Studio Start Up Guide
When you first start out as a producer, or start dreaming of being one, you probably think you need the most expensive and fancy equipment to be able to create great production. The only problem is you don’t have enough money to afford a $1,000 drum machine, $2,000 computer, or all of the Waves plugins which cost thousands of dollars themselves. Well here’s some good news, you don’t need the most expensive equipment to make great production, nor do you need it when you’re starting out. Sure as you get better, you should upgrade your equipment as necessary, and there are plugins and equipment out there that can give you an edge and better your production, but all those things aren’t mandatory.
It is the producer, not the equipment that creates great music. You can have the best equipment in the world, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it doesn’t matter, and vice versa. So without further ado, here is a quick list of what you will need and how to make it affordable.
1. Computer: A proper running computer, with the proper specs to be able to handle all of the processing you’ll be doing on it is essential. You can go with a PC,if you want the cheaper route, PC’s allow you customize, but when you’re starting out, this might not be your greatest concern, unless you’re already very tech savvy. Brand new can start from $400-$500, but if you want to go the Apple route, which does not allow a lot of customization, but is simpler to run, and is prone to less problems.
2. DAW: As for DAWS, or Digital Audio Workstation, which is what you will use to produce those beats, there are plenty to choose from. Most DAWS run both PC and Mac, except FL studio, which runs exclusively on PC, and Logic Pro, which runs exclusively on Mac. There are plenty more DAWS out there, these are just the most popular ones. There is no “best DAW,” it’s all about which one suits your style or your workflow the best. You may have to go through a few before you find the right one. Your options for DAWS are as follows, but not limited to:
(Apple Exclusive)
3. Speakers & Headphones: Preferably if you can have both it would be great, but for some of us that’s not always a possibility. If you want to go the cheap route, I’d say get some headphones, as a good pair can go for around $100 or so, maybe even cheaper. Whereas speakers will at least run you $150 for each, and that’s if you’re talking used. Best brands of Speakers are:
4. Virtual Instruments, or VST’s / Processors: Now lastly as for the Vst’s and processors, they’re always offered in your DAWS when you purchase it. These aren’t always the best kinds, and there thousands of other one out there which you can use, but when you first start out, spending $500 on a Plugin Processor will be a waste if you don’t even know how to use a compressor correctly, or at all. So when you get a DAW, they are basically free.
So that’s it, a beginner’s guide to starting a Studio, and some tips on how to make it affordable. Remember, this is just the start, focus on getting what you can, master it, get your skills up, get your understanding of the equipment up, then as time goes on, you will improve and your equipment will as well. Good Luck!
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