Hey guys! welcome back to my blog. If you are an aspiring producer on a budget, you have come to the right place. As you may have already discovered, music equipment in general is very expensive. But fear not! I have prepared a special guide for you. As my friends would know I am a very cheap person, so I tend to find the cheapest deals within reason of course. But anyways here are my Home Studio Essentials: On a Budget.
1. A Laptop
Your computer will be the heart of your studio. Generally speaking, a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM, running on a Core i5 processor is a good start.
I believe a MacBook Pro is best for music production. But in recent years the MacBook lineup has become sparse in port selections. So I suggest getting a MacBook Pro Mid 2012, That particular laptop still has a good selection of ports and the ability to be upgraded if needed. This laptop can be found for less than $600.
2. A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
Your DAW is the software that you use for recording, editing, mixing and generally to produce music.
If you followed my last step, you now have a “brand new” MacBook Pro which comes with its own free basic music production software called GarageBand. GarageBand is great for beginners, but if you need more features you can upgrade to Logic Pro X for $199. But, at the time of writing this blog you can get a free trial for 90 days! - Remember I told you I find deals? haha
Another DAW to consider is Pro Tools or Pro Tools First the Basic free version. This DAW is Considered the industry standard. This DAW is very expensive but the catch with this one is that you can get it for about $29 a month or use the free version.
3. Audio Interface
An audio interface is like an external soundcard that helps you record analog audio (microphones & instruments) into digital audio on your computer. It also ensures better audio quality for tracking and mixing.
You’ll need an audio interface if you plan on doing any type of recording like vocal recording, guitars and as well as capturing live performances.
Some of the most popular interfaces for beginners are:
4. Midi Controller
A MIDI controller enables you to play virtual instruments using keys and pads, while adding musical expressions with the use of effect knobs, pitch bend wheels and other controls.
You can start with these affordable options:
5. Microphone
There are many kinds of microphones for different studio needs.
For starters, including a dynamic or condenser microphone on your list will be valuable if you’ll do a lot of vocal and instrument recording.
You can start with these affordable options:
6. Studio Monitors
To give you the most accurate and transparent monitoring, studio monitors are one of the most essential items that you cannot skip in order to help you create better mixes.
These are some of the most popular ones to check out:
I hope that with these few suggestions you can do great things with your music!
Thank you for reading my blog!
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