The Buyer’s Guide To Recording A Band On The Cheap

We’re back with another buyer’s guide to a starter studio for a specific task or budget. This time, it’s everything you’ll need to record a band on the cheap… Speakers A  great set of speakers is essential, as always. Here are some cheap options for the studio and tour bus… Genelec 8010 Price £500 We […]

We’re back with another buyer’s guide to a starter studio for a specific task or budget. This time, it’s everything you’ll need to record a band on the cheap…

Speakers

A  great set of speakers is essential, as always. Here are some cheap options for the studio and tour bus…


Genelec 8010
Price £500

We say: “Probably the best monitors you can get for the cash, and easy to carry.”


Focal Alpha Range
Price £185

We say: “The clarity, accuracy and sheer audio quality this monitor provides is rare indeed at this price point.”


Fender Focal Passport Studio
Price £420

We say: “A great set of monitors you can transport around to different band member’s houses.”


IK iLoud Micro
Price £279.99 pair

We say: “The best desktop speakers you can get, simple as, and great for bands on tour.”


Microphones

You’ll want a good microphone for your singer and something to mic up instruments, too. Here are some great budget offerings…


sE Electronics X1 A
Price £99

We say: “sE’s update to the X1 will do you for a variety of tasks and costs less than £100.”


Aston Microphones Origin
Price £249

We say: “This is a great mic for your vocalist and performs well with guitars and piano.”


Shure MV88 phone mic
Price £135

We say: “A great microphone for capturing those band ideas on the road.”


Audio-Technica AE2300
Price £249

We say: “A very flexible mic for speaker cabinets, brass instruments and percussion.”


Interface/mixer

Your interface will need a couple of quality preamps – and a decent number of inputs would be good, too…


Focusrite Saffire Pro 26
Price £299

We say: ”Boasting a decent number of ins and outs, this is particularly good for the money and has very flexible routing for recording.”


Soundcraft Signature 12/12MTK
Price £269 or £329

We say: “Great mixers and interfaces. A solid range that can help bring all of your studio worlds together.”


Allen & Heath ZED 10FX
Price £249

We say: “Very straightforward and can also act as a recording mixer for bands, with good onboard FX.”


M-Audio M-Track Eight
Price £299

We say: “A great interface for anyone needing more simultaneous I/O than smaller boxes can provide.”


DAW

We’ve included DAWs for both life on the road and in the studio…


Steinberg Cubasis 2
Price £49.99

We say: “One of the best DAWs for the iPad, to capture your ideas on the tour bus.”


Apple Logic Pro X
Price £199

We say: “Few other DAWs match the usability and sheer sonic dexterity that Logic Pro X offers.”


Auria Pro
Price £34.99

We say: “The most ‘pro’ iOS app here – and the ideal choice if you’re in a band and you want to record gigs or studio sessions.”


PreSonus Studio One
Price £free to £279

We say: “It’s catching up with Pro Tools on the features side, but costs a heck of a lot less. A great DAW.”


logo

Get the latest news, reviews and tutorials to your inbox.

Subscribe
logo

The world’s leading media brand at the intersection of music and technology.

Join our mailing list

Sign Up Now

© 2023 MusicTech is part of NME Networks.