How to Make Music DIY on a Budget

Are you an independent artist wondering how to make music without breaking the bank?

Whether you’re recording a full studio album, a single, or an EP, there are plenty of ways to create, produce, and release your music – even if you’re working DIY on a budget. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how you can record music regardless of your budget, including how to plan your budget efficiently and manage your studio time wisely to get the best results.

1. Recording Music on a Low Budget

2. Set Your Recording Budget

• Example #1 – How to Record Music with No Budget
• Example #2 – How to Record Music on a Small Budget
• Example #3 – Mid to Large Budget Recording
• Example #4 – Recording Music with an Unlimited Budget

3. Allocate Your Recording Budget

4. Time Management for Recording Music

5. Recording Music DIY: Home Studio Setups

6. DIY on a Budget: Record Music and Build Your Career

At WaterBear, we support a vibrant community of independent musicians and artists. Through our practical music industry courses, one-to-one mentoring, and a wide range of career and performance opportunities, we help independent musicians and artists build the skills and confidence to grow their careers.

Take a look at some of the releases by artists currently studying at WaterBear:

Budgets can range from nothing at all (it’s possible to produce a single for free!) to £30,000 or more for a full album. 

The good news is that recording music on a budget is not only possible, but also how many iconic records were made. For example, Arctic Monkeys (one of the biggest bands to emerge from Sheffield – home to one of our WaterBear campuses) recorded their debut demos on basic equipment before building a huge following, and Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska was famously recorded at home on a four-track cassette recorder. 

Even with limited resources, the most important stages are songwriting and pre-production. These are free and will shape your tracks, whether it’s a single, EP, or album.

Before you start, ask yourself: how much can I realistically spend on recording music? 

Knowing how much you can realistically spend helps you make smarter decisions, whether you’re recording a single, an EP, or a full studio album. 

Setting a budget in advance ensures that every penny counts. It prevents overspending on unnecessary studio time, equipment, or services, and allows you to focus your resources on areas that will have the biggest impact on your music. 

When you plan your recording budget ahead of time, you can approach your project strategically, making the most of DIY, budget friendly techniques alongside professional support.  

Here are some examples of typical budget situations: 

What if you have nothing to work with? Surprisingly, you’re in a strong position, some of the best music ever produced has been made under similar circumstances.  

Often, the things that restrict your art are the very reasons it becomes great. Diamonds are formed under extreme heat and pressure, and music is the same. 

There are five main stages to consider when recording music: writing, pre-production, recording, mixing, and mastering. All of this can be done in a home studio or DIY setup. 

If your songs are strong, your single, EP, or album can still be a hit.  

Can it be done for free? Absolutely.

If all the band members have chipped in, you have a small budget. You now have a few options to upgrade your recordings, but you must prioritise. 

With a few hundred pounds, you can’t do everything.  

Focus on what will make the biggest difference, often mixing and mastering.  

Bringing in someone with better gear and experience at the mix stage can fundamentally improve the quality of your tracks. 

When working with these limited budgets, pick battles you can win. There’s no point in spreading yourself too thin. Invest the funds you have into something that counts, and your project will sound much more professional.

If you and your bandmates have day jobs and can pool slightly more money, you can start making bigger improvements. With this budget, your choices depend on the type of music you’re making: 

• Live, indie or rock tracks – The drum sound matters most. Invest in tracking drums in a reputable studio with an excellent-sounding room, competitive mics, a top desk, outboard gear, and an experienced engineer. If you can record the bass and guitar at the same respectable studio, that’s great. 

• Pop or electronic tracks – Put your money into the mix, which will elevate the production quality. 

Careful planning in pre-production means you won’t need as much studio time, letting you access high-end studios affordably. If you budget wisely, there’s nothing stopping you from recording at the most professional level. 

What if money is no object?  

Extra spend doesn’t automatically yield better results.  

At this stage, you can work with top producers and engineers in the world’s best studios. 

The key is to find the right producer and engineer. Research carefully, make calls, and negotiate.  

Expect to pay around £200–£300 per day for an experienced producer. 

Allocating your recording budget carefully is a smart way to make sure your money is spent where it counts, improving the quality of your recordings and keeping your project on track.  

This is especially important for independent artists working DIY on a budget, where every penny matters and prioritising the right areas can make a big difference to the final result. 

Knowing where to invest your money is one of the hardest parts of recording music on a budget. To give you a starting point, here’s a clear example of how a typical album budget might be allocated – a framework you can adapt for singles, EPs, or whatever project you’re working on:

• Songwriting and pre-production – £0
• Producer (10 days example) – £2,500
• Recording drums and bass (3 days in higher-end studio) – £1,250
• Tracking other instruments (7 days in more affordable studio) – £1,000
• Mixing – £1,200
• Mastering – £350 

When it comes to recording music, your time is just as valuable as your money.  

Wasted hours in the studio can quickly eat away at your budget, so planning your schedule is just as important as planning your spend.  

The key is to treat time as another resource that needs managing carefully. 

A common mistake artists make is thinking the process begins the moment you step inside a studio. In reality, the real work starts long before that, in pre-production.  

The more you prepare your songs in advance, the less time (and money) you’ll need once the clock is ticking in a recording environment. 

Here’s a clear framework for how long each stage usually takes when recording an album: 

• Pre-production (1–6 weeks) – Refine song arrangements, rehearse thoroughly, and put down rough demos so you’re ready to perform with confidence.
• Studio tracking (1–10 days) – A tight plan means fewer retakes and less wasted studio hire.
• Mixing (1–5 days) – Polish the balance and details of your tracks. This stage benefits hugely from a professional touch if your budget allows.
• Mastering (1 day) – The final step that ties the whole project together and gets it ready for release. 

By thinking carefully about how long each stage really needs, you’ll avoid unnecessary delays, keep your project moving, and ensure your budget‑friendly setup delivers results that feel polished and professional. 

Home recording has never been more achievable.  

With a simple home studio setup (just a laptop, an audio interface, a microphone, and recording software) anyone can start making music from their living room.

Beginners can start with free or low-cost software like GarageBand or BandLab, which provide all the essential tools to record demos or full tracks. As you progress, professional DAWs such as Ableton Live, Cubase, or Pro Tools offer more advanced features and flexibility for production. But both approaches can deliver excellent results depending on your experience and budget. 

This DIY approach isn’t just for beginners; some of the most iconic albums and singles were made outside traditional studios.

A standout example is Billie Eilish’s debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, recorded in a small bedroom using budget-friendly equipment and software, yet it went on to win multiple Grammy Awards. The lesson? With creativity, focus, and the right tools, making your own hit record in a home studio is entirely possible.

Learning how to make music on a budget doesn’t have to be daunting. 

With careful planning, attention to pre-production, and smart budgeting, you can record music on a budget-friendly setup while still achieving professional results. 

At WaterBear, we provide guidance on DIY music production, recording strategies, and the skills to release music successfully, along with expert pre-production support from our Artist Development Team. 

We’re proud to offer state-of-the-art facilities at both our Brighton and Sheffield campuses, including rehearsal rooms, recording studios, mix studios, a mastering suite, and access to professional partner studios across the city. 

With expert tutors from every corner of the music industry, our courses equip you with the skills, insights, and support to build a sustainable music career. 

Apply now, order a prospectus, or join us for an open day to discover how we can help you develop your music career.