Studio gear recommendations for beginners

So, I guess you’re looking for some good, affordable gear to help you create your music. Whether you want to record a huge, nasty Metal track or a soft, intimate ballad, the essentials are the same; and you don’t need to spend a fortune to get them.

I’ve put together a list of equipment that can help you turn all the noise in your head into reality. If you purchase through these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you… so it’s a win-win.

If you’d like a thorough explanation of why I recommend these pieces of gear, feel free to check out my blog. Otherwise, you’ll find the list below.

I hope you have a great time making amazing music! Keep it heavy!

Audio Interface:

This will be your main equipment to translate the analog sound into the digital world. Magic, right?

• PreSonus Studio 24c 2x2: https://amzn.to/4aLhn26

• Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen: https://amzn.to/3OED636

• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen: https://amzn.to/3Oeu0tV

• Universal Audio Volt 1: https://amzn.to/4aOnToM

• Solid State Logic SSL 2 MKII: https://amzn.to/4qCCJDM

• Audient iD4 MKII: https://amzn.to/4cosLSL

Microphone:

In case that you need to record vocals or an acoustic guitar, a good mic won’t let you down. By the way, if you don’t have a treated room (and you probably don’t), just buy a dynamic mic instead of a condenser.

• Dynamic - Shure SM58: https://amzn.to/461JtDF

• Dynamic - Sennheiser E 835: https://amzn.to/4ra6U6d

• Dynamic - Mackie EM-Series: https://amzn.to/4rg8Mu4

• Dynamic - SE Electronics V7: https://amzn.to/4bSX6c6

• Condenser - RØDE NT1: https://amzn.to/4cr7IPq

• Condenser - Audio-Technica AT2020: https://amzn.to/4crm8z8

• Condenser - AKG P220: https://amzn.to/4qyy2dQ

• Condenser - Mackie EM-Series: https://amzn.to/4rLQlgC

Studio headphones & Monitors:

You need to truly hear yourself and your music to produce quality tracks, so you’ll need more than just your earbuds. I should also mention that many people insist you should treat your room before buying studio monitors; I beg to differ. Even if your room isn’t treated, studio monitors can still get you pretty far and help you put together at least a decent demo mix.

• Shure SRH440A: https://amzn.to/4qKCWF2

• Audio-Technica ATH-M50X: https://amzn.to/3MbHHt0

• PreSonus Eris 3.5: https://amzn.to/40725hZ

Computer:

Most likely, you already have one, but just in case, here’s my recommendation. These are of course entry level laptops, but they will suffice your needs before you get heavy into production:

• MacBook Air 13-inch: https://amzn.to/4qArUSv

• ASUS V16: https://amzn.to/4tALDnJ

External Drives:

There is a high chance that you will get out of storage at some point. Also, it is a good idea to backup all of your files every now and then. For those cases, I have selected a couple of recommendations, but as with most of the things in this list, any will do:

• Samsung T9: https://amzn.to/4rYzvvn

• Samsung T7: https://amzn.to/3Mx5Da8

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation):

Any DAW will do, but if you’re into metal, I’d recommend learning either of these:

• Reaper: REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits

• Cubase: Cubase: Music Production Software – DAW | Steinberg

• Pro Tools: Pro Tools - Music Software - Avid

• Logic Pro (Mac Only): Logic Pro - Apple

I actually would avoid FL Studio, Reason and Ableton in Metal production, but if you want to learn them, go ahead! Every DAW is a powerful machine.

Hopefully, you can get some items from this list and start with your music journey… it’s one of the most rewarding paths you can take in your life. If you’d like to learn more about recording your own music and you’re especially interested in Metal, subscribe to my e-mail list below! You’ll receive a goldmine of information: I share everything I’ve learnt along the way, so that we all can connect through music and leave a mark in the world.