It is hard to imagine college life without music. Whether it’s played at parties, on campus, or during study sessions, music has the power to bring people together and create a sense of community. Also, it can be a fun and exciting way to express one’s creativity and love for music.
Yet, getting started as a DJ can sometimes be a costly endeavor. Still, if you have a desire to create music and a limited budget, we can help. In this article, we will introduce you to five budget-friendly items for your college music production starter pack. All so you can get the party started without breaking the bank. Read on to learn more!
How to make time for music production in college?
Before we delve into low-cost software and hardware for dorm music production, we need to ensure one thing. It’s that you have time to compose music without sacrificing your studies. While some students can combine their classes, homework, and hobbies, others may find it challenging to balance everything.
One way to lighten your workload and free up time for the things you love is to delegate tasks. You can find a term paper writing services to entrust your essays, articles, papers, or dissertations. Alternatively, you can delegate them some easy but time-consuming tasks, like editing, proofreading, or formatting. Typically, such services are affordable and can complete your task within a given deadline.
Top 5 low-cost items for college music production
- Easy to use DAW
When it comes to music production, one of the most important things you need to create your own beats and tracks is a digital audio workstation or DAW. Ideally, the easy-to-use one. DAW software is essential for recording, editing, and producing your music. Without a DAW, it would be nearly impossible to create professional-sounding music.
Some of the best and most popular DAWs are Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Cubase, and GarageBand. However, most of them have a significant price tag. Therefore, you need to pay attention to free DAWs. They often have limited functionality, but it can be enough for a beginner DJ.
Some free versions of popular music production software include Pro Tools First, GarageBand, Cubase LE, and Ableton Live Lite. It’s important to do your research and find a DAW that suits your needs and skill level. With the right DAW, you can unleash your creativity and produce music that you can be proud of.
- MIDI controller
The next essential tool for achieving your music-making goals is a MIDI controller. MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is a universal technical standard that allows you to send data from a physical hardware to digital audio workstations. Simply put, it’s a device used to control music software and create music using physical buttons, knobs, and keys. A MIDI controller can range from a simple keyboard to a complex pad controller with multiple functions.
The price of a MIDI controller starts at $25. Thus, any student can find a way to afford one. Yet, whether you are looking for the best research paper writing services or the best MIDI controllers, you should have excellent research skills. All to find the tool that suits your budget, meets your needs, and is reliable enough to help you achieve your musical goals.
- Studio headphones
Creating music is impossible without a pair of good studio headphones. They are essential for accurately hearing the details in your music and making the right decisions about mixing and mastering. Investing in a quality pair of headphones can greatly improve the overall quality of your music production.
Still, if you are a student who doesn’t want to break the bank, we’ve prepared some affordable options for you. The first option is to get headphones from an industry leader in high-fidelity music products, the German company Sennheiser. They sell microphones, headphones, and headsets for personal and professional use. You may want to consider the Sennheiser HD 206, Sennheiser HD 25, or Sennheiser HD 280 Pro.
The second option is an Austrian AKG, which offers excellent sound quality. You may want to consider purchasing headphones, such as the AKG K361, AKG K240 Studio, or AKG K72. Both Sennheiser and AKG are reliable brands with a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality audio products. However, you can also try the third option. It is the world-famous manufacturer of audio equipment Audio-Technica and their model of headphones Audio-Technica ATH-M50x.
- Audio interface
The next tool you might need for professional music production is an audio interface. An audio interface is a device that connects your computer or laptop to your studio monitors, microphones, instruments, and other audio equipment. It allows you to record high-quality sound and control the input and output levels. Simply put, it is a bridge between analog sounds and digital audio.
With an audio interface, you can achieve better sound quality and have more control over your music production. However, you may not plan to incorporate analog instruments in the early stages of your music journey. In this case, an audio interface may not be a necessary investment right away. It is important to assess your needs and budget before making any purchases for your music production setup.
If you do plan to use an audio interface in your music production, then you need to pay attention to the best budget options on the market. These include Presonus Studio 24c, Focusrite Scarlett Solo Gen3, Audient iD4 MkII, and Steinberg UR12. You can also consider the Behringer U-Phoria UMC22, IK Multimedia iRig HD 2, Native Instruments Komplete Audio 1, Mackie Onyx Artist 1.2, and BandLab Link Digital.
- Subscription to a sample service
Last but not least, you may consider subscribing to a sample service. In music production, samples are pre-recorded sounds or existing sound recordings that can be used to create new tracks. You can create samples from existing tracks yourself. Yet, it is time-consuming, and you may not be happy with the end result.
That’s where sample subscription services can come in handy. They typically provide you with samples organized by genre or instrument. Therefore, you can try multiple sounds or loops for a modest monthly fee. Some popular sample subscription services include Splice, Loopmasters, and Noizz. Give them a try and see how it can improve your creative process.
To sum up
The five budget items mentioned in this article are essential for any aspiring dorm DJ. By investing in these items and practicing your skills, you can hone your craft and create music that you are proud of. Also, with the right equipment, even on a budget, you can create high-quality music that will impress your friends and potentially attract a following.