Making the Band...From Your Bedroom

1. The Drum Kit
Yep, this looks like your set from Rock Band. But mastering these may actually help you get girls. The Roland HD-1 is a ridiculously cool, compact digital drum kit that allows you to choose from 10 different setups. A mixable external input (plug your iPod in) will allow you to play along with 1998’s greatest hits, forever. $999, rolandus.com

2. The Keyboard
The supersmall M-Audio Axiom 25 USB-interfacing MIDI controller may look like a mini-me keyboard, but it’s got semiweighted keys, trigger pads, and assignable knobs usu­ally found on big-boy sequencers. A compact footprint makes it great for desktops, and the lightweight body is more road-ready than your van. $240, m-audio.com

3. The Mixer
The Sony Xross Fade miniaturizes a superclub DJ booth and sets it up in your sitting room. It’s got a built-in two-channel mixer, cross-fader, and monitor queue that enables clean DJ-style mixing off of two iPods. It supports turntable computer playback via USB, so you can mix your new track into the playlist and see if your jam can hang with Nelly’s. $500, sonystyle.com

4. The Headphones
You may think you’re recording the club banger of all time, but that doesn’t mean your neighbors agree. Clamp on the noise-canceling Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and get big sound without getting evicted. Dre himself patterned their sound after the tight, bass-heavy mix he likes to smoke spliffs to in the studio. $350, beatsbydre.com

5. The Guitar
Inside the metallic platinum First Act VE591 guitar beats the heart of the home recorder. A built-in preamp allows you to plug directly into a home stereo, com­-puter console, or mixing board. Flick a switch and this basswood solid-body can plug into any amp in any VFW hall or state fair that’ll hire you. $300, firstact.com

6. The Mic
The Samson G-Track desktop mic records vocals and aguitar simul­taneously via a line-in. All you need is a laptop and a dream to be the next YouTube singing star. And a prettier face. $149, samsontech.com