Timothy Catania
Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be the next big indie musician? Or maybe you’re joining the wave of podcasts that’s taking over the internet? Check out our top picks for your bedroom studio setup.
So, you’ve decided this music gig seems it’s worth a shot. Write some poetry, make some noise, and, hey presto, you’re a musician now!
Or, maybe you think you and your best buds have the most interesting conversations ever, and it’s criminal that the rest of the world doesn’t get to hear them.
Sigh. If only it was that easy.
If you want to try your hand at making music or recording vocals, we’ve curated this list of studio equipment for the budding bedroom musician. No more daydreaming, it’s about to get serious.
The bare necessities of a bedroom studio setup
These are the items we recommend for anyone building a studio in their bedroom — whether you’re mixing beats or inviting your buddies over to dethrone Joe Rogan.
Interface: Focusrite Scarlett
The first thing you’ll need for your setup is an audio interface. This nifty little box from Focusrite is what will allow you to connect your microphone or instrument to your computer, to use in your digital audio workstation (DAW).
The Scarlett comes with 2 instrument inputs and 2 line inputs for your mics, which should cover your bases whether you’re running a one-man band operation or recording voiceovers. It also comes packaged with all the software you need to get started using it, including basic versions of Pro Tools and Ableton, two of the most popular DAWs on the market.
Grab yourself a Focusrite Scarlett here.
Microphone: Shure SM57
A classic, and an absolute workhorse mic. We’re recommending the Shure SM57 as it’s perfect for mic-ing up your guitar amp, but also functions well for recording vocals (which, in fact, it was designed for). The link we’ve provided includes some accessories to help you get started, such as an XLR cable and a handy case.
If you won’t be recording any instruments, you might prefer the Shure SM58, which has a built-in pop filter for cleaner vocals.
Drop your vocals here and buy the SM57 on Amazon.
Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M40x
Of course, you’ll need a way to listen to your project. These Audio-Technica headphones should serve you well. Sporting a flat frequency response so you can get accurate playback on your audio and an over-ear design for more comfort when wearing them for long mixing sessions, the ATH-M40x was designed with budget recording in mind.
Mind you, these are not designed for enjoying your favorite tunes. They were made with the studio in mind, so they’re lacking in the bass boost everyone craves nowadays. Clarity is king here, not volume.
Keep the sound crystal clear and buy here.
Fancy yourself as a musician, do you?
If you’re here to make podcasts from home, then the last three essential items for a solid bedroom studio setup are enough to get started.
If you’re still reading, we have to assume you’re looking to make music. We’ve got you covered, whether you want to produce the next huge techno track, or just record some guitar tracks to send over to a friend.
Guitar: Squier Affinity Telecaster
The Telecaster: an old design, but still as relevant as ever. This axe can deliver country twang when called upon, rock grit if needed, and has a sparkly clean tone that we can’t get enough of.
You won’t get a whammy bar or locking tuners on this model, but you don’t need all those frills. We believe in you.
Two single-coil pickups, a maple neck, and a string-through bridge are all you need for your first guitar. If you’ve picked up the Focusrite Scarlett we recommended earlier, you won’t even need an amp!
Get shredding and purchase this Telecaster here.
MIDI controller: AKAI Pro MPK Mini
With 25 velocity-sensitive keys and 8 velocity-sensitive beat pads, 8 knobs, and a thumbstick, this thing looks like the controls of a tiny spaceship. That’s good though, as the MPK Mini is an incredibly useful tool for controlling your DAW.
Chop up beats with the drum pads or record ambient synths with the help of the piano keys — this thing can do whatever you throw at it.
Keep in mind this is just a controller, technically not an instrument. A MIDI controller cannot produce sound unless hooked up to a DAW. Luckily, most DAWs have many synth patches built in, so once you load up one of the two that came with your interface, you’re golden.
An essential tool to your set up here (available on Amazon).
Synth: Stylophone
This one might look like a joke but hear us out.
On a budget, you’re just not going to find an impressive synth. You’re better off using your DAW and a MIDI controller like the one we just showed you.
But if you’re not afraid of having some fun, you can pick up a Stylophone. This is straight out of the ‘60s and sounds kind of funny, but is completely capable of adding that little something that was missing from your latest work-in-progress track.
The Stylophone has 20 keys, 3 voices, and a vibrato mode. Operation is a bit odd, as you have to touch the attached stylus to the keys, completing the circuit to make a sound. That just makes it all the more enjoyable.
You’re ready for a bedroom studio setup. We’re so proud of you.
With all or some of the items on this list, you’re on track to turning that fever-dream project of yours into a reality. Pro tip: make sure you’ve got all the cables and connectors you need — we’ve made that mistake about a million times.
If you do end up making music thanks to this article, don’t forget we’ve had your back since day zero. Reach out on our social channels — we’d love to hear what you’re cooking up.
Looking for drum machines?
We’ve got a whole list of the 10 best drum machine clones as recommended by Electronic Music Malta.
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