Yes, you can build a fully functional studio even if you're renting and working with a tiny garage. I quit my teaching job in London, moved to the countryside, and turned a single garage into Push Patterns HQ. Here's how I did it, what gear I used, and how I made it work without drilling a single hole in the ceiling.

Key Takeaways

• Build around portable gear: desk, lights, mounts, acoustic panels.

• Use non-destructive rigging like tension poles and clamps.

• Standing desks add flexibility in tight filming spaces.

• Small speakers plus headphones are ideal for monitoring.

• Treat your garage like a garage first, then a studio.

Why a garage?

I moved to the countryside to go all in on Push Patterns. The place I rented came with a garage, the perfect size for filming and music. The challenge? It's a rental, so everything had to be removable and landlord-friendly.

What was the first step in the build?

Stud wall and layout planning.

I built a stud wall to separate the garage into a filming area and studio zone. On one side was a filming station with a vibey background. On the other, gear racks, modular synths, and keyboard setups.

How did you choose the camera angles?

I tested every angle and landed on filming into a corner.

Shooting into a corner gave depth, showed more of my studio, and created a more immersive YouTube background. You can see my shelves, books, controllers, and everything that makes up my world.

What camera setup do you use?

Fuji X-S20 with a 23mm prime plus Sigma zoom lens.

The prime lens is for talking head shots. The zoom lens handles top-down and close-up gear shots. I use the same camera body with different lenses.

How do you mount the overhead camera without drilling?

Manfrotto Autopole, 244 Friction Arm, and Super Clamps

The autopole is spring-loaded and presses into the floor and ceiling with no nails required. It holds the weight of the arm and camera easily and is super stable.

What’s your desk setup?

 My E7 Pro Desk – Now £150 Off!- https://bit.ly/465Kv1l and Yeol ESOL W2 Pro walking pad

The standing desk is a game-changer. I can film, work, and even walk while producing. It has dual motors, 180kg capacity, memory presets, and looks slick.

How do you monitor audio?

ADAM Audio D3V desktop speakers and Sony MDR-7506 headphones

The D3Vs are compact but punchy and perfect for low volume. The MDR-7506s are honest, durable, and my main mix reference.

What’s your mic and interface setup?

Shure SM7B, Cloudlifter CL-1, and Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th gen

The SM7B handles untreated rooms well. The Cloudlifter boosts clean gain, and the Scarlett's preamps are whisper-quiet.

How do you deal with lighting?

BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 and soft lighting

Perfect for windowless spaces. I also use a basic KOORUI 4K monitor to reduce eye strain.

How do you handle echo and reflections?

DIY and freestanding acoustic panels.

I built panels with a mate, Steve Weston. Lightweight ones use command strips while heavier ones stand alone. They're not fancy, but they work.

What about the music side of the studio?

Push 3 is the brain, RME Fireface UCXII routes audio, and everything runs through fun gear.

• Elektron Analog Rytm MKII

• Orchid Synth

• Tetra 4

• Prophet 6

• Moog Little Phatty

• Microcosm, Death By Audio Rooms

Everything is routed and re-amped for jamming, tweaking, and capturing ideas live.

What’s the secret IKEA hack?

Stolmen rack

Originally a shoe rack, now a synth stand. No drilling needed. It's pole-mounted top and bottom and holds my Prophet, Moog, even a Juno.

FAQs – Garage Studio Setup

How do I turn a small garage into a YouTube studio and music studio if I am renting?

Keep everything as removable as possible. Build the room around portable stuff first: desk, storage, lighting, camera mounts, and acoustic panels you can take with you. Anything that needs holes should be optional, not the foundation of the setup.

How do I mount an overhead camera without drilling into the ceiling?

Use a floor to ceiling tension pole system, then clamp a magic arm to it and hang the camera above the desk. In my setup I used a Manfrotto style autopole with clamps and an arm so nothing needs to go in the ceiling.

What is the best camera angle for a tiny garage studio?

Shoot into a corner if you can. It gives you depth, makes the space look bigger, and lets you build a nicer background behind you without needing loads of floor space.

What camera and lens setup works best in a small YouTube studio?

A wide lens for the talking head shot, and a zoom for overhead and detail shots is a solid combo. I used a Fuji X S20 with a 23mm prime for the main shot, and a Sigma zoom for flexibility when filming gear and desk angles.

How do I get clean voice audio in a garage studio?

Get the mic close and keep the room reflections down. A broadcast mic like a Shure SM7B works well, but it usually needs plenty of gain, so pairing it with a solid interface plus a Cloudlifter style booster helps. Then add some absorption around the room so your voice is not bouncing off hard surfaces.

How do I reduce echo in a garage studio without drilling panels into the wall?

Go for renter friendly mounting or freestanding panels. Command strips and hook and loop can work for lighter panels, or you can put panels on stands and just place them where they matter. The goal is absorption, especially near your speaking spot and your listening position.

Do I need to soundproof a garage studio, or is acoustic treatment enough?

Most people actually need acoustic treatment first, not soundproofing. Treatment makes the room sound less echoey and more controlled, while soundproofing is about stopping sound leaving the space and it usually means proper building work and added mass. In a rental, treatment plus sensible volume is normally the realistic move.

How can I use studio monitors in a garage if I cannot play loud?

Use small monitors that still sound balanced at low volume, and do most of the work on headphones. I went for compact desktop monitors and leaned on headphones as the main monitoring method because garages often have thin walls and limited insulation.

Is a standing desk actually useful for a music and YouTube studio?

Yeah, especially in a tight space. It lets you switch between working and filming positions quickly, and it makes camera framing easier when you want to stand for pieces to camera. I used a Flexispot standing desk, and it also gave me space for a walking pad underneath.

How do I deal with damp, cold, and airflow in a garage studio?

Treat it like a garage first, studio second. Run a dehumidifier if it gets damp, keep some airflow with small quiet fans, and keep gear off the cold floor where possible. Even basic moisture control makes the room nicer to work in and helps protect your kit.

Main Recommendation:

If you are renting or working in a small space, build smart. Use tension rigs, go vertical, prioritise portability, and treat your garage like a garage first, then a studio.