Best Home Recording Gear by Budget | Minimum Sets for 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 Yen

"I want to start home recording, but what should I actually buy?"

Many people can play guitar but stumble on choosing gear.

There is so much information that it's hard to tell what counts as "minimum."

ryo

I'm ryo, 13 years of guitar and 8 years of DTM. I had no idea what to buy at first either.

Audio interface? Monitors? Plugins? There are too many terms...

Reader

ryo

I get it. So in this article I introduce the minimum set you can gather without waste, in three tiers: "20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 yen."

I started home recording myself with just an iPad and an iRig.

From there I added things little by little, and now I've settled on a Mac with Logic Pro. My interface is an Apollo Twin Solo.

In other words, "you don't have to gather everything from the start."

After reading this article, it will be clear what to choose for your own budget.

Conclusion: The Recommended Setups by Budget Are These 3 Patterns

First, the big picture.

Before the details, I put the conclusion in a table.

ryo

If you're unsure, the "50,000 yen setup" is the best value. I'll explain why later.

You Need Only 4 Pieces of Gear as the "Minimum" for Home Recording

Before talking budget, let me sort out what's needed.

The minimum a guitarist needs for home recording is just four things.

I assume you already have a guitar and cable.

Conversely, with just these four, you can start recording.

Don't I need a mic?

Reader

ryo

Not for recording guitar only. Line recording gets you a good sound. But if you "also want to record vocals," I recommend adding one cheap mic even to the 20,000 yen setup.

I explain the difference between line and mic recording in detail in a separate article.

[20,000 Yen] The Minimum Setup to Just Start Home Recording

This setup is for people who "want to try recording sound first."

I keep everything free that can be free.

*Prices are reference prices as confirmed in September 2026 in the Japanese market. Please check the latest price at each shop.

Point: Free is fine for the DAW and amp sim

You don't need to buy paid software from the start.

On a Mac, "GarageBand" comes free.

On Windows too, there are free DAWs that are fully usable, such as Cakewalk Sonar (free version).

Free amp sims are also quite high quality these days.

ryo

I started with just GarageBand on an iPad and a free amp sim too. Even so, you can fully enjoy the thrill of "I recorded it!"

I compare how to choose a free DAW here.

Caution: Avoid headphones that are too cheap

I don't recommend home recording with earbuds meant for enjoying music.

The lows and highs are "boosted," so you can't make accurate judgments.

That said, they don't need to be expensive either.

The best value in the 20,000 yen setup is the "CLASSIC PRO CPH7000."

It's a standard monitor from Sound House, a Japanese retailer, at about 6,000 yen.

It's known for sound quality a step above everything else under 10,000 yen, and it's ideal for beginners.

ryo

The CPH7000 is really excellent as a "pair for now." Keeping costs down and putting the leftover money into the interface is also a fine move.

If you value comfort and a standard name a bit more, the ATH-M20x (in the 7,000 yen range) is okay too.

If you also want to record vocals, add the CLASSIC PRO CM5S

For line recording of guitar only, you don't need a mic.

But if you "want to try recording vocals too," the CM5S is recommended as a first mic.

It's a Sound House private brand, at 1,980 yen including tax.

A mic holder and a storage case are even included, so this price is remarkable.

ryo

Of course it doesn't have the delicacy of an SM58, but for "just record vocals for now," it's enough. It's ideal as a first mic for making demos and recording ideas.

If I can record vocals for a thousand-yen range price, I could buy it without hesitation.

Reader

ryo

Yes. When you start recording vocals seriously, just move to a standard like the SM58. It's an excellent entrance to start.

I put how to choose a serious vocal/instrument mic together here.

[50,000 Yen] A Standard Setup Where Quality and Efficiency Clearly Improve

Personally, this is the price range I recommend most.

You feel the biggest return for what you invest.

Choose a standard interface and you won't fail

The Scarlett Solo and MOTU M2 are home-recording standards.

They are reliable in both sound quality and stability, and you can use them for a long time.

I put the detailed criteria for choosing into this article.

The value of moving up to the ATH-M50x headphones

From the M20x to the M50x.

It's a difference of just over 10,000 yen, but the world you can see changes.

The separation of the sound improves, and mix decisions become easier.

Are headphones really that important?

Reader

ryo

Extremely. If you can't "hear the recorded sound correctly," you stay lost the whole time. I struggled with 6,000 yen headphones at first too.

I explain the details of choosing headphones here.

A paid amp sim makes it easier to build "your own sound"

You get sound even with a free amp sim.

But a paid version is on another level in choices of sound and ease of building.

Popular with band players are "AmpliTube 5" and "TONEX."

If you aim at a sale, you can sometimes get them from the 5,000 yen range.

Check out AmpliTube 5 MAX v2

For the basics of amp sims (signal order and how to think about gain), this is a helpful reference.

[100,000 Yen] A "Proper" Home-Recording Environment for Long Use

This is for people who want to build band recordings seriously.

You gather even speakers and a mic to widen what you can do.

Monitor speakers let you see "the whole picture of the song"

With headphones alone, the amount of bass is hard to grasp.

With speakers, the balance of the whole song is easier to see.

The standard is the YAMAHA HS5. Its appeal is a flat, honest sound.

ryo

Speakers feel like a high hurdle to adopt, but the accuracy of your mixes clearly improves. They also make it easier to judge when building a thick "wall of sound."

How to choose speakers and placement tips are here.

A mic (SM57) covers amp recording and drums too

The SM57 is the world-standard mic for recording guitar amps.

At around $110 (about 14,000 yen in Japan), you can use it for a long time, for both live and home recording.

If you have an environment where you can play a real amp, your range of expression widens.

I put the details of choosing a mic together here.

Aim for higher-end plugins at "Black Friday"

Once you reach the 100,000 yen setup, you start wanting the higher versions of plugins too.

TONEX MAX and AmpliTube 5 MAX are in a different class for air and choice of sounds.

But the list price is high. The target is Black Friday in November.

Do sales really get that cheap?

Reader

ryo

Yes. IK products often drop a lot at Black Friday. That's why waiting for the sale is the smart way to buy higher-end plugins.

Check out TONEX MAX

I explain sale timing and how to buy in detail here.

Where Is the Right Place to Spend a Limited Budget?

It's not realistic to spend money on everything.

If I set priorities, I think of it like this.

ryo

It may be a surprise, but the top priority is headphones. If your listening environment is bad, there's no way to make a good sound.

A "Buying Order" You Won't Regret

You don't need to gather everything at once.

Adding in stages leads to fewer failures.

step
1Experience "recording" with a free DAW and a free amp sim

First, without spending money, get the flow of home recording.

step
2Buy an interface and headphones

Sound quality and stability rise, and you can start seriously.

step
3Deepen your sound design with a paid amp sim

It becomes easier to make "your own sound." Sales are the target.

step
4Complete your environment with speakers and a mic

Mix accuracy goes up and the range of sounds you can record widens.

ryo

I also added things little by little over 5 years. Not rushing, and adding when it becomes necessary, is what you regret least.

FAQ

Q. Is line recording alone fine for guitar?

Yes, at first line recording is enough.

With an amp sim, you can record a serious sound even without a mic.

Q. What computer do I need?

If you have a PC you use now, you can start with that first.

If it gets sluggish, you can consider replacing it then.

Q. Should I buy Logic Pro?

For Mac users, I recommend it, since you can use it for a long time after a one-time purchase.

But it isn't too late to get used to a free DAW first.

Start free, and add when needed. That feels safe.

Reader

ryo

Exactly. Home recording is a "rabbit hole," but if you proceed with a plan, it isn't scary.

Summary: Start with the Setup That Fits Your Budget

Finally, let's review the three setups once more.

What matters is "not gathering everything from the start."

Add when it becomes necessary. That is enough.

Start home recording with the setup that fits your own budget.

The whole flow of starting DTM is put together in this roadmap.