You don't need much gear to start. An audio interface, headphones, and a MIDI controller cover 90% of what beginners need.
Three pieces of gear will get you started: (1) An audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 converts audio to digital with professional quality. (2) Studio headphones like the ATH-M50x let you hear your music accurately. (3) A MIDI controller like the Novation Launchkey Mini lets you play instruments and trigger sounds.
Skip studio monitors until you treat your room acoustically. Skip microphones until you need to record vocals or instruments. Skip hardware synths until you've mastered software synths. Skip expensive plugins — free plugins are incredible in 2026.
$300-500 covers everything you need to start producing professional-sounding music. Spend about $150 on an interface, $100-150 on headphones, and $100 on a MIDI controller. Add cables and a headphone stand for convenience.