5 Needed Pieces Of Equipment To Make Beats
Most of the time new producers seem to ask about is what kind of gear, equipment, and software they will need to start making beats. Sometimes they think that the gear they will need to make quality beats is highly expensive which prevents them from getting started. But the truth is that the equipment needed to make beats is likely less expensive than you’d think. In this article, we are enlisting 5 things which you will need to make your own rap beats, with a budget in mind.
1. A Desktop or Laptop
First of all, you will need a computer. Mostly we all are having one at least. In case if you don’t have then buy one now because beat making software can use a lot of your computer’s RAM, notably when a lot of plugins are used in a session, a higher end PC or Mac will be best if it fits your budget. You can buy a budget computer and invest good in RAM upgrade. If you are looking to buy a laptop then make sure screen size of the laptop is enough because small screens may be tempting due to their portability and weight, but make sure you test out a DAW such as Fruity Loops, Logic, Ableton, etc. before making the purchase.
2. An Audio Interface
Next, you will need an audio interface in order to make your own beats. This audio interface is a small box which connects to your computer and acts as a preamp for your audio equipment. The main purpose of the interface is to power your speakers and recording instruments, acting as a “middleman” between your computer and your audio devices.
One more important feature of the interface is that it contains a sound card which provides low latency for your recording devices, minimizing recording delay to almost zero.
3. Studio Monitors
When you are making a beat then it is very important to have a pair of monitors (speakers) which represent sound as accurately as possible without any enhancements or alterations to the original sound. This is the reason producers use monitors with a near flat (accurate) response. If you have a pair of studio monitors then you will be able to make hear every sound in your mix the way it sounds in its most raw and true form.
While buying studio monitors, first thing is to decide is what size monitors you want. Some common sizes are 8 inches, 5 inches, and 6 inches for which you can go or you can buy whichever suits you.
4. MIDI Controller
Next equipment in which you will need to invest is MIDI controller. MIDI controller is a keyboard/piano which controls the virtual instruments inside of your DAW, allowing you to record sounds into your sequencer. You can play out any virtual sound, from pianos to synths, bass, strings, etc. from MIDI controller.
On the basis of a number of keys on the board, many sizes varieties are available for MIDI controller. Some of the common sizes are 25, 49, 61, and 88 (standard piano key range). You can get many other features also in some MIDI controller. Some of the include drum pads, mixer faders, and knobs which you can assign to plugin parameters.
5. DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
This is the most needy software you will need to have to make your beats. DAW will be the software you use to record instruments (virtual or live), record vocals, sequence and arrange your beats, lay drum patterns, export beats, and so on. Also, you can use DAW for mixing window. Some of the most popular DAWs today include Fruity Loops, Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Live, and Reason.
