Music production starter guide: Four essentials for beginners

(Prototype credit: Laptop Magazine)

Do you lot have dreams of beingness the adjacent big rock star or music producer? Did you simply go a shiny new notebook from our best laptops page over the holidays? Well, you're in luck Laptop Mag readers because this starter guide will help you get going on your musical journey. There is an overwhelming amount of music equipment and information out there, plenty to brand your caput spin. Laptop is here to piece together all of that information into small digestible bites for you.

While it'southward possible to create music on a smartphone, tablet, or calculator these days, this starter guide will focus on music production using a figurer. Continue in mind, this is a starter page and in no way meant to be an all-encompassing guide. Think of it as a starting betoken for the uninitiated.

1) Choosing a DAW

The first thing you need is a digital audio workstation, better known every bit a DAW. A DAW is an app that allows you to create beats, record vocals, or tape an external instrument such as an audio-visual guitar. Yous tin can record each chemical element of a song, called a track, and combine those tracks into a completed song.

If you search the internet for the best DAW, you lot'll get lists of more a dozen options. That'south a lot of choices for first-fourth dimension music creators. The most popular DAWs are Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Alive, and FL Studio. Pro Tools is the industry standard used on most professional recordings in moving-picture show and music. Apple tree Logic seems to be as ubiquitous as Pro Tools. And there is a huge number of Ableton Live and FL Studio users.

MacBook users are in luck because each Mac comes with an awesome free DAW called GarageBand, which is a scaled-downward version of Logic Pro. This should be your starting point for music creation, as information technology contains plenty virtual instruments and furnishings to make professional person-sounding music. Logic Pro costs $199.99, which is a skillful deal on a premium DAW with complete instruments and effects. Both Logic Pro and GarageBand are exclusive to the Apple platform.

For PC users, at that place are free versions of Pro Tools and FL Studio to experiment with before investing in a DAW. Ableton Live has a free version called Ableton Live Lite that comes with the purchase of select music hardware like a midi keyboard or audio interface.

Keep in mind, the free version of each DAW has limitations compared to the paid version of the app. You lot'll miss out on certain sounds, instruments, furnishings, and advanced functionality compared to its full suite version. The paid versions of the DAWs range from $79 to $599+ depending on features. Also, make certain to read the user manual for help with installing the software and operating the DAW as the process can exist difficult.

2) Microphones

Nigh laptops come equipped with a built-in microphone that you lot tin use to tape vocals or instrumental performances. However, I would advise investing in a microphone to achieve a better sound. Yous can get a decent-sounding microphone in the sub-$100 range. I employ the $99.99 Shure SM57 dynamic microphone for recording. The SM57 is great for recording the nuances of acoustic instruments like guitar, but accept been used for vocals on professional albums as well.

If you're having trouble finding the best mic in your toll range, check out our best USB microphones page where yous can detect reviews on all the best options.

USB microphones plug into any USB Type-A port on your estimator. Some higher quality microphones crave the use of an audio interface and may have either an XLR input that needs phantom power or a ¼-inch TRS line input. Some of the all-time microphones tin can be $500 and above so practice your research before going all-in on the best microphone for your budget.

3) Sound Interface

An audio interface allows yous to plug in a microphone or instrument to tape within a DAW. Y'all can get an audio interface with reasonable sound quality for under $100. When picking an audio interface, the number of inputs should be considered based on how many parts y'all desire to tape simultaneously.

Most people can get by with but one input recording at a time. If you play an instrument while singing, you may want to invest in an audio interface with two inputs. Keep in mind that the price goes up with each boosted input and that yous volition demand a ¼-inch audio cable to connect compatible instruments to the audio interface.

4) Midi Controllers

Now that you have your recording software and equipment to record, I suggest purchasing a MIDI controller to brand your life easier. A MIDI controller gives you a tangible way to play pulsate sequences or a piano role within your DAW using pianoforte keys and/or drum pads. Trust me, you don't want to point-and-click piano chords or basslines. Some of the best budget MIDI controllers can exist plant for under $120.

Conclusion

There you have information technology, those are your iv essentials items to get you started with creating music. Even though I discussed budget gear, this equipment still allows yous to create professional person music as you starting time your music journey. Music creation can be therapeutic, energizes your inventiveness, and is just nifty for the human soul. My best advice for you is to exist yourself and to be genuine.