Build a Home Studio on a Budget

Here are some suggestions for those who are looking to build a complete home studio on a budget. Please be aware that prices are subject to change, and we will do our best to update them.

1. Dynamic Mic
a. SM Shure 57
b. Musiciansfriend.com
c. $99.00
d. Free shipping

2. A Matched Pair of Condensor Mics
a. Audio-Technica AT4041
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $499.99
d. Free shipping

3. Two 25′ mic cables
a. Pro Co XLR20
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $25.49 (x2)
d. Free shipping

4. Two tri-base mic stands with booms
a. On-Stage Stands MS7701TB
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $39.99 (x2)
d. Free shipping

5. One set of “good” headphones
a. Sennheiser HD 280 PRO Closed Circumaural Headphones
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $99.95
d. Free shipping

7. One external headphone amplifier
a. Hear Technologies Hear Back Mixer
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $230.00
d. Free shipping

8. One audio interface
a. Avid Pro Tools Mbox
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $549.00
d. Free shipping

9. One DAW software package (Can be bundled with the audio interface)
a. DigiDesign Pro Tools M-Powered 8
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $249.95
d. Free shipping

10. Two powered monitors
a. Genelec 6010A
b. Sweetwater.com
c. $349.00 (x2)
d. Free shipping

11. Appropriate speaker cables
a. Hosa CRA-203PB
b. $8.99 (x2)
c. Sweetwater.com
d. No shipping price listed

12. One computer
a. iMac: 27-inch: 2.8GHz
b. Apple.com
c. $1,899.00 (with student discount)
d. Free shipping

13. One 500 gig external hard drive
a. Seagate® 2TB Expansion™ External Drive
b. Costco.com
c. $149.99
d. Free shipping
e. NOTE: look for an external drive that has a firewire 400 and/or 800
port, and an RPM speed of 7200. This will give you optimal
performance.