Be the next Ed Sheeran with our guide to music-making gadgets and apps

DREAM to be the next Adele or Ed Sheeran?

Listening to music at home is easier than ever thanks to more and more valuable gadgets and application.

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Most of us have access to a smartphone, tablet or laptop, advancements in technology mean that music stars want a mini-studio at home at a fraction of the price. tens of thousands of pounds a decade ago.

These are the best.

Novation Launchpad X

£179.99, Focusrite

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IF you want a really fun and organic way to record and create tracks, the Launchpad X from Novation is a midi controller that lets you DJ between loops and different parts of a song by tapping LED pads.

It is also a great tool for live performance when you want to perform your works in front of an audience.

Headphones Audio-Technica M50x

£130, audio-technica.com

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Until you hit your first monster hit to pay for that audio-processed studio, you’ll need a way to hear your mixes correctly.

The industry standard for clear and neutral headphone monitoring is Audio-Technica’s M50x can.

These headphones will allow you to hear exactly how your mix sounds. . . so you should be able to point out where you need to improve.

GarageBand and Logic Pro X

Free / £174.99, both Apple

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NOW you need to record and edit your hits. All of this is done on a computer using software known as a digital audio workstation or DAW.

GarageBand is a great free way to do the basics on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

To do it like they do in the commercial, Logic Pro X is a great step forward.

For PC, Pro Tools and Ableton are fine. With practice – and YouTube tutorials – amateur producers can produce sound as good as top studio tracks.

Spitfire Labs Sample

Free, labs.spitfireaudio.com

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Give your tracks a studio-grade shine with professionally recorded instrument samples.

They can be expensive but Spitfire does it for free.

Access audio from within your DAW with Spitfire’s free plugin.

Get more sounds – such as the Abbey Road pianos used by the Beatles and Pink Floyd – by upgrading to Spitfire Originals for £29 each.

Fender Mustang Micro

£89.99, Andertons

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GUITAR players can use this nifty little device to recreate a wide range of Fender Mustang amp tones.

It plugs right into your guitar or bass and has a USB-C connection for recording directly to your computer.

It’s pocket-sized and offers four hours of continuous playtime – great for light practice with headphones so you have time to record your solo.

Fender Play

£9.99 a month, Fender

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NEED to hone your shredding skills first?

Get the app Fender Play – an online learning tool for guitar, bass and ukulele.

With mini lessons from qualified instructors, feedback, and the ability to track your progress, you’ll get a personalized learning experience for a fraction of the cost of private lessons.

iRig Stream Pro

£179, Gear4Music

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WANT to test your work in front of an audience?

With lockdowns back in the past, live gigs are back.

However, you can still stream a mini show to your new friends or fans.

They can be flexibly set up with your phone or laptop – link a microphone, guitar or keyboard, and accompaniment tracks on your DAW.

Stream Pro allows you to do this easily so you can perform live on any app such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

iRig key 2

£99.45, Amazon

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EVERY home studio needs a solid midi controller. . . and this one from iRig is a great place to start.

Even if you’re not a keyboard player yourself, you’ll need this to program your midi tones.

The Keys 2 comes in two compact sizes – one of which is perfect for a small setup – and it also works with portable devices when you want to play music on the go.

Bedroom studio starter pack

Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio

£209.99, Focusrite

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THIS audio interfaces – the little boxes that convert the sounds as you sing and play into digital information for your computer – are loved by professional musicians and amateurs alike.

You might outgrow the included mic and headphones, but the Scarlett Solo interface is something you’ll want to stick with.

Great for singer-songwriters who want to be the next Ed Sheeran.

Audio-Technica Creator Pack

£199.99, audio-technica.com

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The company known for its flagship headphones and microphones has a perfect match for podcasters, gamers and streamers.

There’s no audio interface, but the included USB microphone can be plugged directly into your computer and sounds great.

Presonus 96 . Sound Box

£145, thomann.de

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IF you’re looking to be the next Mark Ronson, the Audiobox 96 comes with the best entry-level recording software: Studio One Artist.

It comes with a rich £700 worth of virtual instruments and effects add-on, so you can learn to produce, mix and master like a pro.