If you’re on a mission to start your studio…

But the endless amount of information out there has left you paralyzed…

Unwilling to pull the trigger on any purchase for fear of making the wrongchoice…

I know just how you feel.

Because that’s how it was for me when I first got started.

And all I really wanted was for a trusted authority to tell me exactly what to get…

So I could quit all the boring research and actually start recording.

If you’ve found your way to this site, then I assume I’ve at least somewhat earned you’re trust…and you’re ready to hear my suggestions.

So here they are…

First off…the shopping list:

Now here’s why I chose all this stuff:

1. The Mac Mini 

While I always recommend starting with a computer you already own…

If you don’t have a computer yet, I suggest a Mac Mini.

Here’s why:

In my humble opinion (others may disagree), Macs are far more streamlined for music recording than PC’s.

And among the Mac options, this one is most affordable.  And that’s basically it.

• Click here to see current price.
• Click here to see user reviews.

2. Avid Fast Track Duo

To keep things simple for newbies…

I always suggest starting with a DAW/interface combo, rather than buying each one separately.

It saves you money, and makes both the purchase process and setup much easier. 

Now…

Among the top “beginner” interfaces on the market, my current personal favorite is the Avid Fast Track Duo, because:

• it’s cheap
• it uses Pro Tools, which has long been the industry standard for DAW’s
• it has just enough peripherals to set up a simple project studio. 

Check it out:

• Click here to see current price.
• Click here to see user reviews.

3. Rode NT1A/Shure SM57

To record the widest variety of acoustic instruments…

Your mic collection should ideally start with 1 dynamic, and 1 condenser.

The two I recommend are the Rode NT1A, and the Shure SM57.

• If you record mainly vocals or acoustic guitar, start with the NT1A.  
• If you record mainly electric guitaror percussion, start with the Shure SM57.

And if you can afford it, start with BOTH so you can record all 4.

• Shure SM57 – (price/reviews)
• Rode NT1A – (price/reviews)

4. Sennheiser HD280 

In order to monitor the backing tracks as your record…

You’re going to need at least 1 pair of closed back headphones to start.

While these types of headphones can range anywhere from $50-$500…

The “industry standard” options fortunately hover right around $100.

And the most popular model in that category is the Sennheiser HD280.  Check it out:

• Click here to see current price.
• Click here to see user reviews.

5. KRK Rokit 5

With studio monitors, there are tons of great high-end options if you can afford them…

But really only a few good ones that experts recommend for beginners.

And the KRK Rokit 5 is the model that almost everyone agrees is ideal for budget-minded home studios.

• Click here to see current price.
• Click here to see user reviews.

6. Cables

Now that you’ve got all the necessary hardware…

The next thing you’ll need is a few cables to connect everything together.

First, you’ll need ONE XLR cable to connect your microphone to the input of the Avid Fast Track DUO.

(However…I recommend getting 2 of these, since you have 2 mics, and 2 mic inputs).

Next, you’ll need TWO TRS-XLR cables to connect the outputs of the Avid Fast Track DUO to the inputs of the KRK Rokit 5’s.

Here are the specific cables I suggest:

• Hosa Pro REAN 25ft XLR
• Hosa Pro REAN 10ft TRS-XLR

7. On-Stage MS7701B 

And finally, to finish out your shopping list…

You’ll need a mic stand to hold your mics as your record.

The basic design I recommend is a tripod boom stand because it offers the greatest flexibility with positioning.

The specific model I recommend is the On-Stage MS7701Bbecause it boasts the best reviews among all the popular stands in the lower price ranges.

• Click here to see current price.
• Click here to see user reviews.

That’s It

There you go guys.  Buy all the stuff on this list, and you’ll be recording your first demo at home in no time.