What to Buy First and What Can Wait

Don’t Buy the Whole Store

You decide to start making music at home.

You open a music store website.

Microphones.

Preamps.

Monitors.

Cables.

Plugins.

Acoustic panels.

A shiny synth.

Your cart fills up.

Your bank account empties.

And you still haven’t made a song.

Do you need all of it to start?

No.

Do you need a few things?

Yes.

Also read: The Home Studio Setup Guide: How to Get the Best Sound Out of Your Room

Quick Summary

Buy in this order:

👉 1. A computer and a DAW — you probably own the computer already

👉 2. An audio interface — gets sound in and out

👉 3. Closed-back headphones — to track and check your mix

👉 4. One microphone, a stand and a cable — if you sing or play acoustic instruments

👉 5. A MIDI keyboard — if you make beats or play software instruments

Later:

👉 Studio monitors

👉 Acoustic treatment

👉 More mics, preamps and plugins

Start small.

Make songs.

Let the songs tell you what to buy next.

1. 💻 The Computer and the DAW

Your DAW is where everything happens.

Recording.

Editing.

Beats.

Mixing.

Many audio interfaces and MIDI keyboards come with a free version of a DAW, like Ableton Live Lite.

Try that first.

Upgrade when you hit its limits.

Also read: The Best DAWs for Beginners in 2026 💻

2. 🔌 The Audio Interface

Your computer’s headphone jack isn’t built for recording.

An audio interface is.

For most beginners, two inputs is enough.

One for a mic.

One for a guitar or a second mic.

Look for:

👉 At least one mic input with phantom power (48V)

👉 A headphone output with its own volume knob

👉 Direct monitoring

Also read: The Best Audio Interfaces for Beginners

3. 🎧 Headphones

Get closed-back headphones first.

They don’t leak sound into your mic while you track.

They also let you mix late at night without waking anyone up.

Open-back headphones and monitors can come later.

Also read: Should I Mix on Headphones or Speakers?

⭐️ Download my Free Music Production Guides or take my free Ableton Live Course ⭐️

4. 🎤 One Microphone

You don’t need a mic locker.

You need one mic you know well.

A dynamic mic is forgiving in an untreated room.

It picks up less of your room and more of you.

A condenser mic hears more detail.

And more of your room.

Don’t forget:

👉 A mic stand

👉 An XLR cable

👉 A pop filter for vocals

Also read: Shure SM7B vs SM57: Which Mic Should I Buy For My Home Studio? 🎤

5. 🎹 A MIDI Keyboard

If you make beats or use software instruments, get a small MIDI keyboard.

25 or 49 keys is a great start.

Pads are a bonus for drums.

If you only sing and play guitar, this one can wait.

⚔️ Buy Now vs. Buy Later

Also read: How to Set Up Your Home Studio Speakers

⚖️ Too Much vs. Too Little

Buy too much…

And you spend your time learning gear instead of making music.

Buy too little…

And you can’t get a clean sound in or out.

Just right is enough gear to finish a song.

🥷 Buy Gear for the Song You’re Making

Step 1

Use what you already have.

Your computer.

A free DAW.

Any headphones.

Step 2

Add an audio interface, closed-back headphones and one mic.

Step 3

Finish three songs.

Then ask:

What stopped me?

Buy that.

Only that.

⭐️ Download my Free Magic EQ settings Guide ⭐️

⭐️ Download my Free Magic Reverb settings Guide ⭐️

#protools #daw #homestudio #recordingschool #recording #musicproduction

Also read: 

How to Start Your Own Online Business Teaching Music

Hey, I’m Futch – Music Production Coach and Ableton Certified Trainer

Learn how to make your first song and beat in Ableton Live with my

FREE 90-minute Ableton Live course

I’ve been teaching audio engineering and music production for 35 years.⭐️ 

Check out my new online music production program: Music Production Ninja…