Create a home music studio for less than 3.500€ - Our Top Picks
Check out our guide to create a fully-functional home studio for electronic music!
Creating a home music studio is an ongoing process that never ends. And a process that costs a lot of money. It is also very personal for all producers and there is not a “correct” way to do it. So today, we are trying to give you some options for a fully-functional music studio for less than 3.500€.
3.5K might seem like a lot of money (and it is), but you can slowly reach your goal by saving and investing in pieces of gear that will last. This is a beginner’s guide but the core principles apply to all producers.
Also, we are not going to add to the total cost the cost of a computer or laptop and a DAW assuming you already have those two essentials.
Synthesizers
As an electronic music producer, synthesizers are your best friends! Having dozens of synths is a producer’s dream but at the end of the day, you will only need just a few to get started and make music. So, we decided to add to our list, only 3 synths. A mono, a poly, and a more experimental synth for sound design.
Mono Synth
Mono Synths are a must-have for bass, leads, and melodies. It is also a great starting point to learn synthesis and how a synth works.
So, our best budget pick will be the Behringer Model D. One of the most successful clones by Behringer that faithfully recreates the legendary Minimoog sound. Very affordable but with a massive sound for your basslines.
Cost: 320€
Poly Synth
Polyphonic synthesizers are another core part of your studio. You will need one to play chords and create harmonies and we strongly believe that if you are going to have only one, it better be an analog one. Analog VS Digital is hard to explain but as you spend time playing and mixing an analog synth, you’ll eventually appreciate its analog bite and warmth. Most budget-friendly poly synths come with 4-Voices which can be quite limiting so we decided to add a 6-Voice Analog synth that will serve any need in the long run.
Our top poly synth pick is the Dreadbox Nymphes! A tiny desktop synth with an extended set of features that costs only 475€! Nymphes is probably the best value-for-money analog polyphonic synth on the market today. Its beautiful tone, modulation options, and straightforward architecture make it a great choice for any musician.
Cost: 475€
Experimental Digital Synth
While using analog synths is great, having a flexible digital synthesizer for sound design with different types of synthesis will always be very helpful. And the synth that has numerous algorithms, an analog filter, and even a modulation matrix for routing things to each other is the unique and beloved MicroFreak! Another great value option for experimental but also plain synth sounds, the MicroFreak won’t disappoint you.
So the answer is very simple and our pick will be Arturia Microfreak!
Cost: 330€
Drum Machines & Samplers
Drums are another essential when making music since almost every electronic genre needs some kind of beat. To make beats you can use a drum machine or a sampler and if you are on a budget, we think it’s best to go for a sampler. A sampler will serve the need for drum sounds perfectly and you can also use it for other types of sounds that most drum machines lack. It is way more versatile and it can be the centerpiece of your studio so as a sampler we recommend getting a Roland SP-404MKII!
Cost: 520€
*Bonus pick: Another great option would be the Elektron Digitakt but since we’re on a tight budget the slightly more expensive Digitakt was out of reach. But still, a very solid option if you can afford it!
Effects
Hardware Effects are great, but for the added features and versatility, we decided to provide two software options that are the best value-for-money effects you can get. The two main effects that you’d want to upgrade from the stock options in your DAW are Reverb & Delay, so getting the Valhalla VintageVerb & Delay will be more than enough for all Reverb & Delay needs. You simply cannot have that much power on a hardware effect unit or pedal for just 50€ so before spending hundreds on pedals, check out those two amazing plugins!
Cost: 50€ each
MIDI Keyboard
A master MIDI keyboard is another essential to most studios. And since we picked synths that don’t have an actual keybed, you will definitely need one. Although small and portable midi keyboards are great, we think that having a bigger 61-Key MIDI keyboard is the best choice. 61 keys are more than enough to play almost any song and you’ll never have to upgrade in the future.
Investing in a high-quality MIDI controller that will stay with you forever is a great choice so our pick will be the Novation 61SL MKIII! This might be overkill since it is quite pricey for a MIDI keyboard/ controller but in the long run, you will appreciate having such a feature-packed controller. With the SL MKIII, you will never have to worry about getting another MIDI keyboard even if your studio expands and you buy tens of synths.
Cost: 600€
Audio Interface
In order to connect your synths to your computer and speakers, you will also need an audio interface. A very useful tip would be to get an interface with a few more inputs that you currently need because you will able to use it even if your studio expands with more synths or drum machines. So, since we already have two mono synths, a stereo synth, and a stereo sampler, we already need 6 inputs to start with.
So, an 8-input interface will be the best choice and our pick is the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen! This one is a classic audio interface you can find in thousands of studios and its extra inputs and outputs will be very handy for routing all your gear.
Cost: 475€
Studio Monitors & Headphones
Studio Monitors
For a home studio, 5” woofers are more than enough so a classic pair of Yamaha HS 5s will do the job! The HS series has been one of the most successful monitors ever made. They are very cheap but they sound amazing. Perfect combo!
Cost: Around 350€
Headphones
And for the times you want to hear all the details, carefully mix your tracks, and don’t disturb your partner a pair of headphones is very useful. Our top pick for studio headphones is the Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 Ohm! They sound great and detailed and as a bonus, the DT-770 Pro are probably the sexiest looking headphones right now. It never hurt anyone to look cool while making music!
Cost: Around 140€
Microphone
In case you need to record vocals, percussion, or any acoustic instrument, you will also need a microphone. There are special types of mics for each case but since we are on a budget, we recommend getting an all-time classic that can serve almost any scenario pretty well. And that’s the Shure SM58! This mic needs no introductions. An industry standard for decades, the Shure SM58 (and the SM57) is built like a tank and will always do its job!
Cost: Around 110€
Grand Total: 3.420€
So, totaling just under 3.500€, you now have a fully functional, robust home music studio for electronic music production! And you’ll also have some spare for buying cables, stands, etc. All of the products above are high-quality products that will last the test of time and will stay in your studio for years so you won’t need to upgrade every now and then. That is a pretty common mistake that we all do. Buying cheap gear where instead we could save more and get something that will definitely last longer…
As we said in our intro, creating your music studio is a very personal thing and it depends on personal preference and taste. But we often fall victim to G.A.S. and marketing, and we make the wrong choices. My advice would be to think of the future and get quality long lasting items and always think of your workflow and what serves it best. We are privileged to live in an era where the options are unlimited and reachable but at the same time chaotic and deceiving. So choose wisely.
