Beat Making Equipment for Beginners in 2023

If you are an absolute beginner when it comes to making beats, then you are at the right place! In this article we will discuss some beat making equipment for beginners. Our goal is to get you up and running quickly and on your way to making fire beats.

Here is a list of what you will need as a beginner to start making beats:

  • Computer
  • DAW
  • Midi Controller (Keyboard or Drum Pad)
  • Audio Interface
  • Studio Monitors

Computer

The computer is the heart of the whole operation. Without it, you are going to have a hard time making beats.

When it comes to computers, you have two choices: Laptops or Desktops. We have covered this topic in detail so you can check out our guide Laptops and Desktops for Music Production: The Definitive guide for more detail.

Choose a laptop if:

  • You want to be able to make beats anywhere
  • You plan to use this laptop for other things
  • You see your self going to other people’s studios or sessions
  • You don’t really care too much about processing power. You just want enough to make good music as efficiently as possible.

Choose a desktop if:

  • You want a high powered machine
  • You plan on customizing your computer
  • You don’t really like laptops in general
  • You don’t really go places that much or you always want to make music in one area.

I went with a laptop and I currently use an Apple Macbook Pro. Here are some details on it:

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If you are thinking about going for a desktop, here is one we recommend:

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Once you get your laptop or desktop, the next thing you need is a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

Your DAW is the next important thing on this list.

For those that don’t know, a DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation. It’s a graphical program that allows you to create, edit and manipulate music in different ways. DAWs are extremely versatile in what they can do so sky is the limit when it comes to making beats!

The top DAWs that people to make beats are:

Personally, I recommend FL Studio. Why? Because after trying out pretty much all the DAWs on this list. I found FL Studio to be the most versatile for my style of music, which is Hip Hop, R&B, Trap and Afrobeat.

Which DAW works for me?

Even though FL Studio is my DAW of choice, yours may be different. If you are wondering which DAW you should go for, here are some tips on how to choose a great DAW for you:

  • What kind of beats will I make?
    • The type of music you will make will determine what will work for you. If you are in to making straight beats, FL Studio, Abelton and Maschine are your best bets.
    • If you are into scoring music, Logic Pro X to me is best for this application
  • Will I do other things such as mix and master music?
    • If you plan on doing other things such as mixing and mastering, then FL Studio, ProTools and Logic Pro X shine here.
  • Which DAW has the easiest learning curve?
    • Hands down, Fl Studio, Ableton and Reason are all easy to learn.
  • Which DAW has the cleanest Interface?
    • Ableton and FL Studio take the cake here

Regardless, you can visit a DAWs website and download their trials and play around with them. This is the best way to find out what DAW is meant for you!

So far our list for beat making equipment for beginners is growing! Lets continue…

MIDI Controller (keyboard or drum pads)

The midi controller is next up on the list of beat making equipment for beginners.

The type of midi controller you go for matters here because it can either speed up or slow down your work flow. The man two types of midi controllers that beat makers use are:

  • MIDI Keyboards
  • Drum Pads
  • Hybrid – Keyboards with Drum Pads on it

Having owned both, since you are starting out, I would recommend a Hybrid option: Keyboard with Drum Pads on it. An EXCELLENT one is the No products found.

Here is a video of it in action:

As you can see, this is an amazing keyboard!

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Audio Interface

Next up on the list is the audio interface. An audio interface is a device that connects to your computer and allows you to play music to large speakers (studio monitors) and allows you to record sounds cleanly into your computer.

An audio interface is not necessary immediately but eventually you will need one when:

  • You want to play your beats out loud to larger and more powerful speakers
  • You want to record guitar, bass and other instruments
  • You want to record vocals
  • You want to sample other sounds

An audio interface I will recommend right away is No products found..

This audio interface is powerful and it’s a great interface for beginners to beat making. It gets the job done in a cost effective way.

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As for me, I own the No products found. and that one has been my interface for years because it allows me to easily record two sources at once.

All in all, you should go for an interface that is cost effective, has great reviews and many other people are using it.

Studio Monitors

Studio monitors are another set of beat making equipment that you should consider. I started out making beats on my headphones. Although this did work for me for a while, I eventually got studio monitors and did not regret my decision.

Studio monitors are great because it allows you to play your beats at a louder volume.

Purchasing studio monitors really changed the game for me. It allowed me to hear all the low end of my music and also the highs as well. It’s like all my beats just came to life all because I purchased some studio monitors.

Please, I urge you to get them NOW.

I use the No products found.. These speakers are amazing and stylish to me. Here is some info on the speakers:

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Conclusion – Beat Making Equipment for Beginners

We went over all the beat making equipment for beginners. As you can see, all of these equipment is necessary so that you can be up and running with your beats.

Whats your favorite type of equipment from the list? Let us know in the comments.

Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API