and audio settings for quick setup
Same posture: Maintain consistent positioning and energy
Quality Control
Monitor audio continuously: Always wear headphones
Check video occasionally: Quick glance at camera feed
Take breaks: Avoid fatigue that affects performance
Record buffer: Start recording a few seconds before speaking
Post-Recording Organization
File Management
Consistent naming: Date-CourseModule-Lesson format
Immediate backup: Copy files to multiple locations
Quick preview: Check quality before storing
Notes documentation: Record any issues or retakes needed
Equipment Care
Power down properly: Follow shutdown procedures
Clean lenses: Remove dust and fingerprints
Store safely: Protect equipment from damage
Cable management: Keep cables organized and untangled
Troubleshooting Common Setup Problems
Audio Issues
Problem: Echo or Reverb
Solutions:
- Add more soft furnishings to room
- Move closer to microphone
- Record in smaller, more furnished space
- Use directional microphone pointed away from hard surfaces
Problem: Background Noise
Solutions:
- Identify and eliminate noise sources
- Record during quieter times of day
- Use noise-canceling microphone techniques
- Add acoustic treatment to absorb outside noise
Problem: Inconsistent Audio Levels
Solutions:
- Maintain consistent distance from microphone
- Use boom arm for stable microphone positioning
- Monitor levels continuously with headphones
- Practice consistent speaking volume
Video Issues
Problem: Poor Lighting
Solutions:
- Reposition or add light sources
- Use reflectors to fill shadows
- Change recording time for better natural light
- Invest in proper lighting equipment
Problem: Distracting Background
Solutions:
- Simplify and organize background elements
- Use shallow depth of field to blur background
- Invest in backdrop or hang curtain
- Change recording position or angle
Problem: Unstable or Shaky Footage
Solutions:
- Use proper tripod or mounting system
- Ensure stable surface for equipment
- Check for vibrations from appliances or traffic
- Use camera stabilization features if available
Space Issues
Problem: Not Enough Room
Solutions:
- Use wider-angle lens or move camera further back
- Record in largest available space
- Consider chest-up framing instead of full body
- Use corner space to maximize available room
Problem: Too Much Echo in Small Space
Solutions:
- Add maximum acoustic treatment possible
- Record very close to microphone
- Use smaller, more furnished room
- Create temporary acoustic booth with blankets
Advanced Studio Enhancements
Lighting Upgrades
Color Temperature Control
Consistent color temperature: All lights should match (usually 5600K daylight or 3200K tungsten)
Adjustable lights: LED panels with variable color temperature
Color correction: Use software to fix mixed lighting in post
Advanced Lighting Techniques
Hair light: Separate you from background
Practical lights: Include lamps or other lights in shot for atmosphere
Colored backgrounds: Use colored gels on background lights
Motivated lighting: Make lighting look natural and motivated by visible sources
Camera Upgrades
Multiple Camera Angles
Two-camera setup: Wide shot and close-up for editing variety
Overhead camera: For demonstrations and hands-on work
Screen capture: Integrate screen recording with camera footage
Advanced Camera Features
Manual controls: Consistent exposure and focus
Clean HDMI output: For direct recording to computer
Longer recording times: Avoid automatic shutoff limits
Better low-light performance: For more lighting flexibility
Automation and Efficiency
Remote Controls
Camera remote: Start/stop recording without approaching camera
Lighting control: Adjust lights without moving
Teleprompter: For reading scripts while maintaining eye contact
Workflow Automation
Preset equipment positions: Mark positions for consistent setup
Template settings: Save camera and audio settings
Batch processing: Streamline post-production workflow
Equipment checklists: Ensure nothing is forgotten
Studio Evolution: Growing Your Setup Over Time
Phase 1: Proof of Concept (Months 1-3)
Focus: Create your first course with minimal investment
Equipment: Smartphone, basic microphone, natural lighting
Space: Any available room with decent acoustics
Goal: Validate course creation process and student response
Phase 2: Consistency Building (Months 4-12)
Focus: Create reliable, repeatable results
Equipment: Dedicated camera, quality microphone, basic lighting
Space: Designated recording area with acoustic treatment
Goal: Establish efficient workflow and professional appearance
Phase 3: Quality Enhancement (Year 2+)
Focus: Professional polish and advanced features
Equipment: Professional cameras, lighting, audio setup
Space: Dedicated studio space with full acoustic treatment
Goal: Compete with highest-quality course content
When to Upgrade
Signs it's time to enhance your studio:
- Current setup limits the courses you want to create
- Technical issues cause frequent recording delays
- Students comment on audio or video quality issues
- Course revenue justifies equipment investment
- You're spending too much time on setup/breakdown
Upgrade priority order:
- Audio improvements: Better microphone, acoustic treatment
- Lighting consistency: Reliable lighting that doesn't depend on weather
- Camera quality: Better image quality and control
- Workflow efficiency: Tools that save time and reduce setup
Key Takeaways
- Start with what you have: Perfect setup isn't required to begin creating quality courses
- Focus on audio first: Poor sound quality kills courses faster than poor video
- Consistency beats perfection: Reliable, repeatable results are better than occasionally perfect footage
- Room acoustics matter more than equipment: A good room with basic gear beats expensive equipment in a bad room
- Plan for growth: Start simple but choose upgrades that will grow with your business
- Workflow efficiency is crucial: Easy setup encourages regular recording
- Test everything: Record test footage before committing to full course production
Remember: Your home studio should serve your course creation goals, not become a goal itself. The best studio is one that you use consistently to create valuable content for your students. Start with the basics, focus on audio and lighting, and upgrade strategically as your course business grows.
What's Next?
Next up: Perform Confidently on Camera
This article is part of the Ultimate Guide to Creating and Selling Online Video Courses. Explore other parts of the guide: