So you’re interested in making your own music. A cursory glance at the profile of the top musicians will reveal that you don’t need the best vocals in the world to sound mesmerizing. The trick to making good music and standing out from the crowd is to invest in the right music equipment. Commiting to the right tools, motivate and enables you to create quality tracks. You won’t need to spend a fortune to build a music studio but doing your research is key to getting value for money. That’s where we come in, let’s save you time and money.

If you already have a computer with modest components you’re 40% of the way there. For this guide, we won’t be discussing any cutting-edge equipment since they will break the bank. The following products will help you walk the fine line between affordability and quality.

Audio Interface – Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

While the sound card in your PC or laptop is one example of what an audio interface looks like, you’ll need something more ‘high-tech’ for excellent digital performance. For this guide, we’ve recommended the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. This neat little audio interface isn’t a top of the range model, it only has two outputs and inputs, but it gets the job done.

Pros

• The best preamps in the business
• Record 24-bit resolution with a sample rate of 96 kHz
• Easy on CPU resources
• Direct monitoring to let you hear your music in real-time

Cons

• Powered via a USB cord
• Lack of any MIDI inputs and outputs
• Can’t work on multiple instruments and vocals simultaneously

Monitors – The Mackie HR824

An average headphone won’t pick up on the tiny details in your vocals and could even distort the pitches you hear. This is why we recommend the Mackie HR824 monitors as it’s the perfect device for an ultra-flat frequency response, detailed highs, focused mids, and a tight bottom. The Mackie HR824 comes with 3 separate settings for optimal bass performance according to your room’s dimensions.

Pros

• Pumps out accurate sound with lots of volume without sacrificing clarity
• Clean and airy highs
• Can be mounted flush against the wall

Cons

• Not ideal for studio rooms with limited spaces
• The bass may be a bit too powerful for some users

Microphone – Audio Technica AT4040

It can be challenging to find the right microphone for making music. Some artists tend to use a variety of different microphones depending on their style. Our recommendation is to go with a large diaphragm condenser mic. For this list, we’ll be going with the perfect budget microphone: the Audio Technica AT4040. It is ideal for just about anything: vocals, piano, drum overheads, horns and even guitars.

Pros

• Remains flat and neutral
• Extremely versatile with numerous uses
• Durable build

Cons

• May not sound impressive with an average preamp
• May get distorted if you tweak it too hard

DAW – FL Studio

 To get the most out of your music equipment, you’ll need to work with a digital audio workstation (DAW). This helpful software is described by many experts as a ‘canvas’ upon which to make great music. You can get both paid and free DAWs. FL Studio is a great option with over 20 years of development to become a top option in the market. Some of the best producers in the world create, master and mix quality music using it. It is valuable for beginners and also for experts that want to tweak the minut details within synthesizers and need advanced layering options.

The FL Studio doesn’t take too much space in your hard drive and comes with a massive range of tools for music mixing, sound design, editing, and sound recording.

These select pieces of equipment will push you past the beginner stage and help you take control of your music recording journey. Check out our must buy microphones list too. Take the actions needed for success. Pick some of these quality products to make your next step in great music production. Enjoy the journey, enjoy the music.