Every musician, audio engineer or producer will need an assortment of microphones to capture a professional level recording. Different microphones will be used to record different musical parts and create different tones. In general, a studio will require one large condenser microphone for recording vocals and acoustic guitars and several dynamic microphones for recording instruments like drums, bass, and electric guitar. Last, you will need at least two stereo microphones for recording overall room noise during live recordings.
Studio engineers utilize preamplifiers to boost the audio output level of a microphone. Microphones naturally produce a very low audio output, which cannot be read by most recording software programs and so a preamp is required. Hundreds of preamps are available and many perform better for different environments. Its best to ask a knowledgeable studio engineer or friend for recommendations in this area as the mic preamp dramatically affects your overall sound quality.
Almost all recording is now done with the help of a computer and digital recording program. You cannot connect instruments and microphones directly to a computer however. Your studio will require an audio interface to connect the two mediums. This interface converts analog audio signals from microphones and amplifiers into a digital signal that can be read by a digital recording program. Most audio interfaces can also connect with MIDI instruments, including synthesizers or keyboards.
Many musicians realize after acquiring a lot of new studio hardware that they do not have enough audio cables to run everything properly. You will need an array of 1/4-inch instrument cables, XLR microphone cables, MIDI cables and 1/4 audio speaker cables. A studio will require at least two or three microphone stands to hold things in place while recording. You should have as many headphone sets available as possible particularly if you perform live recordings.
Many desktop computers and laptop computers are suitable for a home studio setting. As a rule however, desktop computers provide great processing power and thus digital recording programs run faster on these machines. Many laptops can also perform however.
The biggest factor to consider with a computer is the amount of RAM stored in the machine. The more RAM installed, the faster a recording program like Pro Tools will operate. A computer should include at least two gigabytes of RAM for a home studio but optimally 4 gigabytes or 8GB.