7 best gears for music producers

Although talent is a significant part of what the audience hears, producing quality sound requires quality gear for music producers. We’ve selected our favorites here. They may not be the most expensive options, but they offer great value for money!

The best audio interface

AudioBox USB 96 is one of the most convenient interfaces available. It works with both iOS and Windows, and you don’t need to download any software because it's USB class-compliant. You can produce anything on the go, from podcasts to rock and electronic music, with ease.

• Durable packaging
• 2 combination inputs with Class-A mic preamps
• iOS and Windows compatible
• Comes with Studio One, award-winning software

Motu may not be the most well-known company, but the M4 is quickly becoming the interface of choice for many music producers. It features a solid build quality with a steel body, metal knobs, and a good hefty weight. With a top-end Sabre DAC and ultra-low 2.5 ms latency, the Motu M4 provides excellent audio quality and allows for easy live monitoring. As one of the essential gears for music producers, the M4 offers versatility and high performance. It will be interesting to see how it holds up during live performances over time. You can also use the M4 for live streaming or podcasting.

Everyone’s favorite is undoubtedly the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which has launched its 3rd generation. It has a solid build and produces little to no noise for such a compact device. The improvements in clarity with the latest generation are impressive.

The best MIDI controller

The Akai Professional MPK Mini MK III is a versatile controller that can be used for both keyboards and acoustic guitars. It features two octaves, 8 pads, 8 controls, and 8 unique X/Y axis thumbsticks for controlling pitch. While it may take some time to learn how to navigate, it's one of the most fun and affordable options for entering music production. Just be gentle with its plastic keys!

Main purpose: Sequencing music with ease through a physical instrument makes creating music a truly enjoyable experience!

Another MIDI controller to consider is the Nektar SE25 MIDI Keyboard. It features 25 mini keys and allows you to set 3 velocity curves: default, soft, or hard. It also has PB1 and PB2 buttons that can be assigned to pitch bend, transpose, volume, pan, track, or patch change.

The best DAW

Ableton Live is the ideal choice for a clean and efficient workflow, making it excellent for music production with endless options for effects. It offers a vast array of sounds, effects, and instruments.

Ableton has a strong community of musicians, so whenever there’s a problem, you can expect support from fellow users. It is a workstation designed by musicians for musicians!

Main purpose: To create professional-sounding music, you need the ability to slice and layer audio. A great DAW allows you to multitrack, record, and edit audio seamlessly.

If Ableton Live is too expensive, there are several effective alternatives, such as Apple’s Logic Pro, although it is exclusive to Apple products.

The best free VST

This is a fantastic option for music producers, featuring 24 legendary instruments and 15 top-of-the-line software options. Massive X is one of the most powerful synths, boasting stunning oscillators and filters, along with impressive effects and unison morph. However, it lacks wavetable and sample import capabilities.

Another favorite among music producers is Native Instruments FM8, which offers 960 presets with sharp, crystal-clear FM sounds.

Main purpose: With an audio plug-in software interface, you can be more creative with software synthesizers and effects units in digital audio workstations.

The best sample library

It can be tiring to use headphones for extended periods while producing music. One of our favorites is Hollywood Strings. Spitfire's Chamber Strings is one of the most extensive and in-depth string libraries available. Musique Box 2.0 by Soundiron features 11 music boxes in various environments, 32 ambiance patches, and 20 custom sound-designed elements, including a full FX rack.

Main purpose: Create and blend different instruments instantly in real-time, with full control over every aspect.

Another favorite is Native Instruments: Komplete 12 Ultimate, which comes with a hefty price of $1,199. This is reasonable for 600GB of library content, allowing for limitless creativity.

The best headphones

Depending on your needs, there are top contenders in each headphone category. For overall music production use, we recommend the Focal Listen Professional Studio Headphones. They provide rich sound details and are lightweight and comfortable.

Main purpose: If you do a lot of clipping and chopping, you’ll need headphones that allow you to focus on the details of your tracks. A good pair of headphones will help you with sound panning and frequency analysis.

The best microphone

Our team favorite is the Shure SM57, which is versatile enough for both stage and studio use. It excels at recording vocals and instruments alike, whether mic'ing a snare drum, guitar amp, or even a horn. Its ease of use and excellent sound quality make it a top choice, and its rugged durability ensures it will last.

Main purpose: You want microphones that are rugged and can serve multiple purposes.