All the Gear You Need to Produce Your Own Music
Getting started with music production can feel daunting. What kind of gear do I need? How do I choose my equipment? Which knobs do I turn to create the sounds I hear in my head?
As a professional music producer with more than a decade of experience working with recording artists and building my own home studio, I can tell you that although it might seem like you need a room full of fancy equipment to create your dream sound, you actually need only a couple things to get started. (Don’t forget, Billie Eilish recorded and produced a Grammy-winning album in her bedroom!) Keep reading for my list of essential and optional production gear, with some great specific recommendations. You’ll be well on your way to creating incredible music in no time.
Kate Luo is a Music Production and Piano teacher at McAllister Music Studio and a Sound Designer for Ableton. She has placed music in film and television and worked with Focusrite/Novation, Akai, Arturia, Pearson, and Showtime.
1. Computer
Ok, so a computer might seem a little obvious, but it’s actually the most important item on this list. Your computer’s limitation of processing power, RAM, and storage will also limit how many instruments and effects you can use in your song. If you want to invest extra money in any single piece of equipment, get the best computer you can. You can always upgrade the other items on this list later by buying used gear on online marketplaces. Having a powerful computer will give you a much smoother experience and allow you to keep your creative flow.
Windows or Mac?
Each has their pros and cons. Windows PCs are more affordable than their Mac counterparts with the same specifications, and they also have more software options available (both free and paid). However, Windows PCs are trickier to configure and can get complicated with drivers and various compatibility issues. Macs are much easier to set up and more “set it and forget it.” Although the specifications of Macs seem less powerful, the software sometimes runs more smoothly and has fewer technical issues. Logic Pro (a DAW, more on this next) only runs on Mac. New generations of Macs have recently started using ARM processors, which will probably be more powerful in the future but software companies are currently still lagging behind in updating their software to be able to run on them.
2. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
A digital audio workstation, or DAW, is an application software used for recording, editing, and producing audio files. Most DAWs essentially do the same things, with some standing out for their special features. What is most important is not which one you choose, but rather spending time gaining experience and familiarity with their basic functions as soon as possible.
Some free (without any purchase of hardware) DAWs: Audacity, ProTools First, Studio One 5 Prime, and GarageBand.
Free DAWs with purchase of certain keyboards or audio interface: Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, PreSonus One.
My favorite DAWs to use are Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro. All three are powerful, professional-level DAWs with which you can create a song from start to finish.
3. Audio Interface
Audio interfaces are external sound cards that you can plug microphones and external instruments into. They help take the burden of processing the audio off your computer and will decrease the likelihood of dropouts in sound and other glitches while working with larger projects. I recommend the Novation Scarlett series of audio interfaces to start. They are very reliable for both PCs and Macs.
4. Midi Keyboard (Optional)
Although this is optional, I’d highly recommend that you get a MIDI keyboard so that you can start learning basic keyboard and music theory as you experiment with music production. Learning some basic chords and theory will help you make informed artistic choices and give you more tools to create different types of music. It is, however, completely possible to make full songs with sampling only.
5. Studio Monitors (Optional)
Studio monitors are a type of speaker that will tell you the truth about your music and your mix, with accurate detail. They are optional in that you can add them to your home studio later, after some initial experimentation with music creation. However, they are necessary for a more genuine representation of the sound you are creating. Consumer-level headphones and speakers usually have a boosted bass response as well as other features that distort the true sound of your track. Finalizing songs with those as your reference will cause your song to have the wrong mix and will sound bad when played with different speakers or headphones.
6. Microphone (Optional)
If you want to record your voice or other acoustic instruments, then you’ll need a microphone! Microphones can also be a great tool for creating custom sounds. Price here is reflective of quality, so it would be worth spending a little extra money on a mic if vocals are important to you. Field recorders can be used for recording ambient noises and making custom sounds.
Shopping for gear can sometimes feel overwhelming or even demotivating because of that feeling that you can’t get “the best” with your budget. But it’s important to remember that some of the best music ever created was recorded on very low-tech equipment many years ago, without all of the new expensive things we have available today. Just get something “good enough” for now that works within your budget and offers some key essentials, and then slowly build your home studio to fit your creative direction as you discover it!
Want personalized guidance on producing your own music and which way to spin those knobs?