I’ve added some new recording gear to my home studio in the past year, and have really ramped up my recording work – including part recordings, demo recordings, and family sessions.
With that in mind, here is my minimalist recording setup, as I’m using it now. It also doubles as my setup for Zoom meetings, when a nice mic and pop filter also come in very handy.
Microphone – Aston Origin. It uses recycled materials and minimalist packaging, and sounds great on voices. The step up from my SM-58 was kind of ridiculous.
Pop filter – buy a cheap one!
Boom stand – I like K&M stands, which are solid and reliable.
Mic cable – I don’t care to spend much on a mic cable, but I love the cables produced by the longtime Michigan company ProCo, whose factory I visited more than once when I was a student in Kalamazoo.
Preamp – FocusRite Scarlett 2i2 does a great job at a great price. It only has two inputs, so it’s decidedly minimalist, but it works perfectly for my needs of mic and keyboard input.
Computer & DAW – I use Pro Tools but also have Logic Pro, both running on my Mac Mini. Honestly, all contemporary DAWs are fine. I use Pro Tools because I’ve been using it for 20+ years.
Monitoring – I use a good set of studio headphones for my mixing. I use a 1/8″ splitter and my son’s gaming headphones when I need two pairs of headphones so I can record someone else.
Sound baffling – I have a small studio room with not too many reflections, especially because 1 1/2 walls are covered with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, which help disperse the sound. (It also looks great as a Zoom background!)
Bonus: Webcam – Since my Mac Mini doesn’t come with a built in webcam (external monitor), I use a simple gooseneck that holds my phone, and an app called Reincubate Camo that turns my phone’s camera into a webcam.