FREE Shopping List

This Shopping List is a guide to the best music recording gear available to get your home studio set up on a limited budget, and still get great recordings.

Knowing that you may not have a huge wallet, I have searched for and found the widest selection of name-brand equipment at guaranteed lowest prices.

You can purchase over 125,000 different products over at Zzounds 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Check it out!

Now, have fun looking at the following list of essential home recording equipment, and at the bottom you can grab a FREE PDF version so you can print it out. Don’t drool on your keyboard!

Digital audio workstation software:
Choose your recording software first. A few to consider are Apple Logic Pro, Cakewalk Sonar, Digidesign(Avid) Pro Tools LE, Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) Digital Performer or Steinberg Cubase.

Audio interface: Your selection depends on the number of sound sources you intend to record simultaneously. It should match that number, and have both microphone inputs as well as line inputs. NOTE: If you choose to use Digidesign (Avid) Pro Tools, you will be required to use a compatible audio interface.

Microphones: You’ll need at least one professional quality microphone, which may be either a dynamic or a capacitor model. Two microphones are better, and choosing one dynamic and one capacitor microphone will provide a nice contrast in sound qualities. However, two identical microphones are preferred for stereo. If vocals are your primary focus, then a large-diaphragm vacuum tube capacitor microphone would be your best choice.

Microphone preamplifier: If you get a well-known audio interface, the microphone preamplifiers in it should be sufficiently accurate for professional requirements. However, you might also consider buying a vacuum tube preamplifier for “character”.

Microphone stand: Select a sturdy model with a boom that will not sag during use.

Microphone cable: One for each microphone, with XLR connectors, and 5 to 10 meters in length.

Computer: Since you’ve chosen your software already, you must choose a computer that is compatible with that DAW software. Also, if at all possible, this computer should be dedicated to your studio and not used for any other purpose.

Plug-ins: At first, the standard processing and effect plug-ins that come with your digital audio workstation software will be enough. Only after you master them, should you consider whether you need additional plug-ins. One exception might be a good convolution reverb plug-in.

Software instruments: Choose according to your own musical requirements among synthesizer, sampler and sample replay instruments.

Sample libraries: Get to know the library that comes with your software sampler first. Only consider third-party libraries if you think your library isn’t fulfilling your needs – keeping in mind that the best orchestra libraries are very expensive.

External hardware: Your software will have a good choice of plug-ins that you should get to know. Then, before purchasing hardware, you should consider third party plug-ins. They’ll be a lot less expensive than equivalent hardware devices. Next, look into getting a vacuum-tube compressor. And finally, go ahead and look at other pieces of hardware.

Control surface: Spend money on a control surface only if you just have to have physical faders under your fingers. Remember, a control surface won’t add any functionality to your DAW software.

Standalone workstation: A standalone workstation might be better for you if you don’t like working with computers. Just as with an audio interface, pick one with enough inputs to record as many instruments simultaneously as you need. And don’t forget to consider the number of tracks.

Headphones: Open headphones produce a better sound quality, but keep in mind that they also leak sound, whereas a pair of headphones that completely encloses the ears is probably better for monitoring music while recording through a microphone.

Headphone Amplifier: Unless you’re using more than two pairs of headphones at the same time, a headphone amplifier is not necessary. You can simply use a headphone splitter adaptor for two pair.

Monitor loudspeakers: Pick a pair of near-field studio monitors from a manufacturer who sells into into the professional audio industry.

Power amplifier: You don’t need a power amplifier if your monitors are “active”. If you’ve decided to use “passive” monitors, then you should choose a power amplifier of at least 100 watts per channel. That should be sufficient for a typical home recording studio.