Top 5 Things for Making Your Own Beats at Home
The 5 things you need for making your own beats on your home computer.
While there is a community of producers who hold tightly to the idea that beat style production should be made using analog tools such as the Roland SP 404 or the AKAI MPC 2000xl this perspective is not shared by everyone and is most certainly not the only way to make beats. In this post we’ll be breaking down the 5 things you’ll need to start making beats at home using your computer.
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Top 5 Things for Making Your Own Beats at Home
1: You probably already guessed it. Yup. It’s a computer.
One misconception many people have about making beats on a computer is that the computer needs to have a ton of processing power. In the case of large multi-track mixing sessions processing power is very important. However, when it comes to making beats processing power is not nearly as important.
An Intel or AMD multi-core processor and at least 4GB of Ram are commonly the minimum requirements suggested by music production software companies. Most computers on the market today offer those specs or higher. Here are a few that are reliable and meet those requirements.
Budget Option: Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop

Why I like it:
The 14 inch screen can be moved to a multiple positions that many standard laptops cannot. It is lightweight and sleek so no need to worry about it taking up a great deal of desk space. With 4GB of ram and the option to upgrade you’ll have the power to get started making beats.
SHOP >>> Buy the Lenovo Chromebook S330 Laptop here
My Recommendation: Apple iMac

Why I like it:
With a an Intel Core i7 Processor, 21.5-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics processor with 512MB of GDDR5 memory, 8GB of ram (which can be upgraded) two Thunderbolt ports and four USB ports, this iMac is the computer I personally use in my home recording studio.
SHOP >>> Buy the Apple iMac here
2: USB HD
Having an external HD is important for making beats on a computer for 3 main reasons.
Reason 1: Any music production software you choose will include sound files that need to be stored at installation and accessed by the software during use. If you’re going to be making beats on a computer that has the minimum requirements for the software to run it is likely that the onboard hard drive will not provide the ideal storage space needed.
Reason 2: As you begin to create beats using your computer you’re going to want to save those sessions so you can revisit them to make adjustments or to add on. Just as mentioned above it’s a good idea to have enough storage space for those sessions as well as the finished beats. Chances are you’ll run out of space on you computer’s onboard hard drive quickly if you chose to save everything to it.
Reason 3: When you’re making beats on your computer one key to staying productive is organization. If you store all your work in folders on your desktop your beats could get lost, forgotten or even deleted by mistake. Storing all the beats you make on your computer to an external hard drive is the best way to keep everything organized.
My Recommendation: LaCie 2TB External Hard Drive

Why I like it:
This 2TB external drive is incredibly durable thanks to its rugged casing. It is resistant to water, dust and the shock of being dropped or crushed.
SHOP >>> Buy the LaCie 2TB External Hard Drive here
Budget Option: WD 1TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive

Why I like it:
The slim 1TB USB 2.0 hard drive is a perfect storage option for your beats. I have been using Western Digital external hard drives for years as my hard drive of choice for quick and portable backup of all my files.
SHOP >>> Buy the WD 1TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive here
3: Daw (Digital Audio Workstation)
A digital audio workstation or DAW is the software you’ll be using on your computer to make beats. DAWs are used for everything from recording to mixing and mastering and yes to beat making. If you want to make beats using your computer you’re dead in the water without a DAW.
My Recommendation: Ableton Live 10 (intro)

Why I like it:
I’m a big fan of Ableton Live. I use it for composition, recording, production, arrangement, mixing and mastering. The interface is easy to use and comes with a ton of options that can help beat makers craft music in a way that is unique to them.
Many of my colleagues also use Ableton Live for making beats and while we’re all using the same software it’s versatile enough that we go about creation in a different way. The Simpler instrument is extremely useful for sampling and rearranging audio while making beats.
Ableton’s Warp features are also helpful. Unlike music stored in other DAWs, the music in Ableton Live remains “elastic“ at all times. Ableton Live is capable of time-warping samples while streaming them from disk so as to synchronize them with the session’s tempo.
The Intro version Includes 1500+ sounds (5+GB), 29 effects and 3 instruments (Simpler, Impulse and Drum Rack). That’s more than enough to get you started making beats.
SHOP >>> Buy Ableton Live 10 (intro) here
Secondary Option: Reason 11 (intro)

Why I like it:
Reason was the first software I used for making beats when I was transitioning into the world of production on a computer.
I love that the interface emulates a traditional rack that houses audio equipment. If you’re a visual learner this one may be for you. Like most production software you can choose from a list of digital equipment to work with such as drum machines and synthesizers.
However, Reason’s unique interface displays your selected instrument as though you were looking at a physical piece of hardware. Some of Reason’s features include the option to turn the gear around to the backside and to change the audio routing by using the mouse to move the cords from plug to plug. This allows you to customize instruments and effects to almost endless possibilities.
Reason 11 can be used as standalone DAW or as a Plugin (digital instrument) inside another DAW. Reason 11 Intro comes with 33 instruments & effects and 7000 device patches, loops and samples.
SHOP >>> Buy Reason 11 (intro) here
4: Midi Controller
A Musical Instrument Digital Interface or Midi device is used to send and receive control signals. Midi controllers come in numerous forms but since we’re focused on making beats we’ll stick to Midi Keyboards and Midi drum machines.
A Midi Keyboard or Midi drum machine is used to control digital instruments inside your DAW. For example if you want to play a digital synthesizer from the list of instruments included with your DAW you would physically play the melody on your Midi Keyboard.
My Recommendation: Akai Professional MPK225

Why I like it:
I like the MPK line from Akai for a number of reasons. An MPK is not just a midi keyboard it also has drum pads and either knobs or faders depending on the model for controlling mixer and effects settings in your DAW. Akai has a long history of making both analog and digital high quality equipment.
The keys on the MPK are Semi-Weighted. If you’re a piano player of any level this can and will make a difference to you. The drum pads are back lit and there is an lcd display screen where you can scroll through control presets for different DAWs.
SHOP >>> Buy the Akai Professional MPK225 here
Budget Option: Korg nanoPAD2

Why I like it:
While the Korg nanoPad is small and only made up of drum pads they are velocity-sensitive. The nanoPad also has an X-Y Touchpad that allows you to control some effects in your DAW. If you’re using a drum sequencer or other instrument sequencer for making beats a midi device like the nanoPad will do the job.
The nanoPad is compact and lightweight so if you’re planning to take your production tools mobile this controller could be right for you. Korg has a rich history of manufacturing quality music equipment dating back to the 60s so you can be sure this little unit will perform.
SHOP >>> Buy the Korg nanoPAD2 here
5: Headphones
You may have heard someone say before “you can use any set of headphones for making beats.” While this is partially true you want to consider the fact that the headphones you use can affect the results of your production.
First and foremost I recommend steering clear of any headphones that require batteries. Headphones of that type are going to put enhanced emphasis on certain frequencies such as the low end which does not give you a true representation of what your beats sound like. Your beats could then potentially be more complicated for a mix engineer to make sound right.
I also suggest avoiding ear buds. They do not block the entire ear from outside noise and as a result could lead to distraction.
Another tip is to look for a set of closed back headphones. Closed back headphones are commonly used for recording and production while open back headphones are used for mixing and mastering.
Something else to consider is comfort. Chances are you’ll be spending a great deal of time wearing your headphones while making beats and you don’t want something that causes discomfort.
My Recommendation: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X

Why I like it:
These headphones are adjustable which helps with comfort. They have detachable cords, which is useful if you’re working in a small space or packing them into a bag for travel.
They are made with professional grade materials and are fully collapsible. They have been critically acclaimed for their sonic performance and have a ton of positive reviews including one from Sound on Sound writer Sam Inglis.
SHOP >>> Buy the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X here
Budget Option: Sennheiser HD280PRO

Why I like it:
This set of headphones is currently the model I am using for recording and making beats in my studio. I actually own two pairs because I needed an extra set and was already familiar with their performance.
In my opinion they are some of the best bang for the buck closed back headphones. They add a little warmth to the audio but overall they provide natural sounding results, which makes it easy to fine tune things during the beat making process. They are adjustable for comfort and constructed of professional grade materials.
SHOP >>> Buy the Sennheiser HD280PRO here
These top 5 things you need for making your own beats will help you get started on your path to creating music at home.
While this list only scratches the surface of the options available on the market knowing where to start is a big part of the process. I hope you found this information helpful.
If you’re interested in starting your own home studio, I suggest you also read Top 10 Essential Home Recording Studio Equipment.
Be sure to also check out our services to learn more about getting your beats to a higher level through professional production, mixing and mastering.