JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into music production

Making your own beats and tracks from a bedroom studio has never been more accessible — or more confusing. DAW, audio interface, monitors, plugins: the gear rabbit hole goes deep fast. Here's what you actually need to start making real music, and what can wait until you know what kind of producer you're becoming.

By Colin B. · Published May 24, 2026 · Last reviewed May 24, 2026
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The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen — Two inputs, class-leading preamps, and the brand behind 90% of bedroom studios worldwide. The one to get.
  2. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — Honest frequency response, studio durability, and nearly every tutorial you'll watch was mixed on these headphones.
  3. Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3 — 25 keys and 16 velocity-sensitive pads. Most beatmakers rank this as the most-used piece of hardware in their studio.
Budget total
$200
Typical total
$600
A real starter setup — interface, headphones, and a MIDI keyboard — lands around $400-600. Add a paid DAW and you're at $700. The gear lasts years.
At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Audio InterfaceFocusriteFocusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen$$ See on Amazon →
Studio HeadphonesAudio-TechnicaAudio-Technica ATH-M50x$$ See on Amazon →
MIDI ControllersAkai ProfessionalAkai Professional MPK Mini MK3$$ See on Amazon →
DAW SoftwareAbletonAbleton Live 12 Intro$$ See on Amazon →
MicrophoneAudio-TechnicaAudio-Technica AT2020$$ See on Amazon →
Studio MonitorsYamahaYamaha HS5$$$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Don't buy studio monitors first. Your room acoustics will ruin them. Start with headphones — they're more revealing for mixing in an untreated room, they travel, and they cost less. Monitors are a year-one upgrade, not a day-one necessity.

Your DAW is your instrument. Spend $100-200 on software you love before buying hardware you don't understand yet. GarageBand is free and genuinely capable — start there if you're on a Mac. Ableton Live Intro and FL Studio both have free trials; use both and pick the one that feels like fun, not the one YouTube says is professional.

The audio interface is the only piece of hardware you truly need on day one if you're recording live audio (vocals, guitar). If you're making purely digital beats with MIDI and samples, you can start with your laptop's headphone output — but an interface will clean up your monitoring immediately.

The gear

What you actually need

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Audio Interface

The audio interface is the hub of a recording studio — it converts your microphone and instrument signals into digital audio your computer understands, and sends studio-quality audio back to your headphones or monitors. The Focusrite Scarlett line has dominated the beginner market for a decade: the preamps punch above their price, the drivers are rock-solid, and every tutorial on YouTube assumes you have one.

Audio Interface — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

1-input (Solo)

One mic or instrument at a time. The smallest Focusrite.

Inputs
1 mic/line
Headphone outs
1
Phantom power
Yes

Best for Solo producers, voice-only recording, minimal desk space

Tradeoff Can't record two sources at once — no layering voice and guitar live

↓ See our pick
2-input (2i2)

Voice + instrument simultaneously. The most popular starter.

Inputs
2 mic/line
Headphone outs
1
Phantom power
Yes, both inputs

Best for Most beginners — best value, most tutorials assume you have it

Tradeoff One headphone jack — needs a splitter if two people are tracking

↓ See our pick
4-input (4i4+)

Two vocalists, a full band, or complex routing setups.

Inputs
4 mic/line
Headphone outs
2
Phantom power
Yes, all inputs

Best for Band recording, dual vocalist sessions, podcasters with guests

Tradeoff 50% more expensive — overkill for solo bedroom producers

↓ See our pick
Best starter
Focusrite

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen

$$

Two inputs means you can record a vocal and a guitar simultaneously — or just have a backup channel when you inevitably trip over cables. The 4th Gen adds built-in headphone monitoring with no latency, a genuine improvement for singers tracking to a beat. Every beginner forum recommends this for a reason: it's the interface that just works.

What we like

  • Two inputs — vocal + guitar simultaneously, or a backup channel
  • Air mode adds transformer-style harmonic warmth at no extra cost
  • Rock-solid drivers with sub-5ms latency on every major OS

What to know

  • Only two inputs — not for recording drums or a full band
  • Plastic chassis feels less premium than the price suggests
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Behringer

Behringer U-Phoria UMC22

$

Under $60 and legitimately usable. The MIDAS-designed preamp is better than the price has any right to suggest. If you're not sure music production will stick, this lets you try a real studio setup without committing $160 to the hobby.

What we like

  • MIDAS-designed preamp — punchier than anything else at this price
  • Under $60 — the right call if you're still testing the hobby

What to know

  • Single input limits you to one source at a time
  • No phantom power on all versions — confirm specs before buying
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Universal Audio

Universal Audio Volt 276

$$$

Universal Audio made its name on hardware compressors used in the world's best studios. The Volt 276 brings that legacy to a $230 interface — it has a built-in 1176-style analog compressor that makes every vocal take sound polished without touching a plugin. Once you've got your basic setup dialed, this is a meaningful step up.

What we like

  • Built-in 1176-style compressor polishes vocals without a plugin
  • UA's legendary preamp lineage in an affordable desktop package

What to know

  • Compressor adds color — not ideal when you want a flat signal
  • At $230 it's an upgrade purchase, not a day-one starter
See on Amazon →
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Studio Headphones

Studio headphones are flat — they don't boost bass or add warmth the way consumer headphones do. That honesty is the point: if your mix sounds good on flat headphones, it'll translate to car speakers and earbuds. Start with headphones before monitors. They're cheaper, they work in any room, and they block out the world while you're in the zone.

Best starter
Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

$$

The most-recommended studio headphones in any beginner forum, for a decade running. Closed-back design isolates you from room noise, the frequency response is honest enough to mix on, and the earcups fold for travel. Slightly bass-heavy compared to true reference monitors — once you know that, you mix around it.

What we like

  • Closed-back isolation keeps room noise out during tracking
  • Flat-ish response reveals mix problems your earbuds hide
  • Foldable and portable — the studio headphone that travels well

What to know

  • Slight low-end emphasis can trick you into cutting too much bass
  • Ear pads wear out after 2-3 years of daily use (easily replaced)
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Sony

Sony MDR-7506

$$

The radio station and broadcast standard since 1991. The frequency response is well-documented — once you know how they color sound, you can mix reliably. Often under $90 and frequently on sale. The choice when budget matters more than the last word in accuracy.

What we like

  • Studio standard since 1991 — massive reference data available online
  • Bright high end exposes harsh frequencies before they ruin a mix

What to know

  • Earpads crack with use — budget $15 for a replacement set
  • Non-detachable cable is a liability for travel
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Beyerdynamic

Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro 80 Ohm

$$$

Made in Germany, built to survive daily professional use. Closed-back with excellent isolation — perfect when you're recording vocals and can't have headphone bleed into the microphone. The bass response is more extended than the M50x, which some producers prefer for trap and low-end-heavy genres.

What we like

  • Made in Germany, built for daily studio use with replaceable parts
  • Extended low end — honest bass representation for low-frequency genres

What to know

  • Three impedance versions create buyer confusion — get the 80 Ω
  • Velour pads add warmth some producers dislike for critical listening
See on Amazon →
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MIDI Controllers

A MIDI controller is a keyboard (or pad grid, or both) that doesn't make sound on its own — it sends musical information to your DAW, which plays whatever instrument you have loaded. You play piano notes; your software synthesizer or sample pack responds. Even if you've never touched a piano, a 25-key compact controller will change how you think about melody in the first week.

Best starter
Akai Professional

Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3

$$

25 velocity-sensitive keys, 16 MPC-style drum pads, 8 knobs, and a built-in arpeggiator — all in a package that fits beside a laptop. The MK3 fixed the MK2's wobbly joystick and ships with Ableton Live Lite, MPC Beats, and sample packs worth $200. Easily the most popular compact MIDI controller on the market.

What we like

  • Keys + pads + knobs in one unit — the complete beginner toolkit
  • Bundles Ableton Live Lite and MPC Beats — saves $100+ in software
  • USB-powered, compact enough to use anywhere

What to know

  • Mini-size keys feel cramped for players with large hands
  • 16 pads are small — not ideal if finger-drumming is your main mode
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Arturia

Arturia MiniLab 3

$

Arturia bundles more software than almost any competitor at this price — Analog Lab with 2,000+ presets, Mini V, and Pigments. The pads have better velocity sensitivity than the Akai at the same price point. If software breadth and pad feel matter more to you, this is your pick.

What we like

  • Bundled software (Pigments, Analog Lab) worth more than the hardware
  • Pad velocity curve feels more natural than many sub-$100 controllers

What to know

  • Flat, slim keys — adequate for inputting parts, not piano skill-building
  • No built-in arpeggiator — Akai's edge for live performance
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Novation

Novation Launchkey 49 MK3

$$$

49 full-size keys is the jump from input device to real keyboard — two-handed parts, more than two octaves at once, and room to practice actual piano technique. Deep Ableton Live integration auto-maps every control instantly. Buy this when the 25-key mini feels like it's holding you back.

What we like

  • 49 full-size keys — two-handed playing and actual piano exercises
  • Native Ableton Live integration maps every control automatically

What to know

  • Too large to fit in a bag — a desktop-only purchase
  • Overkill until you've genuinely outgrown a 25-key controller
See on Amazon →

DAW Software

Your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is where everything happens — recording, arranging, mixing, mastering. It's the most important tool in your setup and the most personal choice you'll make. Don't pick based on what professionals use; pick based on what makes you want to sit down and make music. Ableton Live is the standard for electronic and beat-making. FL Studio is beloved for hip-hop, with the best piano roll interface in the business. Both have free trials.

Best starter
Ableton

Ableton Live 12 Intro

$$

Live's session view — a grid of clips you can trigger like a DJ — is unlike anything else in music software, and most beginners love it within a week. Intro limits you to 16 tracks and 6 instruments, which is plenty to learn on. The massive community (YouTube, subreddits, free patches) means help is everywhere.

What we like

  • Session view workflow is uniquely suited to beat-making and improvising
  • Enormous tutorial library online — any technique, any skill level

What to know

  • Intro caps at 16 tracks and 6 instruments — you'll feel it within a year
  • Perpetual license costs more upfront than FL Studio's entry level
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Image-Line

FL Studio 21 Fruity Edition

$$$

FL's piano roll is the best in the DAW world — programming beats and melodies feels visual and intuitive in a way Ableton doesn't. The Fruity Edition is the entry-level tier, which gives you full access to the step sequencer, piano roll, and FL's core workflow. Image-Line's killer policy: lifetime free updates. Buy Fruity, pay the upgrade later, own every future version.

What we like

  • Lifetime free updates — pay the Fruity price, get every future version
  • The best piano roll interface of any DAW — beats and melodies click

What to know

  • Fruity Edition lacks live audio recording directly into the playlist
  • Historically Windows-first — Mac version works but some plugins lag
See on Amazon →
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Microphone

Most producers come for the beats and stay for the vocals — eventually. A large-diaphragm condenser microphone through your audio interface will capture vocals and acoustic instruments with a clarity your laptop mic will never match. You don't need this on day one, but when you're ready to record your first take, skip the USB mics and go straight to an XLR condenser through your Scarlett.

Best starter
Audio-Technica

Audio-Technica AT2020

$$

The most-used beginner condenser mic on the internet, for good reason. Flat frequency response, cardioid pattern to reject room noise, and a natural presence peak that helps vocals sit in a mix. Requires your interface's phantom power (+48V). At $99 it's the right starting point for any vocal genre.

What we like

  • Flat cardioid response rejects room noise and bleed reliably
  • Presence peak around 10kHz helps vocals cut through a mix naturally

What to know

  • Needs a stand and pop filter — add $25 to the budget
  • Condenser mics pick up room noise — record in the quietest spot you have
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
FIFINE

FIFINE K669B USB Condenser Microphone

$

Under $35 and USB — no audio interface required. The quality won't compete with an AT2020 through a proper interface, but it's a legitimate way to record rough ideas and test whether vocals belong in your workflow before you invest in the full setup.

What we like

  • Under $35 and plug-and-play — no interface or drivers needed
  • Good enough to demo ideas and test whether vocals fit your workflow

What to know

  • Bypasses your interface — latency and preamp quality noticeably worse
  • A demo tool, not a finished-track tool
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Shure

Shure SM7dB

$$$$

The SM7B with a built-in preamp. The original SM7B (used on Thriller, countless hip-hop albums, every podcast) needs so much gain that budget interfaces can't drive it cleanly. The SM7dB adds 20dB onboard — so it runs quietly through any interface. When you're ready to sound like a professional, this is the mic.

What we like

  • Built-in preamp solves the SM7B's gain problem on budget interfaces
  • Dynamic capsule rejects room noise — no acoustic treatment needed

What to know

  • Premium price ($400) — a serious investment for bedroom producers
  • Darker, flatter sound than a condenser — not every vocal aesthetic
See on Amazon →
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Studio Monitors

Studio monitors are designed to reproduce audio without flattering it. Your consumer speakers and Bluetooth headphones are tuned to sound exciting; monitors are tuned to sound accurate. That accuracy lets you hear problems in your mix before they follow you into every other listening environment. Most bedroom producers should wait 6-12 months before buying monitors — your untreated room adds bass reflections that will fool you. Headphones first.

Best starter
Yamaha

Yamaha HS5

$$$

The white-woofer Yamahas are famous for being honest to the point of ruthlessness — they won't flatter a bad mix, which is exactly what you need. The HS5 is appropriate for small rooms. Yamaha's NS-10 studio monitors were the professional standard for three decades; the HS line is their direct successor. Sold as single units — buy two.

What we like

  • Ruthlessly honest response — exposes mix problems before you export
  • Industry lineage directly from Yamaha's legendary NS-10 monitors

What to know

  • Sold individually — buy two, double the listed price
  • A revealing monitor punishes untreated rooms — add bass traps first
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Mackie

Mackie CR3-X Studio Monitors (Pair)

$$

Under $100 for a pair, and Mackie's decades of PA and studio experience shows. Not as flat as the Yamahas, but more honest than consumer computer speakers and a smart way to get comfortable with speaker-based mixing before investing in something serious.

What we like

  • Sold as a pair — the full stereo setup under $100
  • More honest than consumer computer speakers for mix decisions

What to know

  • Limited bass extension below 80Hz — can't reveal low-end problems clearly
  • Some coloring compared to true reference monitors
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of music production

Most beginners buy gear before they understand what they're trying to make. Here's what actually happens in your first month — and how to skip the detours that trap everyone.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • Studio monitors for the first 6 months — Your untreated room adds bass reflections that fool you as badly as bad speakers. Headphones first, monitors later once you know what you're listening for.
  • Hardware synthesizers — VST plugins like Serum, Vital (free), and your DAW's stock instruments do everything a hardware synth does, without cables or desk space.
  • Acoustic treatment foam panels — Real treatment costs $300+ to do properly. The cheap foam sold for $30 treats high frequencies only and often makes rooms worse for mixing. Treat after 50+ hours of production time.
  • Expensive plugin bundles — Waves, iZotope, and Fabfilter are excellent. They're also unnecessary for the first year. Stock DAW plugins are underrated and capable of professional results.
  • A hardware compressor or outboard preamp — Outboard hardware is a vibe, not a need. Software versions are indistinguishable at the bedroom level.
  • A mixing engineer — Hire one later, once you're happy with your arrangements. Sending half-finished tracks for professional mixing is an expensive way to learn you needed to record differently.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Download a free DAW and spend an hour making noise with it before buying anything. · Action
  2. Order a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — the foundation of your studio. · Buy
  3. Order an Akai MPK Mini MK3 to get hands on keys and pads immediately. · Buy
  4. Find one free sample pack online and build one 8-bar loop using only those samples. Don't touch settings — just drag, chop, and arrange. · Action
  5. Watch one beginner tutorial for your chosen DAW. The goal is to learn where the buttons are, not to make a hit. · Learn
  6. Join r/WeAreTheMusicMakers and post a question. The community is welcoming and opinionated in useful ways. · Action
  7. Finish one short track — 2 minutes minimum. Bad is fine. Finished is the point. · Action
FAQ

Common questions

Do I need an audio interface if I'm just making beats?

Not strictly. If you're making purely digital music — programming drum patterns, using VST instruments, working entirely in your DAW — you can start with your laptop's built-in output. An interface improves audio quality and monitoring latency, but it's not blocking you on day one. You do need one the moment you want to plug in a microphone or a guitar.

What's the best DAW for beginners?

Whichever one makes you want to sit down and make music. Ableton Live is the electronic and beat-making standard, with a session-view workflow unlike anything else. FL Studio is beloved for hip-hop and has the best piano roll interface of any DAW. GarageBand (Mac, free) is legitimately capable for learning. Try all three before spending money.

Mac or Windows for music production?

Both are fine. Mac has lower audio driver latency out of the box and Logic Pro (Mac-only) is $200 for a professional-grade DAW. Windows has a wider hardware selection and FL Studio has historically been more polished on Windows. Either works — don't buy new hardware just for music production.

Do I need to know how to play piano?

No, but even one month of basics will change your relationship to melody and harmony. You don't need to read sheet music — just knowing what a major scale feels like and where common chord patterns live will make your productions better in ways that no amount of sound design knowledge will.

How much should I budget to get started?

A real starter setup — Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, ATH-M50x headphones, Akai MPK Mini, and Ableton Live Intro — costs about $500-600. That's everything you need to make and record professional-sounding music. The only additions later are a microphone ($100) and eventually monitors ($300-600 for a pair).

Should I start with headphones or studio monitors?

Headphones first. Studio monitors need an acoustically treated room to be useful for mixing. Without treatment, bass resonances will fool you just as badly as bad speakers. ATH-M50x or MDR-7506 headphones are honest enough to learn on. Upgrade to monitors after 6-12 months.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • Produce Like A Pro (YouTube) — Warren Huart's channel — genre-neutral, covers everything from recording to mixing. The best all-rounder for beginners.
  • In The Mix (YouTube) — The best mixing tutorial channel for beginners. Ableton-heavy but the concepts transfer to any DAW.
  • r/WeAreTheMusicMakers — The main producer community — welcoming to beginners, opinionated on gear, good for early-track feedback.
  • r/edmproduction — Focused on electronic music production. More technically deep than WATMM. Great for specific genre questions.
  • Attack Magazine — Electronic music production tutorials, history, and producer interviews. Smart editorial voice, genuinely useful technique content.
  • Sound On Sound — The professional recording and production magazine. Dense but authoritative. 'Synth Secrets' and 'Mix Rescue' columns are both worth reading.
person sitting on chair in front turned-on monitor

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