Let me guess, you searched up on your phone how to make beats and you got a lengthy article talking about how you need music equipment so expensive that it makes it seem like making beats was designed for Elon Musk? This was me not too long ago, and thankfully I didn’t follow the guide that I found.

The problem with these articles are they are overloaded with too much information about equipment you never heard of, when all you need to know is what tools you need to start making beats. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I’ve designed a list that anyone can follow so that you’re aware of the things you absolutely need.

The only pieces of equipment you will need are:

• A Laptop
• Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
• Headphones or Speakers

What do You Need To Make Beats? Easy! A Laptop

Majority of industry producers are likely using laptops that are over qualified and extremely expensive for just making beats. Just because Metro Boomin is using the latest RAZER laptop doesn’t mean you have to as well. Remember this, majority of the producers you hear nowadays started off with a very cheap laptop that one of their parents bought for them in grade school. Not to mention, a good amount of those producers still use those same laptops.

If you plan on using a laptop just for the sole purpose of making beats, I recommend finding the cheapest laptop you can get your hands on. The reason why big time producers use expensive computers is because they have stronger processing power. You don’t need to worry about this at all when you are starting out because you won’t be using anything that requires a lot of processing. As time goes on and you get better at your craft, you can graduate to a more expensive laptop that has higher processing power for those high quality sounds being used.

Choosing Your Digital Audio Workstation

Digital audio workstation (DAW) is the software that is used to make beats. There are many DAW’s to choose from, but for beginners and experts alike, I would recommend FL Studio. This DAW is one of the industry standards when it comes to making beats and is the easiest to learn. Even beat makers that use the popular DAW called Pro Tools, used FL Studio when just starting out. Some producers of today’s generation that use FL Studio to make hit records include:

• Metro Boomin (Like That for Future)
• Pi’erre Bourne (Magnolia for Playboi Carti)
• TM88 (Codeine Crazy for Future)
• Southside (Tunnel Vision for Kodak Black)
• Nick Mira (Lucid Dreams for Juice WRLD)
• Boi-1-da (Gods Plan for Drake)
• Murda Beatz (Motorsport for Migos)
• WondaGurl (Antidote for Travis $cott)
• Cardo Got Wings (Euphoria for Kendrick Lamar)

It is completely fine if you choose to use a different DAW, but just know they aren’t as noob friendly like FL Studio. Often times if you end up producing for a long time, you end up learning both. FL Studio cost $100 for the cheapest version they offer. They also offer a demo version of FL Studio where you can do almost the same thing as the full version, but you cannot reopen projects that you save.

When you use FL Studio for the first time, there will only be stock sounds at your disposal. Consider checking out free drum kits that rap producers should have for industry standard drum sounds. Also check out the best VST plugins you should have for your melodies. Both work in tandem with each other and will allow you to make substantial beats.

What Else Do You Need To Make Beats? Headphones or Speakers!

So you have your laptop ready, your DAW is downloaded, you’re pumped up ready to make your first beat, but then you realized that everything sounds flat and low quality. This is because the audio player built into computers aren’t meant to capture the most intricate of sounds and layer them effectively. This can be the thing that holds your beats back from sounding good when you play them anywhere. For this, I recommend using headphones or speakers.

Speakers

Speakers are one of the things that make an at home studio really feel like a studio. The amplification of the sound across the room provides an experience unlike any other audio device on this list. When I started making beats, one of the first things I bought apart of my setup was speakers; I do not regret. Do beware that if you have a small house or apartment and you live with other people, more than likely they will hear the sound of your beats. Another thing to mention is depending on the type of speakers you buy, you may have to buy an audio interface. These speakers tend to be the more high quality ones that allow the bass to really punch through. If your speakers require an audio interface, I recommend the Focusrite Scarlett Solo which is on sale for $79.99 (originally $99.99).

Headphones

Headphones are the more convenient option nowadays because they are accessible and you can take them anywhere with you. This is good because you can make beats just about anywhere you want. When choosing your headphones of choice, you have the choice of choosing studio quality headphones or choosing earbuds (both wireless and plug in ones work).

Studio Quality Headphones

Studio quality headphones are great because they put you in a space to hear every single detail in the beat. They are the best choice when it comes to sound quality and they don’t have to be too expensive. Before buying, remember that just because you’re using studio-quality headphones for producing doesn’t mean everyone else is listening with the same gear. This means their listening device likely won’t capture the same subtle sound differences you created. Also Keep in mind that these headphones can irritate your ears after a few hours of use. Typically, it is good to have these kinds of headphones when it comes to mixing beats versus making the beats.

Earbuds

Earbuds are amazing because they offer a good quality sound while also being cheap and convenient. When I first started making beats in 2019, majority of producers would tell you to go with studio headphones. However, many beat makers quickly noticed that majority of people who listen to audio on the go are using earbuds and not headphones. This drove many producers to use earbuds so there wouldn’t be a difference in audio quality coming from the producer to the listener. I completely recommend using earbuds especially if you already have a pair on hand.