One of the best investments any music student can make early on is a good pair of studio headphones. While consumer headphones may be fine for recreational listening, they lack the accurate sound reproduction needed for music production. Studio headphones provide a flat frequency response that allows you to hear audio precisely as it was recorded or mixed. This helps train your ear and make better mixing decisions.
Look for headphones in the $300 price range from trusted pro audio brands like Sony, Audio-Technica, AKG, or Sennheiser. The Sony MDR-7506 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are two excellent starter options under $150. Both offer clear, honest sound reproduction, foldable designs, detachable cables and extreme durability to withstand years of use.
While pricier models do offer incremental upgrades in sound quality, frequency range, and comfort, even entry-level studio cans will prove invaluable for practicing your production craft.
AW like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, or FL Studio essentially serves as your digital recording studio. It’s the software you’ll use to write, record, edit, mix, and master tracks. As a music student learning production, engineering and mixing, mastery of a DAW is absolutely essential.
While advanced versions of leading DAWs sell for $600, many now offer free or low-cost tiers for beginners. For example, FL Studios “Fruity Edition” is only $99 for a lifetime license. Image-Line also offers a totally free trial version to get started. This allows you to dive into beat making and music production without a huge upfront investment. You can always upgrade to unlock more features as your skills progress
If you’re interested in writing and producing beats, loops, and instrumentals, a MIDI keyboard is invaluable. MIDI keyboards connect to your computer via USB and allow you to play software instruments from your DAW with your hands. High-quality controllers feature velocity-sensitive keys and pressure-sensitive drum pads for finger drumming.
MIDI keyboards range widely in size, features, and price. On the affordable end, the Akai MPK Mini Play offers an intuitive way to start making $150. It packs a small 25-key keyboard with 8 drum pads into a highly portable controller. Popular models like the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol A25 and Novation Launchkey MINI MK3 offer similar portable functionality.
On the higher end, keyboards like the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S88 provide a fully weighted 88-key hammer action keyboard akin to a premium digital piano. While weighted keys offer more realistic playing dynamics for pianists, they do come at a steep price premium. Novation’s SL MK III series also provides premium hybrid synths with deep software integration.
While more advanced MIDI controllers are fantastic, even an entry-level model will instantly open new creative possibilities. Learning some basic keyboard skills can greatly speed up your workflow compared to only using a mouse. Plus, nothing beats the tactile creative experience of playing instruments with your hands.
Virtually all modern music production happens on the go, not confined to professional studios. This makes a capable laptop or tablet a vital tool for music students. You’ll want at least 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5 or equivalent mobile processor to handle resource-intensive music plugins and sessions.
While MacBooks have traditionally been the gold standard for music production, quality Windows laptops can deliver ample power at a lower cost. Many producers actually prefer the native FL Studio experience in Windows over Mac. Just be sure to install the legit copy of your DAW and plugins, not cracked software which can cause system instability.
If opting for a Windows machine, look for one with an SSD drive for fast project load times and a powerful discrete graphics card for handling plugins with lots of demanding visual interfaces. NVIDIA RTX cards provide plenty of muscle for live performance visuals down the road too. An iPad Pro or Microsoft Surface also works nicely as a portable sketch pad for songwriting and composition.
Every aspiring music producer needs access to quality online music production class. These classes serve as a musical reference library to learn from and provide structured lesson plans to guide your learning. Consider browsing beginner music production, music theory, and mixing/mastering courses to start.
As you progress, more advanced classes in sound design, remixing, and working with artists are available. Reference the instructor’s production techniques and implement them in your own projects. Quality online instruction combined with hands-on experience creates a powerful learning experience on your music production journey. Investing in online music production education early on can pay dividends by accelerating your skills.
Making it in music requires immense dedication and sacrifice. But investing in tools that empower your artistic vision is never wasted. With the right gear, software, and services you can craft world-class songs right from your bedroom. What musical investment will you make next in service of your dreams?