Home studio: the essential gear to get started

Recording your music at home has never been so accessible. With a computer, a good pair of headphones and a suitable microphone, you can produce quality recordings in your bedroom. Here is the essential equipment to start your home studio without blowing your budget.

Monitoring headphones: hearing the truth

Forget Bluetooth earbuds or “bass boost” headphones: to record and mix, you need neutral headphones that reproduce the sound as it really is. The SENNHEISER HD-480-PRO offers this fidelity: honest bass, precise mids, detailed treble. Comfortable for long sessions.

The microphone: capturing your sound

To record a voice or an acoustic instrument, a dynamic microphone such as the SENNHEISER E935 is robust and versatile. To pick up a stringed instrument directly, a contact pickup such as the Shadow SH-711 plugged into your audio interface gives excellent results without any fuss.

The keyboard as your central instrument

A keyboard with a USB MIDI connection such as the MEDELI AKX10 can serve both as an instrument and as a MIDI controller to drive virtual sounds in your recording software. It is a true portable studio.

Multi-effects pedals: recording guitar

Modern pedalboards have a USB output for recording straight into the computer. The VALETON GP-180 acts as amp, effects unit and audio interface in a single device. Plugged in over USB, you record with the sound of your presets without any extra equipment.

The workspace

You do not need a dedicated room: a quiet corner, a stable desk and a pair of headphones are enough to get started. The advantage of a headphone-based home studio is that you can work at any hour without disturbing anyone.

Where to start?

A pair of monitoring headphones + a microphone or a pedalboard with a USB output: that is the minimum for making your first recordings. The rest will come with practice and according to your needs. Contact us if you would like a personalised setup based on your instrument and your budget.