Home Studio Setup on a Budget

You do not need thousands of pounds of gear to make professional-sounding music. The internet is full of gear acquisition syndrome — people who spend more time buying equipment than making music. Here is what you actually need to get started: a laptop or desktop computer, a DAW (many are free or have free versions), a decent pair of headphones, and an audio interface if you plan to record vocals or instruments.

For headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x or Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro are industry standards that cost around 100 to 130 pounds. They give you accurate sound reproduction so your mixes translate well to other systems. Avoid consumer headphones with heavy bass boost — they will lie to you about what your music actually sounds like.

An audio interface converts analogue sound (your voice, your guitar) into digital data your computer can work with. The Focusrite Scarlett Solo or Audient iD4 are both excellent starter interfaces at around 80 to 100 pounds. They come with decent preamps and low-latency drivers. If you are only making beats and not recording live sound, you can skip the interface for now and add it later.

For a microphone, a large-diaphragm condenser like the Rode NT1 or Audio-Technica AT2020 will handle vocals, acoustic instruments, and podcasting. Budget around 80 to 150 pounds. You will also need a mic stand, pop filter, and XLR cable — budget another 30 pounds for all three. A cheap reflection filter behind the mic helps reduce room reflections, but hanging a duvet behind you works almost as well for free.