To start producing music you need a computer, a DAW (the recording and production software) and three pieces of gear: a MIDI keyboard to play notes and beats, an audio interface to plug in headphones, speakers and a microphone, and closed headphones. Studio monitors come next. At October 2026 Thomann prices, the starter kit below costs about $440 without the computer.
If you also want to record vocals and instruments, see our home studio setup for beginners.
The basics you may already have
- A computer. Any recent laptop runs a DAW. More RAM helps with big projects.
- A DAW. Many come in free or light versions, and some interfaces and MIDI keyboards include one.
The starter kit, about $440
AKAI MPK Mini IV, $110
A 25-key MIDI controller with eight MPC pads, pitch and mod wheels and a color display: keys, beats and knobs in one. #14 of 34 master keyboards (up to 25 keys).
Arturia MiniFuse 1, $97
A one-input USB-C audio interface for headphones, monitors and one mic or guitar. #3 of 206 USB audio interfaces.
Audio-Technica ATH-M40X, $119
Closed studio headphones for producing late at night and checking details. #4 of 106 studio headphones.
Presonus Eris 3.5 2nd Gen, $108
A pair of small active monitors with 3.5-inch woofers, a start for a desk setup. #96 of 224 active nearfield monitors.
The next step
Novation Launchkey 49 MK4, $248
A 49-key controller with semi-weighted keys, 16 drum pads, faders, knobs and chord and scale modes. #16 of 54 master keyboards (up to 49 keys).
Yamaha HS 5, $177
A 5-inch nearfield monitor, sold individually, so a pair costs twice this price. One of the highest-ranked monitors we track: #1 of 224 active nearfield monitors.
Native Instruments Maschine+, $778
A standalone groovebox with 16 pads, a sampler and Maschine's effects that works with or without a computer, for producers who want to step away from the screen. #5 of 30 groove boxes.
Questions
Can I produce music with just a laptop?
Yes, many producers start with only a laptop and headphones. A MIDI keyboard like the AKAI MPK Mini IV ($110) makes writing much faster.
Do I need an audio interface for music production?
Not on day one if you only use software, but you need one to plug in studio monitors properly and to record a microphone or guitar.
How we picked. Every product comes from an AudioFu ranking, scored on demand, price, specs and brand; specs from Thomann's product data. The kit total adds the October 18, 2026 prices of the four starter items. Prices are converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate and updated every night, as are the ranks.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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