Setting up a PC recording studio involves more than having a basic equipment layout that works well. Here some additional points to consider:

• Get organized. Spend some time finding (or creating) places for all your gear and put the gear in those places. Make labels for items like mic and instrument cords (colored tape or tags work well).
• Eliminate distractions. Turn off the phone, get off the Internet, close the door, and don't answer if anyone knocks. These are a few of the many things you can do to get rid of distractions that will inevitably pop up when you try to do some work in your studio.
• Keep essential gear handy. You don't want to have to dig around for the right mic, locate a cord, plug it in to the mic, find a stand and attach the mic to it, connect the cord to the preamp, dial in the preamp level, adjust the mic placement, readjust the preamp level, and so on. Keep common setups in place and ready to go.
• Distinguish between the producing, engineering, and creating tasks. Because most home recordists take on all these roles in their studios, you need to be diligent in keeping tabs on which one you perform at a given time. For example, on some days you want to work out ideas for your next song. On these days, take off your engineering hat and stop tweaking knobs. If you don't before you know it the time you set aside for working out ideas has been spent, and all you have to show for it is a perfectly dialed-in preamp.