Home » Recording

Recording Studio Equipment List 2023 – Bedroom to Professional

Juan Stansbury July 26, 2023

Want to set up a new studio or take your current studio to the next level, but don’t know which recording studio equipment you need?

You have come to the right post.

Because in today’s post, you will be guided to choosing the right studio equipment which matches your budget and your level of ambition for recording music.

This will all be accomplished by covering the 33 recording studio equipment available in today’s market.

Bedroom Studio

These days, all music production is done digitally.

Which means the first studio equipment you should have/get is a computer.

However, this should not be a concern if you already own a good and stable computer that has the right specifications to handle a digital audio workstation (DAW).

Of course, as you gain more experience with music production, you will have to invest in a new and better computer.

When the time comes to upgrade we recommend the classic: [amazon link=”B081FV1Y57″ title=”Macbook Air computer” link_icon=”amazon” /].

Microphones are important, but if you mostly work alone as a beatmaker, this should be the last studio equipment on your mind.

But for those who want to record their vocals or instruments, you should know that choosing the right microphone type can be very complicated.

We have therefore dedicated a whole post to give you a full understanding of the different microphone types available in the market to make your purchasing decision easier.

But since most people want to start recording their vocals, we recommend that you buy a [amazon link=”B003HGLPC6″ title=”large-diaphragm condenser microphone” link_icon=”amazon” /].

When it comes to buying headphones for your studio, you have two choices:

1. [amazon link=”B00HVLUR86″ title=”Closed back headphones” link_icon=”amazon” /] (which is good for monitoring and recording)
2. [amazon link=”B00DCXZY1W” title=”Open back headphones” link_icon=”amazon” /] (which is good for mixing and mastering)

If you are just starting out with music production and are planning to record vocals and instruments, should your first headphone be with a closed back (you can still use them to mix, but keep the volume low).

As you become more advanced with music production, it would be ideal to get a pair of open-back headphones to maximize your mixing and mastering potential.

The digital audio workstation, also known as DAW, is the application software used for recording, editing and producing the audio files on your computer.

This is, therefore, a very important program to have installed on your computer.

There is a large selection of [amazon link=”B07C895FTM” title=”digital audio workstations ” link_icon=”amazon” /].

Choosing the right digital audio workstations depends on your music style, computer, and budget.

Whether you are working as a professional, making beats or recording instruments.

The [amazon link=”B07QR6Z1JB” title=”audio interface” link_icon=”amazon” /] is an important piece of recording studio equipment because it allows you to amplify, fine-tune, and record live audio with your computer.

By providing power and plug connectors for various cables and essential recording studio equipment like the microphones and headphones.

There are many great brands out there that produce audio interfaces, but for beginners, we recommend that you go with Focusrite Scarlett Solo as they are very affordable and beginner-friendly.

Studio monitors are one of the most important and recommended equipment for playbacks in the studio.

Many professional studios have studio monitors for several thousand dollars.

However, there are many great affordable studio monitors available.

We highly recommend the classic Yamaha HS7 for a bedroom and home studio.

Microphone stands are available in several shapes and sizes designed for specific tasks.

It is therefore very important that you are careful in your purchase of microphone stands.

Make sure you buy a [amazon link=”B003CLIPHO” title=”microphone stand” link_icon=”amazon” /] at reasonable price from a reputable music manufacturer brand that can last for several years.

The last thing you want is a microphone stand that breaks after a few months of use or is not strong enough to hold your microphone.

We recommend the industry standard Samson MK-10 which has received many good reviews from professionals.

But the good thing about audio cables is that they are quite easy to buy and you don’t have to spend a lot of money in the beginning.

If you are a beginner this is what would you need:

1. A balanced XLR cable to connect your microphone to the audio interface.
2. Two cables to connect your audio interface to your studio monitors

The audio cables should come with the product itself so there should be no concern.

It is difficult to find a recording studio that does not have a pop filter.

Pop filters are must-have studio equipment as they help you eliminate the noisy sounds (the annoying pop and click sounds) that occur in your vocal recordings.

There is a large selection of pop filters available on the market. Choosing the right pop filter should not be challenging.

However, make sure that you buy a filter at a reasonable price that can last for several years and is produced by a reputable brand.

We recommend [amazon link=”B0006OCG20″ title=”Shure PS-6″ link_icon=”amazon” /] which is a solid microphone pop filter produced by a reputable microphone brand.

Bedroom Studio To Home Studio Upgrades

Studio chairs are important to have in your studio, especially if you plan to work for several hours.

When buying a [amazon link=”B01N5OCLIJ” title=”studio chair” link_icon=”amazon” /], make sure that you get one that can last you a long time, is comfortable and has good back support.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a great chair, there are plenty of good ones out there for under $250.

If you’ve tried using a DAW, you probably know how frustrating it can be to create the simplest melody or rhythm with just a keyboard and mouse.

Not only is it frustrating, but it also takes all the fun out of producing beats.

But don’t worry because this is where [amazon link=”B00IJ6QAO2″ title=”MIDI keyboards ” link_icon=”amazon” /] are especially useful as they give you the opportunity to express yourself by giving you something physical to touch with your hands.

There are several different midi keyboards out there you can get one with knobs, pads, buttons, and keys from 25 all the way up to 88.

Whether you plan to set up a bedroom, home, semi-pro or pro studio.

The first thing you should have invested in is a new desk or workstation (if you don’t already have one).

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on [amazon link=”B088K34YM4″ title=”studio workstation” link_icon=”amazon” /] in the beginning, a regular desk and studio monitor stand is more than fine.

But when you have reached the point where you want to buy a studio workstation, make sure that you carefully research and plan everything out because a studio workstation cost a lot of money, takes up a lot of space and it can be very difficult to setup.

Acoustic panels are sound-absorbing panels that are mounted on the walls or ceiling to control the sound waves in the room.

That often occurs in cubical rooms where the sound reflections bounce back and forth between the parallel walls.

Be aware that setting up acoustic panels is an incredibly exhausting process.

Bass traps are another sound-absorbing equipment that is set up in the corners.

It is therefore very important that if you are considering doing acoustic treatment to your room that you first start with the bass traps.

If you want to improve your sound quality in a very short time then you should check out studio monitors isolation pads.

Studio monitor isolation pads are small pads that prevent the vibrations from affecting sound quality by creating a sonic separation between the studio monitors and the hard surface they are resting on, improving the accuracy of your playbacks.

Studio monitor isolation pads are easy to set up and they can be purchased at a very affordable price that is hard to resist.

Reflection filters are a cheaper and easier acoustic alternative to setting up acoustic panels and bass traps in your studio.

But the disappointing thing about [amazon link=”B00GR9W1MS” title=”reflection filters ” link_icon=”amazon” /] is that they are only suitable for vocal recording.

Which, means that for those who want to record more than just their voice, they would have to undergo a lot of hassle with doing acoustic treatment to their studio.

Reflection filters may not be as effective as a fully treated room, but it gets the job done and works perfectly for those who do not want to spend much time and money on acoustic treatment.

If you want to free up some desk space or can’t afford to buy a studio workstation.

An option would be to buy a pair of studio monitor stands, which allows you to adjust the height, angle, and distance so you can get the most accurate playback.

Before you make your purchasing decision, make sure that you do your research, read the reviews and buy from credible brands.

The last thing you want is to spend money on weak studio monitor stands that can’t hold your monitors.

The last piece of acoustic equipment that you can add to your studio is diffusers.

Which are designed to reduce sound waves and echoes by reflecting the sound waves back to your studio scattered in different directions.

Some people have stated that [amazon link=”B07MGVZNRX” title=”diffusers” link_icon=”amazon” /] are not that effective in smaller studios.

And since they are quite expensive and difficult to set up, many home studio owners have chosen to omit them and stick to the other acoustic equipment available.

If you are a beatmaker then you know how important it is to have plugins these days.

Plugins are the software audio tools you use in your DAW for mixing, mastering, synthesizing, effects, sampling and more.

Most DAWs have their own set of plugins already built into the program which are great for creating professional sound.

However, most people choose to buy third-party plugins to find their own unique sound and style.

Plugins are available in all kinds of categories and they can be purchased for hundreds of dollars.

CHECK THE PRICE

Home Studio To Semi-Professional Studio Upgrades

Rather than using multiple electrical outlets in the room to power your studio equipment.

A [amazon link=”B00145EVJ6″ title=”power conditioner” link_icon=”amazon” /] gives you the opportunity to consolidate all the power for all your studio equipment down to a single outlet.

In addition, it also comes with a lot of benefits, which consist of filtering the power by using technologies such as surge protection, voltage regulation and noise filtering, which helps your studio equipment perform better and live longer.

Power conditioners are a very common piece of equipment found In a lot of studio racks in professional studios.

You have decided that you want extra input channels for your microphones.

This is where the microphone preamp comes in handy.

A [amazon link=”B01MSWINCR” title=”microphone preamp” link_icon=”amazon” /] is a device that amplifies the low-level microphone signals to a line-level so it can be processed by other recording equipment.

Microphone preamps are available in several types, they can be bought as both single and multi-channels making it a very versatile piece of equipment.

Most audio interfaces have a built-in preamp.

However, if you want to connect multiple microphones at the same time, an external multi-channel microphone preamp would be something you should look into.

As you would need extra input channels for your microphones, you probably also need extra output channels for your headphones so that each artist can monitor themselves.

This is where the headphone amp comes in handy.

A [amazon link=”B000KIPT30″ title=”headphone amp” link_icon=”amazon” /] is a device that amplifies the low voltage audio signals to a sufficient level so that it can be converted to sound waves by the speakers in your headphones.

Which makes the playback of your headphones sound a lot better.

Headphones amps come in various sizes making this a very versatile piece of equipment for recording studios.

A [amazon link=”B0002NRTL8″ title=”studio rack mount” link_icon=”amazon” /] is a shelf with rack trails on its side, which allow you to mount your studio gear.

This is a great piece of equipment to have if you own or plan to buy the following:

• External microphone preamp
• External headphone amp
• Power conditioner
• Audio Interface
• Monitor management system

Furthermore, it is also great at keeping things organized, clean and allows for easy access to your gears.

These days, a lot of producers tend to record their drums with a DAW Software and MIDI Keyboard.

But if you are someone who has been playing drums for their whole life and is unable to have a full set of acoustic drums in your studio.

Getting yourself an [amazon link=”B07HYTRL7D” title=”electronic drum kit” link_icon=”amazon” /] will be a great investment.

Getting a [amazon link=”B01N21DGR2″ title=”studio monitor controller” link_icon=”amazon” /] can be very beneficial as it allows you to compare your playbacks on various monitors.

So you can be confident that your playbacks are going to sound the same on all monitors.

A studio monitor controller is a device that allows the producers or sound engineer with a push of a button to easily switch between the monitors,  which enhances the workflow tremendously.

If you are someone who would be devastated if you lost all your work to power interruptions.

Getting an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) would be a great investment.

An [amazon link=”B000FBK3QK” title=”uninterruptible power supply (UPS)” link_icon=”amazon” /] is a power supply that supplies emergency power to your devices when the main input source fails.

Unlike other recording studio equipment, the UPS can be added to your studio at any time, whether you are a beginner or pro.

However, we would only recommend that you invest in this equipment if

1. You often experience power interruptions in your area.
2. You want to add an extra layer of insurance to your studio.

Buying this equipment will only benefit you long term as a professional studio owner, music producer or artist.

If you want to improve your music production workflow, then you should check out the [amazon link=”B01LWJJNCN” title=”DAW control surface” link_icon=”amazon” /].

Which is an analog device that allows you to control a digital audio workstation (DAW) or other digital audio application by assigning traditional analog mixing console, faders, knobs, and buttons to parameters in your digital software.

Some controllers even allow you to control the sequencer while recording and provide remote control of record, playback and song position.

However, since modern music production is done digitally with keyboards and mouse the DAW control surface has become very unpopular and for some people useless.

So getting this equipment really comes down to personal preference.

If you wish to minimize the unwanted noise from long extended cables like the guitars.

Getting yourself a [amazon link=”B0002GIRJI” title=”direct box” link_icon=”amazon” /] is going to be a great investment for you.

A direct box is an electronic device used to convert an (unbalanced) line-level or high-output to a (balanced) microphone level or low impedance input. Which eliminates all the noise completely.

Di boxes can be found both as passive and active.

Most audio interfaces and microphone preamps have built-in di boxes, which means that you may not need it.

However, if you need more DI inputs, this is exactly the equipment that you should get.

If you are someone that finds themselves having a lot of cables lying around all clustered up.

You might want to invest in a [amazon link=”B00119VI9Q” title=”snake cable” link_icon=”amazon” /] to clean up all that mess and make it more organized so you never have to spend time tracing back your cables to find out which equipment it is connected to.

A snake cable is simply a piece of equipment that allows you to combine several individual cables into one and it is available for several cable types.

Semi-Professional Studio To Professional Studio Upgrades

The master clock is another device found within virtually every digital recording device.

The [amazon link=”B00ZLA82HW” title=”master clock” link_icon=”amazon” /] is a device that provides that timing information which allows the individual digital “samples” to be perfectly in sync.

Most home recording studio setups don’t need an external master clock as the audio interface will always be the leading clock.

However, if you have a lot of studio gear and you are experiencing a lot of clicks and pops in your recordings, you may want to consider an external master clock to eliminate those issues.

Some people have stated that they have experienced an improvement in their sound quality when using a high-end master clock.

The [amazon link=”B0734BD231″ title=”digital converter” link_icon=”amazon” /] is an electronic device that serves two purposes:

1. Converting the digital signal into an analog signal (D/A).
2. Converting the analog signal into a digital signal (A/D)

The digital converter is a device that can found as a feature in any modern audio interface.

Making them, kind of look useless, however, you will in a lot of pro studios find a high-end external digital converter, which provides the absolute best conversion money can buy.

If you have a lot of cables and have found yourself in a situation where you have to track down a cable to find the source of a noise problem.

Getting a [amazon link=”B000CCIVCA” title=”cable tester” link_icon=”amazon” /] will be a great investment as it allows you to find the source of your noise problem by testing the strength and connectivity of the cable.

So you can quickly replace the cable causing the noise problem

But if you are someone who wants to do acoustic treatment to your studio, then you should definitely get yourself this handy equipment.

As it helps you measure the acoustic sound pressure level in your studio.

So… What Do You Think?

As you can see there is a dozen recording studio equipment out there that you can buy to build your own studio setup.

These are obviously not all the equipment available, especially not for the pro studios, but these are some of the more important equipment that someone would need to record high-quality audio.

We hope that you enjoyed this long list post and we also hope that you found some great equipment that you never thought of adding to your studio setup 🙂