Practical equipment recommendations for teaching, learning and making music.
Capture a performance, record your coursework or bring a composition to life. These four pieces cover recording sound and playing software instruments.
Start your home studio
Turn your laptop into a recording setup for vocals, instruments and coursework. The Scarlett’s two inputs let you record two sources together, while Auto Gain and Clip Safe help you manage levels as you learn. A useful starting point for capturing performances and building your recording skills.
View on Amazon — Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen (opens in a new tab) ↗Capture the detail in your performance
From a vocal melody to an acoustic guitar part, the NT1 lets you explore how microphone placement changes a recording. Its low self-noise makes it useful for quieter performances, too. Connect it by XLR to an interface with phantom power, such as the Scarlett, and start experimenting.
View on Amazon — RØDE NT1 (opens in a new tab) ↗The essential connection
It may be the least glamorous part of your setup, but an XLR microphone cable connects your mic to your audio interface. Choose a length that comfortably reaches your recording position, giving you room to experiment with placement without pulling on the microphone or stand.
View on Amazon — XLR microphone cable (opens in a new tab) ↗Get your musical ideas into the computer
Playing a melody or chord progression can feel much more natural than drawing every note with a mouse. The Keystation’s 61 velocity-sensitive keys give you space to explore parts and add expression to your MIDI recordings. Use it with software instruments on your computer for composing, arranging and building coursework ideas.
View on Amazon — M-Audio Keystation 61 (opens in a new tab) ↗