Best Gear

Best Gear for Home Studios

The equipment I actually use at Power Chord Studio – tested, proven, recommended

After years of testing gear, making mistakes, and learning what actually works in a home studio environment, these are the pieces of equipment I trust with every session. No marketing fluff – just the gear that delivers professional results without breaking the bank.

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🎛️ Audio Interfaces

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) – $120

The gold standard for bedroom producers. Clean preamps, rock-solid drivers, and enough headroom for any home studio. I’ve used this on countless sessions and it never disappoints.

Best for: Solo artists, singer-songwriters, simple beat making
Why it works: Bulletproof reliability, great preamps, perfect for getting started
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PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 – $99

If you’re on a tight budget but need professional results. Slightly noisier than the Scarlett but half the price with the same core functionality.

Best for: Ultra-budget home studios, backup interface
Why it works: Gets the job done without compromise where it matters
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🎤 Microphones

Audio-Technica AT2020 – $99

The microphone that launched a thousand home studios. Crisp, clear, and forgiving enough for untreated rooms. Still my go-to for vocals that need to cut through a mix.

Best for: Vocals, acoustic guitar, room mics
Why it works: Sounds expensive, priced reasonably, works in any room
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Shure SM57 – $109

The most versatile microphone ever made. I use this on guitar amps, snare drums, vocals, and pretty much anything that needs attitude and character.

Best for: Guitar amps, drums, loud sources, backup vocal mic
Why it works: Indestructible, sounds great on everything, industry standard
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🔊 Studio Monitors

KRK Rokit 5 G4 – $149 each

Honest, revealing monitors that tell you exactly what’s in your mix. The bass response is tight and the highs are clear without being harsh.

Best for: Mixing, critical listening, small to medium rooms
Why it works: Accurate sound, affordable, great build quality
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Yamaha HS5 – $199 each

The white cone classic. These monitors are unforgiving – they’ll show you every flaw in your mix, which is exactly what you want.

Best for: Professional mixing, larger rooms, critical listening
Why it works: Studio standard, brutally honest, reliable
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🎧 Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x – $149

The headphones that changed home studio monitoring. Accurate, comfortable, and they fold up for travel. I’ve mixed entire albums on these.

Best for: Mixing, tracking, reference monitoring, travel
Why it works: Industry standard for a reason – they just work
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Sony MDR-7506 – $109

Old school studio headphones that reveal every detail. Bright, analytical, and built to last decades.

Best for: Critical listening, editing, professional monitoring
Why it works: Time-tested professional standard, ultra-detailed
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💻 Essential Plugins

FabFilter Pro-Q 3 – $179

The EQ that does everything. Surgical precision when you need it, musical warmth when you want it. Worth every penny.

Best for: All mixing tasks, learning EQ, professional results
Why it works: Sounds incredible, teaches you while you use it, industry standard
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Waves Renaissance Bundle – $29 (on sale)

Six plugins that cover 90% of your mixing needs. The compressor alone is worth the price.

Best for: Complete mixing solution, beginners, budget builds
Why it works: Proven algorithms, always on sale, covers all bases
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Native Instruments Komplete – $599

Everything you need for production – synths, samples, effects, and more. The Kontakt library alone justifies the cost.

Best for: Beat making, composition, complete production setup
Why it works: Massive value, professional quality, regular updates
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🎹 MIDI Controllers

Akai MPK Mini MK3 – $99

Tiny controller, massive functionality. Perfect for bedroom producers who need keys and pads without taking up desk space.

Best for: Small spaces, beat making, basic key work
Why it works: Compact, well-built, everything you need in a tiny package
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Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S49 – $599

The Ferrari of MIDI controllers. Perfect integration with software, beautiful keybed, endless functionality.

Best for: Serious production, software integration, playing keys
Why it works: Premium feel, smart features, works perfectly with any DAW
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💡 Why These Recommendations?

Every piece of gear here has earned its place through real studio time. I don’t recommend anything I wouldn’t use on a paying session. These aren’t the cheapest options or the most expensive – they’re the sweet spot where price meets performance.

Your home studio should inspire you to create, not frustrate you with technical problems. This gear gets out of your way and lets you focus on making music.

Questions about any of this gear? Drop me a line – I’m always happy to talk shop about home studio setups.

[Contact Power Chord Studio →]