So you’re excited and ready to make music? You have ideas in your head but don’t have a setup yet. If you don’t know where to start or how much money you will need to have the perfect budget studio, I got you covered.
This wont be the cheapest budget setup but it will be the perfect budget setup, a setup that wont leave you disappointed after spending your hard earned money.
Best Budget Audio Interface Bundle
What even is an audio interface bundle? An audio interface bundle is what will allow you to record high quality audio as well as play high quality audio out of your studio monitors or earphones.
Okay, but what is an audio interface? It’s a dedicated audio device that converts real life audio into digital signals that the computer can process and converts digital computer signals into a real life audio sound that we can hear out of either computer monitors or headphones.
This bundle comes with a pair of monitors. What in the hell are monitors you ask? In this situation, they aren’t the displays attached to computers but the big speakers you see in music studios. Only in this case they won’t be that big in this case because we are on a budget, but they will be the perfect budget studio speakers and allow you to start your music venture and bring joy to your ears.
Earphones, you won’t need to buy them after purchasing this bundle.
This bundle comes with 2 condenser mics as well, one good for recording vocals and a smaller one perfect for recording whatever instrument you may want to play.
Lastly this bundle comes with all wires to that you will need to connect everything mentioned above.
So what is this bundle you speak of? It is the Mackie Studio Bundle priced for $499.00 at the moment. This bundle will keep you satisfied for years to come. Now the only thing you will need is a computer and a few pieces of musical software.
Computer Time
The minimum requirements for most DAW’s are 8GB or RAM (memory) for having programs actively open and processing samples.
you will need a processor (CPU) to handle processing the applications that you will be running, but a Quad core processor would be optimal. If you are just starting then you shouldn’t max out your system.
You will also want at least 256GB or storage space so that you can have enough programs running on your computer to have fun with while creating music.
Most entry level computers have these specification now days and are around $500.00 dollars. I recommend getting an Acer, Lenovo, or HP laptop. In my experience, these three companies have given me personally, a good bang for my buck.
Midi Controller
A midi controller is not needed but will make your music process a lot easier and a lot more fun.
A midi controller is a usually looks like a keyboard or drum pad machine that connects to your computer and doesn’t make any sounds of it’s own.
When you plug it into your computer, your music software will detect it and allow you to trigger the sounds in your software with the keys or pads.
Most music software or digital audio workstations (DAW’s) will allow you to use your computers keyboard just like a piano without the need of a midi keyboard.
It will even allow you to use your mouse to create music via something called a piano roll which is a digital representation of a piano that you will put midi notes (digital messages) in by clicking areas in the paino roll.
The sound will trigger whatever virtual instrument selected in your DAW and it will play a sound back to you once you the play button is activated.
A midi controller is only suggested to make things more fun and realistic when played.
An Alesis V25 midi controller will cost you about $60.00 on Amazon.
Too Expensive?
If you want to get by I suggest you just getting a laptop with the specs mentioned and use the built in Asio audio card instead of getting a bundle.
you can get a pair of wired Panasonic RP-HT161-K headphones for around $20.00 on Amazon
Afterwards you can download a music DAW called Reaper for basically free and use this until you have $60.00 to get rid of the splash screen after your trial is over to become a legit customer.
The creator (Justin Frankel) of Reaper works on the honor system because he thinks music should be accessible to everyone at a low price, so when you get the chance, pay the $60.00 if you can.
You Need More Sounds
The internet is full of free .mp3 and .wav files and whatever other type of sound files your DAW can handle. Do a quick search and you will find tons of free sound libraries to fill your hard drive with.
Free VST’s
VST’s are virtual instruments that most DAW’s come with, but if you don’t like the options you have you can download free VST’s from places like Native-Instruments. I would name more but take it slow at first and get to making some music.
Grand Total
If you want the perfect budget studio your grand total will be around $1050.00 after tax minus paying for Reaper immediately.
If you want to leave out the bundle for option number 2, which is the computer minus the Mackie Studio Bundle, your grand total will be around $570.00 after tax minus paying for Reaper immediately.
Final Thoughts
Music is an expensive hobby that can be made a little less expensive by making the right choices and knowing what you need and what you want to do from the start. Follow my blogs and I will help you on your musical journey.