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Last updated: Dec 16, 2023
Reads: 124,352
Caleb J. Murphy is a songwriter/producer based in Richmond, VA, whose music has been on ABC, NBC, NPR, and in hundreds of indie film projects. His advice for musicians has been featured by Digital Music News, Bandzoogle, BMI, and ASCAP. He also sends a twice-monthly newsletter called 5 Things To Help You Keep Going that features five resources from the internet that will help indie musicians.
FULL BIO
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Getting Recording Equipment
- Computer
- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Audio Interface
- Microphone (XLR Cable, Mic Stand, Pop Filter)
- Headphones or Monitors
- Setting Up Your Home Recording Studio
- Let your computer shine
- Place your desk
- Find the weakest link
- Get feedback
- Try it all
- Get a chair
- Free Plug-ins to Elevate Your Arrangements
- Drum plug-ins
- Keys plug-ins
- Strings plug-ins
- Affordable Services to Check Out
- FAQ
People also ask
- Can I produce music by myself?
- Which DAW is best for beginners?
- How much money do music producers make?
- How do I start producing music?
- Can I teach myself to produce music?
- Is producing music easy?
You may think you need the most expensive equipment or fanciest studio or that you need to drop a ton of money on nice plug-ins.
Stop. Don’t believe the lies.
You can produce good music when you don’t have a ton of money. And here’s how.
Learn how to produce music by:
- Choosing a computer for music production
- Getting the right DAW for you
- Finding an audio interface
- Getting your microphone setup right
- Finding the right headphones or monitors
- Setting up your home recording studio
- Finding free plug-ins
- Discovering affordable services to check out
Getting Recording Equipment
The first step in how to produce music on a tight budget is getting the right recording equipment. It’s obvious when you think about it.
So, if we’re talking just the basic equipment needed to record music, here’s what you’ll need:
- A computer
- A digital audio workstation (DAW)
- An audio interface
- A microphone, XLR mic cable, mic stand, and a pop filter
- Headphones or monitors
And that’s about all you need to start. All of this equipment can cost under $500 (assuming you already own a computer).
Now let’s dive into each piece of equipment (and software) and talk about what to look for.
Can I produce music by myself?
Caleb J. Murphy (CareersInMusic)
You most definitely can produce music on your own. You just need some basic equipment – you can just use a smartphone if that’s all you have. With the right knowledge, a little guidance (both of which you can learn online), and a lot of practice, you can become a home producer. Then you can use these skills to create pro-level music for yourself and for clients.
Computer
I’m going to assume you already have a computer. Even though more and more people use their smartphones and tablets for most things, most people still have a laptop or a desktop.
If, however, you don’t yet have a computer and you need something that’s more affordable than a $1,500 Apple computer, I’d suggest the Acer Aspire E 15. It’s roughly $600 and it can run pretty much any beginner’s recording software.
How do I start producing music?
Caleb J. Murphy (CareersInMusic)
All you need to get started producing music is a smartphone with an app like BandLab (Android / Apple) or GarageBand (Apple). If you have a laptop, even better. That’s all you need to start making music, and then you just have to do it a bunch until you see yourself getting better.
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Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
A digital audio workstation is the piece of software that you’ll use to record your music. And when it comes to picking a decent DAW, you don’t have to spend very much (if any) money.
If you have an Apple computer, you already have a DAW called GarageBand. It’s probably the best DAW for beginners — it’s super easy to use, it has built-in virtual instruments and pro-sounding effects.
If you have a Microsoft PC, you have some solid options. Reaper is a free DAW that does nearly everything the big guys can do (like Pro Tools or Logic). You get the full version for free, and then to buy a license, it works on the honor system. It’s $60 or $225, depending on how much your annual income is from music.
Which DAW is best for beginners?
Caleb J. Murphy (CareersInMusic)
Some of the best digital audio workstations (DAWs) include Logic, GarageBand (making the transition to Logic easier), and Bandlab. I personally love Reaper, but the key is to find the DAW you prefer and learn everything you can about it.
Audio Interface
Unless you buy a USB microphone, you’ll need an audio interface. This is the device that you plug your mic or instrument into, and then it plugs into your computer via USB, Thunderbolt, or Firewire.
Nowadays, interfaces come with built-in preamps, so you can get a really good sound from a $150 interface.
Here are a few audio interfaces under $200 that will do the trick:
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
- PreSonus AudioBox
- Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
- Focusrite Scarlett Solo
Can I teach myself to produce music?
Caleb J. Murphy (CareersInMusic)
Yes, you definitely can. Actively listen to your favorite tracks and borrow ideas and sounds – not to copy, but just for practice.
Microphone (XLR Cable, Mic Stand, Pop Filter)
The next thing you’ll need is a microphone, assuming you’ll be recording live instruments, like acoustic guitar or vocals. And if you’ll be using a mic, you’ll also need a mic cable (i.e. an XLR cable), a mic stand, and a pop filter. A good microphone is really important to professional-sounding music. And fortunately, you can get yourself a mic that the pros use for about $100.
The Shure SM58 is the most famous go-to mic for onstage performances, but it also does a great job in the studio. If you’re on a tight budget and need a mic, this should be your first option.
But for the sake of fairness to the other great and affordable mics out there, here are some other suggestions:
- Audio Technica AT2035
- Audio Technica AT2020
- MXL 990
Headphones or Monitors
And lastly, you’ll need to hear the beautiful music you’ll be making, so it’s time for some studio headphones or monitors.
With headphones, you have to decide whether or not you’ll be mixing the music yourself because it will change what type of headphones you get.
If you plan to pay a professional to mix and master your music, you can get any type of closed-back headphones. They do the best job of isolating the playback, meaning there will be less bleed into your recording. I use a pair of Sennheiser HD280PRO and they’re fantastic.
But if you want to do the mixing, you’ll need a pair of open-back headphones. Isolation is not good to have when mixing because the more isolation there is, the less quality you can hear in the audio. And open-back headphones do not isolate your ears to the audio. I’d recommend the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro open-back headphones — they’re only about $130 online.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for high-quality yet cheaper monitors, I’d recommend either the Yamaha HS5 or the KRK Rokit 6 G3. If you’re mixing, it’s preferable that you mix on monitors as opposed to headphones.
Setting Up Your Home Recording Studio
Next, you’ll need to find a place in your home where you can record. You may only have one option, depending on the size of your house or apartment. But if you have a couple options, here are some things to consider.
If at all possible, try to avoid using a room or space that has these characteristics:
- Small spaces
- Noisy rooms
- Carpeted floors — carpet absorbs higher frequencies, meaning the lower frequencies may seem to dominate your mix
Again, you may not have much choice in the matter, but there may be some things you can do to help treat your recording space. You may or may not have the budget to treat your home studio, but if you do, you can check out this article on how to get the best acoustics.
Here are some more general tips for setting up your studio:
How much money do music producers make?
Caleb J. Murphy (CareersInMusic)
Depending on many factors, you can make anywhere between $200 and $3,000 per song as a music producer. These factors include your experience, your client’s budget, and whether you charge hourly or a set fee. Once you figure out roughly how much time you spend on producing a song, you’ll have a better idea of how much money you can make in a given day, week, and month.
Let your computer shine
Your computer is headquarters — make all other setups (keyboards, guitars, percussion instruments, vocal mic) easy to reach and use while still having access to your computer.
Place your desk
In a rectangular room, put your desk at one of the short walls with the monitors facing the opposite short wall.
Find the weakest link
Your weakest link can ruin your studio — whether it’s poor room acoustics, a bad quality mic, or if you aren’t sure how to use your equipment, the weakest link in the chain will lessen the quality of any music you produce with that chain.
Get feedback
Ask other musicians for feedback — getting a fresh pair of ears on your music is invaluable.
Is producing music easy?
Caleb J. Murphy (CareersInMusic)
This is relative. At first, it may feel very difficult because it’s unfamiliar territory. The more you produce music, the easier the technical aspects will get (navigating your DAW, setting up mics, mixing, etc.). But producing music is all about your ideas, and sometimes ideas flow and sometimes they don’t. So in that regard, producing music will always be challenging. But it will also be rewarding.
Try it all
Try every single idea you have, even if you think it sounds too crazy at first — you can always take it out later.
Get a chair
Use a comfortable chair — one that you could sit in for hours.
Free Plug-ins to Elevate Your Arrangements
One amazing fact of recording music in today’s music industry is that you can get pretty much any instrument or sound regardless of your budget or who you know. Thanks to audio plug-ins, you can instantly have an orchestra at your fingertips, or a classic 808 drum machine at your fingertips.
And the good news for us is that they’re often free (or super cheap). Check out our recent in-depth rundown of the year’s best free VSTs here.
Drum plug-ins
There are two drum plug-ins that can handle any type of music you want to make, and they’re both free.
The first is Drum PRO, which is perfect for more electronic music. It has 20 built-in drum kits that can handle hip-hop, pop, and EDM (you can even get a classic 808 sound). It gives you two types of hits for each part of the kit — two kicks, two snare hits, two hi-hats, and so on.
The other drum plug-in is Addictive Drums 2. This plug-in gives you a real drum sound, which Drum PRO does not. The reason AD 2 sounds real is because it is real — a real Drummer in a real studio-recorded real hits on the kit, which were then sampled and are now delivered to you, the home studio Producer.
You can get a free trial of AD2, which doesn’t have every part of the kit that would be there if you bought the full version. But you can purchase a kit (ex. Jazz, R&B, Rock, etc.) for just $20.
Keys plug-ins
Many home studio Producers can’t afford a keyboard, let alone a real live piano or an organ. So the next best option is to get a plug-in that emulates those sounds.
One of the best plug-ins in this category that I’ve come across is Addictive Keys (made by the same people as AD 2). It’s live piano sampled into MIDI form. It has a bunch of different piano sounds, all pre-mixed for you. Plus, you can get organ-like sounds too.
Another good keys plug-in is Dexed by Digital Suburban. It’s a free download and gives you plenty of preset sounds, usually with some sort of heavy delay, reverb, or another crazy effect. This plug-in is great if you love experimenting.
Strings plug-ins
DSK Music has made a couple of free orchestral plug-ins that are decent, especially considering they’re free.
One is called DSK Overture and the other is DSK Strings. In my experience, Strings sounds better and is easier to work with, but Overture is still very useful. Neither of these will have the same essence as recording a live orchestra, but for free plug-ins, they’re a pretty darn good alternative.
Affordable Services to Check Out
Mastering your music is the last step in the process of making your mix sound professional. And it’s a complicated process. One that takes a lot of education and training to get good at.
So, while you can hire a Mastering Engineer, you can also check out automated mastering services like LANDR or eMastered. They usually charge a reasonable monthly price ($15-25/mo) for an unlimited number of masters.
Yes, a Mastering Engineer could probably do better than an algorithm, but if your budget is limited, online mastering is a great alternative.
FAQ
What do you need to produce your own music?
Alison Stolpa (Careers in Music Staff)
If you want to produce your own music, you’ll need the following:
- Computer
- DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
- Audio interface
- VSTs as needed
- Microphone
- XLR mic cable
- Mic stand
- Pop filter
- Headphones and/or monitors
If you’re going the DIY route, you should be able to get this whole setup for $500 or less (assuming you’ve already got the computer).
How can I start doing my own music production at home?
Alison Stolpa (Careers in Music Staff)
To start producing your own music at home, follow these steps:
- Learn how to write melodies
- Learn how to write lyrics
- Download and learn how to use a DAW
- Record your song using the DAW or write the music within the DAW
- To do this, set your tempo and key
- Create a drum beat
- Add the bassline
- Include other instruments as needed
- Record and layer in vocals
- Mix and master the track
- Ask for feedback and make improvements!
Is music production hard?
Alison Stolpa (Careers in Music Staff)
There’s definitely a learning curve to music production. It can take a month or more to learn how to make the most of your DAW and get the sound you want. Then you’ve got to figure out VST instruments, hardware gear like audio interfaces, and techniques for mixing and mastering.
However, once you’ve dedicated the time to learning all your software and hardware, music production should come naturally. Yes, technology is always evolving, but you’ll have the foundation you need for music production to no longer be hard.
