Home Studio vs. Commercial Studio: What’s the Difference?

The very idea of a recording studio has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. In the past, studios were mostly huge facilities owned by major record labels. Today, there are countless small, independent studios capable of producing global hits.

So let’s break it down: what types of recording studios exist, what their pros and cons are, and how to set up own home recording studio.

When it comes to music production, studio work can usually be divided into two parts: production and post-production.

• Production involves recording instruments and vocals, as well as arranging the song.
• Post-production means mixing and mastering the finished material.

Some studios specialize in one or the other, while some do both. In the U.S. and Western Europe, it’s common to split these responsibilities so that each specialist focuses on one area and becomes a true master at it. In Eastern Europe, Russia, and the CIS, you’ll often find one studio — or even one engineer—handling both production and post-production.
Most of the time, larger commercial studios take on these roles. But there are also countless small or even tiny studios that offer production and post-production services. Many of these are set up in apartments or houses, which technically makes them home studios, and their capabilities are naturally more limited.

The main advantage of a commercial studio is its high-end equipment—both for recording and monitoring—as well as spacious, acoustically treated rooms that don’t distort sound.

Everything else is secondary and depends on personal priorities. But generally, here are the main pros and cons:

Home studios are much simpler—usually just one room, maybe two if you’re lucky enough to have extra space in a house (hard to imagine in an apartment).

Their biggest limitations are obvious: small room size, poor soundproofing, and less flexibility for recording at night or recording live instruments.

On the bright side, they are much cheaper than large commercial studios. And don’t underestimate them—many home studios are run by highly skilled engineers who know how to get impressive results even with limited resources.

Yes, you can absolutely build a functional recording studio at home. But first, decide what your main focus will be: production (recording instruments and vocals) or post-production (mixing and mastering)?

If your focus is post-production (mixing/mastering), you’ll need:

• A professional audio interface

This is the heart of your studio. A good interface determines the quality of your analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) and digital-to-analog conversion (DAC). Entry-level interfaces (under $500) can do the job for beginners, but if you’re serious, you’ll want to invest around $1,000 or more in a high-quality interface.

• Studio headphones

These will be your primary tool. Ideally, have at least two pairs: one open-back (for detailed work) and one closed-back (for tracking low end and recording). Adding a pair of in-ears is also useful for checking sub-bass.
To improve accuracy, use calibration software like Realphones 2 (DSONIQ), Sonarworks SoundID Reference, or Wikisound Wikicorrection. These tools correct your headphones’ frequency response and even simulate listening environments.

• Acoustic treatment

Before buying studio monitors, treat your room. Small rooms cause big problems with reflections and bass buildup. Start with basic acoustic panels (mineral wool or similar) placed where sound reflections occur. Don’t overdo it—leaving some reflective surfaces helps avoid a “dead” room.

• Studio monitors

Once the room is treated, you can add monitors. In small rooms (under 50 m²), avoid big speakers (larger than 6") as they will exaggerate low frequencies. Choose smaller but higher-quality monitors, ideally with front-facing bass ports if you’re tight on space.


If your focus is production (recording instruments and vocals), you’ll also need:

A studio microphone
A cardioid or supercardioid mic is best for small rooms, as it rejects unwanted noise. A dynamic mic is also a good option—it captures less room sound and computer noise, though with less detail.

Headphones for recording vocals
Closed-back headphones are essential so that playback doesn’t bleed into the mic. In-ear monitors can work too, though they’re less common for shared studio use.

Musical instruments and connections
If you’re recording instruments, make sure you have the right connections: analog (XLR, TRS, RCA) or digital (MIDI, USB, ADAT, S/PDIF). Analog gear may also require a preamp or DI box to boost signal and reduce noise.

So, what did we learn? Working with music can be split into production and post-production, and studios generally fall into two categories: commercial and home.

Commercial studios offer high-end equipment, perfect acoustics, and experienced engineers—but at a high price. Home studios are cheaper, more flexible, and can still produce great results, though they’re limited by space, gear, and acoustics.

And finally, we looked at what it takes to build your own home recording studio. Whether you’re focusing on recording or mixing, remember that a home setup will always have its limitations—but with the right approach, it can still deliver professional-sounding results.