If you're purchasing studio monitors, you can go a lot cheaper and just use your headphones for reference purposes. Digital KeyboardĪ really good pair of headphones will run you about $300, but you can get by with something less. For Windows (and Linux, of course), check out LMMS. (Thanks Dane!) On the free side, Ardour is a nice option for Mac and Linux.

Reaper is a slightly cheaper option for Windows, coming in at $60. Sequel is another option and is cross-platform, but it's a bit more expensive ($80). It's also a good way to learn how things work when you're new to mixing since it holds your hand quite a bit. While it might seem a little limited, it's actually capable of quite a bit once you get into it. On a Mac, Garageband ($15) is really your ideal option for cheap mixing. If not, you can pick up some other stuff on the cheap or for free.

Many interfaces come with Cubase LE, ProTools LE, or a free version of some other popular software that will provide you with a means of recording, playing some digital instruments, adding effects, and creating a solid mix. You need software to utilize all this equipment, and the nice part is that if you bought an audio interface you probably got some for free.

Mac mini for home recording studio