The 2020 Holiday Season is upon us, and even though things might look different this year without as many in-person concerts and performances, it’s still a time that features wonderful music. Musicians of all ages and playing levels can take advantage of great options to record, stream and cast your music to friends and family around your neighborhood or around the world.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or you’re looking for a gift for the musician in your life, you can’t go wrong with these expert pro audio picks from top brands. And, when you shop at Woodwind & Brasswind, you’ll know you’re making a good purchase with our Low Price Guarantee and easy returns and exchanges.

Check out this great collection of pro audio must-haves for your holiday recordings and live streams.

Microphones

A good microphone is critical for any recording, and there is a huge difference between the mic built into your laptop computer and a professional mic. Investing in a decent microphone is the first thing you should do, no matter what you want to record.

Audio Technica Cardioid Condenser Clip On Instrument Microphone – this top-rated clip-on microphone is designed for sax, brass, toms, and percussion, and it’s great at capturing the subtle nuances in your performance.

Shure SM58 Dynamic Handheld Vocal Microphone – this Shure handheld mic is an industry-standard, highly versatile cardioid dynamic vocal microphone, tailored to deliver warm and clear vocal reproduction.

Sterling Audio SP150 Microphone with Shockmount – the SP150 condenser mic features a quality-built, spider-band shockmount that isolates the mic from sub-sonic vibrations, while the hard-mount allows for precise mic placement that larger mounts might prohibit.

Monitors

If you’re using HiFi speakers to monitor and mix your recordings, you might notice that it sounds dull and not how you were hoping it would sound when you listen to it afterwards. You need to use studio monitors, which are designed to be sonically neutral. That way, when you use them for recording and mixing, they’ll give you the most accurate representation of whatever it is that you’re listening to.

Presonus Eris E35 Studio Monitors – this ultra-compact pair of Presonus monitors delivers studio-quality sound yet is compact enough to fit almost anywhere.

Sterling Audio MX3 Studio Monitors – these compact studio monitors with 3" woofers are perfect for home studios or entertainment systems.

Mackie CR3 Limited Edition Gold Trim Monitors – these multimedia monitors are designed for multimedia creation and entertainment, delivering studio-quality design and performance in sleek, small-footprint designs and a limited edition gold trim.

Interfaces

When looking at interfaces think about what you use to make sound – vocals, just one instrument, or a variety of instruments? This will dictate how many channels, or preamps, you'll want on your interface. For some, 2 preamps will suffice, but if you're going to be recording a number of instruments in your home recording studio, you may need up to 7 or 8.

Presonus AudioBox USB 96K 25th Anniversary Edition Audio Interface – a great choice for mobile musicians and podcasters, this AudioBox USB Audio Interface is compact, ruggedly built and works with virtually any PC or Mac recording software.

Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB Audio Interface – this affordable Scarlett Solo interface provides singer-songwriters with a reassuringly easy recording process and guarantees professional sound quality that will give your vocal recordings a brighter and more open sound.

Headphones

An absolute must-have for any home recording setup! Check out the Sterling S450 Studio Headphones. This uncompromising set of headphones provides superior mid-range, clarity and extended response, along with high-frequency detail, that is ideal for recording, tracking, mixing or pure musical enjoyment.

Furniture

Don’t let your gear pile up in a corner! This producer’s station is the solution for organizing and holding all your studio gear and accessories.

Need Home Recording Help?

Looking for even more information about setting up a home recording studio, whether for the holidays or any other time? Check out additional resources like An Intro to Pro Audio: from Mics to Recording Gear and Must-Have Gear for Easy Home Recording.

Plus, the experts at Woodwind & Brasswind are standing by to help you select the best pro audio gear and accessories, no matter what you want to record. Call us at 800.348.5003 and get set up to do all of your holiday recording.