Purchase a portable USB mixer. This may prove the most expensive addition to your home studio, but a computer-friendly mixer is also one of the most essential pieces. It allows you to connect all of your musical equipment simultaneously, monitor your audio mix and record straight to your PC without background mix. Shop around at your local music supply stores and you can find a mixer for under $200, as of December 2010.
Download an inexpensive or free digital audio recording program for your PC. After obtaining a mixer for connecting, you'll need a software mechanism for recording. Thanks to the growth of digital audio technology, you can find an impressive array of digital audio workstations completely free of charge (see Resources). Select a program that contains an extensive effects library, multiband EQ options, multi-tracking capabilities and MIDI sequencing.
Invest in a cheap MIDI controller keyboard. A MIDI controller can save you a fortune in the studio, because it can take the place of whatever instrument you need. If, for example, a particular song recording requires orchestral instrumentation, just select an orchestra music kit from your software's MIDI selections and use the keys on your controller keyboard to play the notes. Most music keyboards today are designed with MIDI ports, so you can even use an inexpensive child's music keyboard for MIDI control.
Set up your studio near a vacant corner in your home. This will give you the benefit of achieving natural reverberation, which is especially helpful during the recording of vocals. For a soundproofing effect, install acoustic panels on your walls. You can purchase removable panels that connect to your walls using hooks or clips, saving you the cost of expensive paneling and installation.
Purchase monitor headphones and monitor speakers, essential components in any studio environment. You can shop around at your local music-supply and electronics stores for the best deals, but try to find headphones with at least a 40-mm driver size and studio monitors with at least 100 watts.