The boring stuff that actually holds your rig together — and where cheap is fine.
01What You Actually Need Before the Music Starts
Keyboards, interfaces, and synths get all the attention, but a rig falls apart without the stuff nobody photographs. Run through this list before your first session becomes a troubleshooting session.
MIDI cables (5-pin DIN). If any of your gear has classic 5-pin DIN ports, buy at least two cables — one for OUT, one for IN — and a spare. Generic cables from Amazon or a local music shop are genuinely fine here. MIDI carries digital data at a modest speed; a cheap cable either works or it doesn't, and signal degradation isn't really a concern at these lengths. Keep runs under fifteen feet and you'll never think about it again.
USB cables. Modern USB-MIDI interfaces and controllers use standard USB-A to USB-B, USB-C, or Mini-B depending on the device. Check what your specific gear needs before ordering. Again, no need to spend heavily — a decent cable from a reputable basic-electronics brand holds up fine. Just avoid the no-name bundles with zero strain relief; those fail at the connector after a few months of regular use.
A MIDI thru-box if you're chaining devices. Passive MIDI thru ports on instruments can degrade the signal slightly across multiple hops. If you're running three or more devices in a chain, a small powered thru-box — Kenton and similar manufacturers make affordable options — keeps the signal clean and eliminates phantom timing glitches.
Power strips with surge protection. Obvious, but often overlooked until something fries. A decent surge-protected strip, ideally with individual outlet spacing for wall-wart power supplies, is cheap insurance. Furman makes widely trusted options if you want a rack-mounted unit; a good hardware-store strip works for a home desktop setup.
Cable ties and labeling. Velcro cable ties cost almost nothing and save real time. Label both ends of every cable the first time you plug it in. Future you — debugging a no-signal problem at midnight — will be grateful.
Keyboard stand. An X-style stand handles most keyboards under 25 pounds without complaint. Double-braced X-stands cost a few dollars more and don't wobble. Heavier, wider synths deserve a Z-style or studio furniture stand. zZounds and Reverb both carry a wide selection across price points.
Retailers like zZounds stock all of this. For used cables and stands, eBay and Reverb are reliable. Buy the gear that makes you want to play first — then come back to this list.