Equipment Set Ideas for Computer Music Recommendations by a Sound House Staff Member!

For those of you who are looking to write your own computer music, first you might consider purchasing some basic equipment.
However, there are so many options out there that you might become intimidated by just how many choices there are out there! I think many people are in the same boat and they cannot easily get started because of this initial obstacle.
Some people may worry about all of the costs, can’t choose the right equipment, or just don’t know where to start because they have to study all of the consumer reports and reviews.
For this post, I tirelessly researched equipment that I could to compile into starter sets, so that even first-time buyers can confidently purchase a set!
I chose equipment based on what advice that I would have given to myself when I was just starting out with computer music!
Of course, the contents of these kits can vary depending on the musical instrument and production, but I included some bare essentials that I think are absolutely necessary for composition, arrangement, and recording.
I assume that you already have a computer, so I am only listing some equipment.

■ “I want to build a good setup for a computer music studio, but I’m strapped for cash.”

BEHRINGER
UM2
USB audio interface

PRESONUS
Studio One 5 Prime

CLASSIC PRO
CM5S
dynamic microphone

Fostex
PM0.1e

SONY
MDR-XD150 B

This setup is only about 20,000 yen in total! (As of December 2021) However, each individual piece of equipment is fairly good quality for the price, so I think this set will definitely give your music a competitive edge! The Studio One Prime is a free DAW software that only has a few functional restrictions, and it comes with effects and soft synths, making it perfect for those only starting out with computer music! The UM-2 audio interface produces a phenomenal clear sound that is unbelievable in this price range. I think that even professional musicians can take a simple kit like this while on the go or touring.

In addition to the set above, I created other sets using cost effective models for those who value functionality and sound quality.

■ I want to achieve the best performance on a low budget” [High Performance on a Budget]

STEINBERG
UR12
USB audio interface
※Included with STEINBERG / Cubase AI UR12

audio technica
AT2020
condenser microphone

CLASSIC PRO
CPH7000
Closed monitor headphones

JBL
1 Series 104-BT　
Desktop monitor speaker 3 years warranty

I came up with this selection keeping functionality and price as the main priorities in mind. The UR12 audio interface has plenty of features such as loopback, iPad compatibility, and that includes DAW software Cubase AI, as well as some basic features. The JBL 1 Series 104-BT speaker reproduces a powerful sound from its compact body and it also supports Bluetooth connection, giving this combination a lot of flexibility!

■ I want to get the best performance on a low budget” [Sound Quality]

FOCUSRITE
Scarlett Solo (gen. 3)
Live Lite *Comes with Scarlett Solo

MXL
MXL-V67G

CLASSIC PRO
CPH7000
Closed monitor headphones

JBL
305P MKII

This next set achieves high sound quality while keeping the costs low. The FOCUSRITE Scarlett series audio interface is reasonably priced, yet, the sound of the traditional FOCUSRITE mic preamp is what makes this unit shine. The Scarlett Solo includes DAW software Ableton Live Lite, the Hitmaker Expansion that cranks out hit after hit, and a sufficient number of plugins and software sound sources. The Scarlett alone can assist in every area of music production. The CLASSIC PRO CPH7000 headphones are also included in the [High Performance on a Budget] set, but I had to choose them for this set as well because these headphones are such an incredible deal for the price!

If you want to get sound quality that will be the envy of your rivals, consider the following sets. I’m going to also include the plugin software in the sets.

■ “I want to achieve sound quality that goes one step further” ①

SSL SSL2
USB audio interface

STEINBERG
Cubase Pro 11

SONY
MDRMDR-CD900ST
Closed type studio monitor headphones

SE ELECTRONICS
SE2200

IK MULTIMEDIA
MDRiLoud Micro Monitor

WAVES
Gold Bundle

SSL consoles have produced countless masterpieces throughout music history. The SSL2 is an inexpensive audio interface bearing the name SSL. That alone sounds amazing, but it has a sound quality that matches its good reputation. You can’t miss out the SSL2 audio interface.
The SE ELECTRONICS SE2200 is the successor to the condenser microphone model that was used by singer Amy Winehouse. The sound is well-balanced in the low and high ranges, and I personally love its glossy clarity.
Needless to say, the SONY MDR-CD900ST is a standard headphone model among recording studios. You will be more than satisfied with its excellent sound while recording. You can easily understand why the MDR-CD900ST has proudly received top market shares for a long time.
For the plugin bundle, I chose another standard, the Gold Bundle by Waves. Every plugin in this bundle is so reliable that you can feel rest assured that even if you were to lose all of the plugins in your library, the Gold Bundle has all the plugins you need.

■“I want to achieve sound quality that goes one step further” ②

FOCUSRITE
Clarett+ 2 Pre USB
audio interface

PRESONUS
Studio One 5
Professional Japanese Edition

iZotope
iZotope Set
Pro Max

AKG
SE22C214

beyerdynamic
DT770PRO 80 ohm

YAMAHA
MSP5 STUDIO　
Studio monitor Pair

I picked the First iZotope Set Pro Max by iZotope since their reputation is on the same level as Waves.
The major selling point of the First iZotope Set Pro Max is that it achieves AI mixing and mastering, but other than this innovative feature, it obliterates the competition since it performs at a high degree of perfection.
Since the Clarett+ emulates Focusrite’s famous ISA110 with all analog circuits, you can expect to level up your recording with this extremely high quality mic preamp.
I think this set boasts a quality that can handle professional recording!

■ “I want to build an environment that can even be used as professional recording sets”

ANTELOPE AUDIO
Discrete 4 Synergy Core
audio interface

AVID
Pro Tools
Permanent License Edition Package Delivery

FabFilter
Total Bundle

Native Instruments
KOMPLETE 13 ULTIMATE

Sonarworks
SoundID SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones with Measurement

GENELEC
8020DPM pair

AKG
C414 XLI

Finally, I recommend this pro level set for pro level producing. I specifically chose models that I can recommend without hesitation, but I tried to choose less expensive models as much as possible instead of just listing expensive ones. The audio interface I chose for this set is the Discrete 4 Synergy Core from ANTELOPE AUDIO. The accurate and silky sound is so addictive. With DSP and FPGA chips, Synergy Core FX allows the user to apply effects as if he were using a hardware processor. In addition, since the Discrete 4 Synergy Core has four headphone jacks, it is perfect for band recordings.
The Sonarworks SoundID Reference is software that you definitely want to get. This software measures the frequency response of your room and speakers to calibrate the speakers. Until I tried it out for the first time, I doubted the function a little. But, once the calibration was done, my monitor speakers, which I didn’t like much, were in tip top shape! Having an accurate monitoring environment is the easiest way to achieve accurate recording, so this software system might work for you too!

I actually wanted to talk more in detail about each product I included in these sets, but I thought this blog post would become so long that it would overwhelm all of you, so I tried to write it as short as possible.
There are many products that I had to reluctantly exclude from these lists, but I will make more set options again next time!