The heart of your studio will be your digital equipment. You will need a computer and a compatible digital track recorder that has the ability to record at least eight separate music tracks and multiple input jacks. Look for a recorder that can double as a drum track machine so that you will be able to set click tracks for rhythm as well as produce full drum tracks for your recorded songs. Invest in a synthesizer that has the ability to play sounds as varied as guitar strums to violin and string instruments. Purchase computer software that will allow you add sound effects such as reverb to your tracks. This software will also be able to mix down and finish your recordings.
At a minimum, you will need a good microphone for recording vocals. Microphones do not have to be expensive, but they must be high quality. Look for a condenser microphone that has a low mass diaphragm. This means that the area the vocals are processed through becomes progressively smaller within the microphone and produces crisper vocals with less distortion. Purchase "pop screens" to attach to the front of the mics that filter out unwanted sounds such as swallows, breaths and tongue clicks. Make sure that you purchase mic stands that are adjustable to various heights and angles.
Headphones are used for both the performer and sound engineer. They allow both to hear the soundtracks without interference. Because of this, make sure that your headphones are outside sound blocking and have padding over the ears so that they remain comfortable when worn for long periods. Seek closed back style headphones that prevent sound spillage from the headphones leaking into the recording microphones.
Cords are often an afterthought but essential to the quality of your sound. With poor quality studio cords, even the best vocals and musical tracks will be negated by pops, crackles and electrical interference. Don't fall into the trap of buying inexpensive cords with the mindset that it will be cheaper to replace them as they wear down. Start with high quality, longer lasting cords. Look for ones that are copper shielded at the connection points as this reduces interference. Keep in mind that your cords should never be pulled to full length when you connect them. This will fray the material and unseat good connections. As a rule of thumb, buy cords 20 percent longer than the distance they will be used for.