In 2018 I wrote a post about building a home recording studio on a budget. Since then, I've added a few items that have really improved my music recording and podcasting game.
Shure SM7B Vocal Microphone
I added this industry-favorite mic to my home studio so that I could record two podcast hosts, each to their own track. The mic is at an "entry level plus" price point, but the bang for the buck is pretty good.
ROLI Songmaker Kit
This squishy, silicone, all-black keyboard and accompanying peripherals replaced the plastic-y, cheap MIDI controller I was using back in 2018. ROLI makes a lot of weird and fun synths/controllers, and this portable version has made recording a lot more fun.
Suspension Mic Stands
During the first few recording sessions for our podcast, my co-host and I quickly realized we needed a way to get the mics close to our faces without creating a big mess of wires or a cluttered tabletop. These little swivel-mount stands clamp to the table and do the trick just fine.
Them's tha deets-- now get out there and create something!