Your studio is your instrument.
A solid workflow starts with reliable hardware. We tested the Best Studio Gear to find the tools that get out of the way and let you create.
We prioritize reliability and integration:
Our curated lists below cover the essentials.
Your studio is your instrument.
A solid workflow starts with reliable hardware. We tested the Best Studio Gear to find the tools that get out of the way and let you create.
We prioritize reliability and integration:
Our curated lists below cover the essentials.
Mac is standard for stability and Core Audio. PC offers more raw power per dollar and upgradability. Both run modern DAWs perfectly. Pick the OS you are comfortable with.
Focus on driver stability and latency first. RME and Universal Audio are gold standards. For beginners, Focusrite and Audient offer incredible value and clean preamps.
Good headphones beat bad monitors in a bad room. If you can't treat your room, invest in high-end open-back headphones and correction software like Sonarworks.
Only if your room is treated. In an untreated room, a sub will cause massive standing waves and blur your low end. Trust your headphones for sub-bass checks.
Feel is personal. Pianists need hammer action (Komplete Kontrol S88). Synth players might prefer swift synth-action (Arturia KeyLab). Integration with your DAW is a huge plus.
SSD for OS and Sample Libraries is mandatory. HDD is strictly for archival storage and backups. Never try to stream orchestral samples from a spinning drive.
