Music Production Starter Kit (7 essentials to make any song)
I love making music. I learned on my mom’s old acoustic guitar that was stashed away in my parent’s old century home. But eventually, I started dabbling in producing, which took things to a whole new level.
So if you’re stoked on starting your own journey, then you’ll need the right music production equipment. So this is my complete starter kit.
It’s everything you’ll need to get started (and what I still use to this day).
So let’s do this!
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What Is Music Production?
Music production is the process of recording, developing and preparing a song — usually for release. It’s a modern musical skill that takes practice, patience, creativity and technical finesse.
And I love it.
Explore more:
➤ Music Production Tips for Songwriters
Essential Equipment for Music Production (complete starter kit)
1. A Good Computer
I use the MacBook Pro and I love it. It’s one of the best computers for artists and creative work.
Reviews
| MacBook Pros | MacBook Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Great battery life |
🚫 Expensive |
| ✅ Amazing processing power |
🚫 Can't run Windows programs |
| ✅ Excellent storage |
🚫 Lack of ports (without converter) |
| ✅ Fast and I rarely have freezing or CPU issues | |
| ✅ I can use Logic Pro (which is super intuitive) |
If you don’t have a decent computer, this’ll be your biggest music production expense (when starting out).
My MacBook been an awesome investment and I absolutely love Apple products for creative work like music production. So you can rest easy with this purchase.
2. A DAW (digital audio workspace)
Logic Pro for Mac
A DAW is a software interface for actually making digital music. It’s your home studio. And there are tons of options on the market.
If you’re learning music production from a specific person or course, it may be smart to just use whatever they use (so you can easily follow along in their tutorials).
Here are some of the most popular DAWs:
Ableton (from $99)
Logic Pro ($199.99)
FL Studio (from $99)
Cubase (from $99.99)
Cakewalk by BandLab (free)
GarageBand (free with Macs)
Reaper (from $60 — free to try)
3. A MIDI Keyboard
M-Audio Oxygen 49
My main MIDI keyboard right now is the M-Audio Oxygen 49.
Reviews
4.4/5 stars, based on 300+ reviews (Amazon)
4.3/5 stars (MusicRadar)
A MIDI controller is a device that sends MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) data to MIDI-enabled devices (like your DAW).
There are so many options and styles of MIDI controllers. But if you’re just starting out, a simple one with just a couple octaves and a drum pad is enough.
I actually use two MIDI controllers right now:
M-Audio Oxygen 49 (MKV)
Alesis V25 (25 key) — smaller and what I use while traveling
I also use the M-Audio universal sustain pedal, which plugs into any MIDI keyboard.
4. An Audio Interface
Focusrite Scarlett Solo
One of the most popular audio interfaces for music production and songwriters is the Focusrite Scarlett Solo. And it’s my top pick.
Reviews
4.7/5 stars, based on 26.5K+ reviews (Amazon)
4.7/5 stars, based on 180+ reviews (Sweetwater)
If you want to produce music, you probably want a way to record audio. So you’ll need an audio interface.
An audio interface is a device that converts microphone or live instrument signals into a format your computer and DAW understands. Again, there are tons of options on the market.
I also use the U-Phorio UM2 by Behringer, which is a lot cheaper (but still works great for me).
5. A Mic (+ cables)
Audio-Technica condenser mic (used by Billie Eilish).
My favorite mic for music production right now is the Audio-Technica AT2020 cardioid condenser mic.
Reviews
4.7/5 stars, based on 13.6K+ reviews (Amazon)
4.6/5 stars, based on 100+ reviews (Sweetwater)
If you’re not tracking vocals or only using samples and loops, you could get by without a mic. But it’s definitely something worth learning and eventually investing in.
When it comes to mics, there are two main types:
A dynamic mic
These are good for capturing loud sounds or live performances
A condenser mic
These are good for softer sounds, studio singing and higher frequencies
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, my first mic was the Marantz Professional MPM 1000 XLR condenser mic (cable included), which I still use from time to time.
6. Studio Headphones
Audio-Technica headphones (used by Finneas).
I use the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X professional studio monitor headphones.
Reviews
4.7/5 stars, based on 26.9K+ reviews (Amazon)
4.7/5 stars, based on 230+ reviews (Sweetwater)
Admittedly, I dragged my feet on buying a good pair headphones. But once I finally invested in a pair, I realized how important they are.
Studio headphones will help you hear frequencies and nuances more effectively, so you can make better decisions with your music production mixing and sound selection.
There are many styles and options on the market – closed back, open back, semi open – but ultimately, it will depend on your goals, preferences and budget.
Just like the Audio-Technica condenser mic above, these are the same headphones that Finneas uses. So, if they’re good enough for him and Billie Eilish, they’re good enough for me!
7. A Pop Filter
A pop filter is a mesh screen that goes in front of a mic and reduces the sound of plosives or other harsh, unwanted noises when tracking vocals.
A pop filter is one more small item that will complete your music production starter kit. Besides reducing plosives and harsh sounds, they also help to keep singers at a good distance away from the mic.
There are tons of options out there. But honestly, I just grabbed the cheapest one with the best reviews. For example, this pop filter should work fine.
Explore more:
➤ Essential Equipment for Singers
Extras
Eventually, you’ll expand your music production toolkit with extra tools and resources. For example:
Effects plugins
Presets — like Rysup’s vocal presets
Distributor membership — I use LANDR
Sample libraries — like Arcade’s playable sampler
Software like Vochlea — which turns your voice into MIDI
One of my go-to tools is LANDR, which is a subscription that comes has an AI mastering tool, courses, tons of plugins, samples and effects and handles all my distribution stuff. It’s my one-stop shop for songwriting.
Paying for premium products isn’t necessary and there are plenty of free options (like Native Instrument’s free tools). But paying for some extra sauce can definitely boost your sound, workflow and efficiency.
Just remember to practice building a musician mindset too. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can shortcut your way to producer glory just by purchasing a fancy plugin or sample library.
Later ✌️
The right tools make all the difference. Luckily, getting started with music production doesn’t require a large studio or thousands of dollars (unless you want it to).
Your computer is the biggest expense. And you find decent mics, interfaces and MIDI keyboards for pretty reasonable prices.
The most important thing is to have fun and go with a minimalist approach in the beginning.
Don’t try to learn every tool, technique and software out there. This leads to musical burnout and overwhelm.
Enjoy the ride and focus on the day-to-day.
Now go make some epic music!
