Best Home Recording Studio Package 2023
You want to start recording music at home right away so you want the best home recording studio package.
I’ve been recording my own music ever since I remember and released my first single in 2009. I still work from my home studio which I try to keep reasonably up to date by keeping the good and replacing the ugly. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite equipment I’ve used or still using in my home studio to produce music today.
Rode NT2-A Condenser Microphone Package
When it comes to recording, there’s no substitute for a nice clean sound. And of the microphones that I’ve used, my favorite has been the Australian built RØDE NT series, whose sound has been impressive in terms of clarity and neutralness. They also make them in neat packages that includes a shock mount, pop filter and an XLR cable. This is the first step for your audio signal in your home studio setup.
You can also check out my full Rode NT2-A review for more details.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface
The second stage in your audio signal involves processing the analog audio signal coming from the microphone to a digital signal that your computer can understand. That is why an audio interface is essential in your home studio setup. I personally have been very satisfied with my Scarlett 2i2, however, if you’re not planning on recording 2 XLR inputs at once, the Scarlett Solo should be more than enough. Realistically speaking, there’s not going to be a noticable qualatative difference between audio interfaces, so you’ll have to see what your needs are in terms of number and types of inputs.
AKAI Professional MPK Mini MK3 MIDI Keyboard
There’s no denying the flexibility or utility of a midi interface in our best home recording studio package. Being a guitarist first musician myself, I still do most of my songwriting and demo recordings on a midi-keyboard. With just 25 keys, the AKAI MK3 should have all the essentials for getting started with playing and recoring music. If you’re planning to use the same keyboard for live performances, you might want to invest in MIDI keyboard with more keys.
AKG K240 Studio Headphones
If you’re like me and get obsessive about every little sound and detail in your mix, then having a decent pair of headphones are another essential tool in your home studio setup. Not to mention you need them when recording any type of audio to keep the sound isolated to your ears (and away from the microphone). I got these when I first started recording music and since then I’ve spotted the Austrian AKG K240 in even professional grade studios. Luckily, they’re quite affordable so there’s really no reason not to have them in your home studio.
KRK Classic 5 Professional Studio Monitor
When it comes to music production, you can use headphones when you’re editing, arranging and generally being detail oriented, but I always recommend using loudspeakers to get a sense of how your sound will fill a room. I’ve used the KRK 5s for years and besides being slightly heavy on the low end, they get the job done masterfully. Something to bear in mind is the size of the room you’re placing your home studio setup in, for bigger rooms, you could get the larger monitors to match. Another thing to keep in mind when buying these is a lot of times the listed price is for a single speaker, so make sure to check beforehand what’s included.
Best Home Recording Studio Package Accessories
Apart from the equipment mentioned above, there are a few things you’ll need to set up the best home recording studio package. The most obvious of which is a working computer with a decent processor and memory. In the future, I’ll make a music-first PC build guide which I’ll link here. You’ll also need a DAW, which is the software used to record and produce music. There’s many to choose from with prices ranging from free to the thousands. Personally I use Ableton Live for recording & mixing, followed by iZotope Ozone for mastering.
Optionally, you might also need: cables, microphone accessories, and perhaps some acoustic treatment.