Studio Equipment - What Do I Need?

For aspiring artists interested in making music at home, there has never been a better time than today. The options are plentiful, and the prices are a fraction of what they used to be:

A simple home studio can deliver results that, not too long ago, would have required booking time in a professional studio.

But with the many options currently available online or in stores, it can be challenging to know where to start. We've put together a small shopping guide here, with things to consider so you don't end up disappointed when buying your studio equipment.

Table of Contents

• Audio Interfaces
• Studio Monitors
• Midi Controllers
• Samplers & Synthesizers
• Mixing Consoles

Audio Interfaces

The inputs on the audio interface are the only way to get analog sounds such as microphones or guitars, digitally into the computer.

After all, it's the audio interface that processes all audio signals going into and coming out of the computer through analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters.

Every computer already has audio converters, most of which are integrated on the mainboard, but they are not designed for professional audio quality. And while practically any standalone interface offers better converters than those in the computer, audio quality can also be scaled based on price and inputs.

Which Audio Interface Should I Buy?

First, you need to consider which operating system you have.

For most users (including Apple), a USB interface is the first choice. Internal sound cards offer virtually no advantages and are currently scarce on the market.

A USB-C-based sound card is currently the best choice and the most future-proof for all operating systems.

The next important question to ask yourself is: How many inputs do you need?

The more inputs the sound card has, the more expensive it will be, as each input/output has a component in the form of an AD/DA converter that costs money to produce. Therefore, you should carefully consider in advance what devices you own and how many inputs you want to record on. Small home setups or guitarists will surely get by with a 2-input interface. For semi-professional studios or band recordings, more inputs will surely be needed.

Studio Monitors

Of all the decisions you have to make when setting up a home studio, this could be the most challenging. Judging music will always be a subjective activity, and the same goes for judging how it sounds.

However, there are also some general things to consider: Most people want studio speakers that reproduce the sound as neutral as possible and don't overly color or distort your productions. For example, monitors should not boost the bass because it disrupts the ability to hear exactly what is happening in the low frequencies; the speakers you listen to music on are not necessarily the speakers you want to make music on.

Nevertheless, everyone will probably have a slightly different idea of what a neutral sound looks like, and there are other factors that affect the music from the monitors, including size and design. All monitors are only as good as the room in which they are used.

Which Studio Monitors Can You Recommend?

Currently, the KRK Rokit series is very popular. It comes in various sizes and is very affordable. They offer a very neutral sound at a good price-performance ratio.

The same can be said for the Yamaha HS series. It is only slightly more expensive and has a broad fan base in many home studios worldwide.

Midi Controllers

Mouse, trackpad, keyboard - none of these are particularly intuitive musical tools. This means that you need some kind of controller - whether it's a Midi keyboard or a controller with pads - to control or play sounds in your DAW. The range of possibilities is once again amazingly large.

If you're looking for something with knobs and something for playing drums, something like the Akai MPK series might be suitable. If you want more, choose something larger, like the large MPK series from Akai or the Novation Launchkey series.

All of these controllers can be integrated more or less seamlessly into any DAW and offer free assignment of the controls to the functions of any software. In principle, you can do everything with these controllers - but you also have to set everything up yourself.

Alternatives to Keyboards

For those looking for something that mirrors the software on the screen or doesn't require much configuration, you should check out Native Instruments' Maschine or Ableton's Push controller.

The NI Maschine is a pad-based instrument that can be integrated into Native Instruments' software instruments, samplers, and effects for quick, intuitive editing and performance techniques like pattern editing, step sequencing, and sample slicing.

Hardware Instruments, Samplers, Synthesizers

The vast world of hardware instruments spans many decades of electronic synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers, effects - to name just a few, not to mention all the traditional sound generators like guitars, drums, and pianos.

But when it comes to electronic gadgets, despite the allure of classics like the Roland TR-808 or Juno-106, their worldwide fame has driven prices up in recent years; many eBay sellers are asking nearly €4,000 for a Roland TR 808 in good condition. Fortunately, for users seeking that classic sound, there is a robust market for modern replicas or affordable recreations from manufacturers.

For example, the Roland Boutique series is a series of miniature versions of the company's most legendary machines. Korg has also done a brisk business reviving various classic machines from the past.

Still popular today are grooveboxes. These small all-in-one groove monsters were born around the turn of the millennium and were able to fit a complete production in a single box with a sequencer, internal sounds, effects, and even a sampler.

They have since evolved into a symbiosis of hardware controlling a software solution. A prime example is the Maschine from Native Instruments.

Korg's Electribe series and Roland's Roland MC series are the last remaining examples of the original idea of a groovebox.

Studio Mixers

The mixer serves as the central hub in a home recording studio or live setup and should be chosen wisely. Many mixers have an integrated audio interface for recording and connecting to the computer. We have a large selection of USB, Firewire, and digital mixers for recording your live performances and studio productions. Considerations should include how many channels are needed and the effect section.

The equalizers on the mixer help reduce and boost frequencies, creating a clean, loud signal. Smaller mixers with up to 4-6 channels are suitable for solo musicians with XLR and jack inputs for instruments with stereo backing tracks and keyboards. But even small bands or home recording setups can achieve good and affordable results with medium-sized studio mixers.

Some mixers also have integrated effects such as reverb, delay, chorus, and many other effects that add the finishing touch to the live mix. For larger installations and professional touring musicians, mixers with 20 channels and more are available.