Top 5 Must-Have Items for Every Artist Recording at Home

Setting up a home studio is a mix of tech and comfort—you need the right equipment for professional recordings, but it should also feel like a place where you can get inspired. At From A to Z Productions, we’ve spent years perfecting our own home studio setup, and we’ve learned that combining the right gear with the right vibe is the secret to staying creative and productive. Here are our top 5 must-haves that make our DIY music studio both functional and cozy:

1. Condenser Mic: Rode NT1

A good microphone is the heart of any home recording studio. The Rode NT1 has been our go-to mic for years because of its exceptional clarity and ultra-low self-noise. Whether you’re recording vocals, acoustic instruments, or even podcasts, this mic picks up every nuance in your sound with remarkable detail.

Why we love it: Not only does it sound amazing, but it’s also affordable for the quality it offers. Plus, it looks sleek on any mic stand, making it a perfect fit for our cozy studio vibe.

Find it on Amazon here.

2. Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

An audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is essential for connecting your gear to your computer. We use this interface to record crystal-clear audio from our mics and instruments straight into our DAW. The Scarlett 2i2 is compact, reliable, and has been a staple in our studio for years.

Why we love it: The plug-and-play design makes it easy to set up and start recording right away. Plus, its sleek red exterior fits perfectly into our modern and cozy studio setup, and it’s small enough to tuck away when needed.

Check it out on Amazon here.

3. Headphones or Studio Monitors

Whether you choose headphones or studio monitors depends on your space and workflow. We love using headphones during late-night sessions to avoid disturbing anyone, and we switch to studio monitors when we need that accurate sound for mixing. Both are crucial for making sure every track sounds as good in your studio as it will in the real world.

Why we love them: We’ve found that having both options is key—headphones are great for tracking and fine details, while studio monitors give us a more honest, flat sound for mixing. Plus, they fit seamlessly into our cozy studio space, adding a professional touch without taking up too much room.

Check out the headphones here or the studio monitors here.

4. Laptop (MacBook Pro 16GB RAM & 500GB Storage)

A powerful laptop is a must for running your DAW and managing all your recordings, plugins, and files. Our MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM and 500GB of storage is perfect for running heavy projects in Logic Pro X and any other music production software we need.

Why we love it: Beyond its impressive processing power, the sleek design of the MacBook Pro fits right into our cozy studio vibe. It’s light, portable, and incredibly reliable, making it easy to work in our home studio and on the go.

Find it on Amazon here.

5. DAW (Logic Pro X)

No home studio is complete without a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), and for us, Logic Pro X is the go-to software for everything from recording to mixing. With its intuitive interface and a massive library of built-in instruments and plugins, Logic Pro is the heart of our production process.

Why we love it: Logic Pro X makes everything we do in the studio easier and more efficient. Plus, it integrates perfectly with our MacBook Pro, and the aesthetic of the software feels clean and professional, adding to the overall vibe of our cozy workspace.

Check it out on Apple’s website here.

Want to See Our Cozy DIY Music Studio Setup?

If you’re curious about how we set up our cozy DIY music studio, complete with the right mix of tech and decor, check out our full post on Our Cozy DIY Music Studio Setup. We walk you through our favorite decor tips, organization ideas, and how we make our small studio space feel comfortable and inspiring.