Like most people with home recording studios, window shopping for gear makes us feel like kids in a candy store. And the following list of studio goodies is what we have found most tempting. From end-game MIDI controllers to delectable interfaces, these picks are some of our favorites.
MIDI Controllers
There are so many budget MIDI controllers on the market and many of them tend to feel like dull extensions of our computers. Especially for those of us who enjoy tickling the ivories, a more substantial and precise keyboard can make all the difference in the world to the quality of our playing. The Impulse 61 from Novation, with its 61 semi-weighted keys, feels like a real instrument. It responds more accurately, handling sound with much more nuance than a typical keyboard controller.
Another great element of the Impulse 61 is the host of controller features. You’ll get eight rotary controls, nine faders and eight velocity sensitive drum pads with aftertouch, allowing for immediate and tactile control over your DAW functions, virtual instruments and plug-ins. And you won’t run into any complications thanks to the included Automap control software that helps you instantly assign the controllers.
Also included is an arpeggiator that engages the pads by enabling you to warp arpeggios and change their rhythm and shape in real time. Add to that the handy track navigation controls and some free virtual piano software, and you’ve got a compelling musical instrument that’s as feature rich as it is enjoyable to play.
Novation seems to put just as much thought into their pad controllers as they do their keyboards. Rather than a simple pad controller, the Launchpad Pro MK3 should be thought of as a dynamic and expressive grid instrument. It features 64 velocity and pressure-sensitive pads along with dedicated mixer and function controls. Its layout is designed to make the creative process immediate and natural, allowing you to focus on the performance rather than getting tangled in technical challenges.
The Launchpad Pro MK3 lets you easily apply effects, change between mixer controls and switch between the four key modes that organize the instrument. The Session mode lets you trigger clips, while the Note mode enables you to create beats and play the grid as an instrument with its chromatic keyboard layout. In the User mode you can customize performance layouts for both software and hardware. And there are dedicated buttons to control recording, track selection, mute, solo, volume, pan and more. Additionally, you’ll find function controls that let you undo, delete, quantize, duplicate and double.
The unit also offers a four-track standalone sequencer. So, whether you’re connected to a computer or hooked up to your favorite hardware, the Launchpad Pro MK3 will likely be one of the most powerful and inspiring tools in your arsenal.
Audio Interfaces
Many home studio enthusiasts will be familiar with RME, as it has built a reputation for producing reliable interfaces that deliver famously pristine and uncolored sound. The Babyface Pro FS, which is their latest iteration of a studio favorite includes some thoughtful upgrades and a streamlined design. Notable improvements include a dedicated switch to reduce output levels, ideal for active monitors, helping to avoid distortion or overloads. The clocking system has also been refined to deliver ultralow jitter, ensuring clean, accurate audio without timing issues.
The Babyface Pro includes two XLR microphone inputs and XLR main outputs, along with two line/Hi-Z instrument inputs. For monitoring, it offers both 3.5mm and quarter-inch headphone outputs. Headphone output volume has also apparently been improved to handle high impedance cans. Additionally, you’ll find a USB port, optional DC power input, optical in/out, and a MIDI port with support for a MIDI In/Out breakout cable. Admittedly it’s not cheap. But with its sleek and solid build, this interface looks as good as it sounds.
For those who also plan to use their interface as a DAC (digital to analog converter) for music listening enjoyment, you should take a listen to the sound of the Duet 3 from Apogee. Its sound profile may not be as unbiased as the Babyface Pro, but that’s what makes it so pleasing to listen to. No stingy low-end, no clinical thinness. Rather, the Duet 3 conveys a warm, rich and robust flavor. In fact, it’s pure honey to the ears and certainly on the top of our list for being a premium sounding playback device.
Mics
Perhaps a dream home studio is not complete without a Neumann mic. That said, not all of us can afford the U87. Luckily, the brand offers a very sweet-sounding alternative for under $1000. Don’t be fooled by cute size of the TLM 102. It’s not only remarkably clean but offers a distinctive and identifiable sound character with its silky highs and forward leaning presence in the mix. The delivery feels intimate and up close, always conveying an emotive quality that’s rich with detail.
If you wish you could own a bunch of different mics to suit various different recording situations, then you may want to check out the Antelope Edge Duo. Although the Edge Duo is a large diaphragm condenser mic, it’s bundled with software models of 18 popular dynamic, ribbon and condenser microphones. And it features multiple polar patterns, making this mic an intriguing studio chameleon.
The Edge Duo sports a dual-membrane, dual-output construction. The dual membrane is what allows the user to manipulate the polar pattern of the mic after the recording via the included plugin. Trippy. If you decide to go all out on this idea, you can pair the mic with the Orion Studio Synergy Core Audio Interface, which will give you extra recording flexibility with respect to the Duo’s mic modeling technology. For a deeper dive into how this mic works, check out our demo of the Antelope Edge mic lineup.
Monitors
The Yamaha HS5 isn’t expensive by studio monitor standards but it performs incredibly well for the price. Perhaps for this reason, the HS5 has remained one of the best-selling speakers on the market. In general, the HS series is probably best suited for those looking for a super clean and uncolored sound with a natural low-end, present midrange and clear, crisp highs.
The HS5 features two response controls with settings that allow it to adapt to the surface acoustics of rooms of varying shape and size. ROOM CONTROL allows you to attenuate the unnatural, exaggerated low-end that can often occur when speakers are placed near walls, while HIGH TRIM allows for more flexible control of high frequency response.
For those willing to spend the extra cash, it’s hard to beat the Genelec 8030C near-field monitor, especially if you take a particularly clinical approach to mixing your music. The monitor conveys a mostly flat frequency response with remarkably accurate imaging and top-class resolution. Like the Yamaha model above, the Genelec 8030C features room compensation options that include high- and low-frequency adjustments.
The only complaint coming from some about the 8030C is its weak bass so it might pair well with a subwoofer for example. Still, the main reason to buy the admittedly pricey model is for its uncompromising honesty and exceptionally realistic soundstage. The second reason to buy it is for its attractively curvy shape and raw silver finish. No other speaker looks like it.
For more information about the products listed, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out our detailed product pages. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
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