How to Build a Home Studio to Become A Hip-Hop Producer

How would you like to build your own home computer based recording studio to create hip-hop beats? This article would give you the elements you need to do just that. I have been in the music business for years and I’m only suggesting equipment I’ve used or have experience with. Some of the equipment might be a little dated but can still be quite useful to this day.Theres a lot of different equipment you can use to build your own studio but I’m just providing a foundation to get you started.

First you will need a computer (Pentium IV Processor, 30 GB Hard drive, 512 MB Ram, CD optical drive, Windows XP, wireless card). You should then obtain equipment such as amplifiers, microphones, mixers, electric instruments, and cables for connecting it all together. Acquire a working high-quality soundcard, such as M-Audio Fast Track Pro or DigiDesign Mbox Mini. Monitor speakers-Audio Studiophile BX8a’s, KRK RP-6 Rokit, or the Mackie HR 824 Studio Monitors. MIDI keyboard will be useful if you want to use midi software (which you can use to write bass lines, piano parts and drum beats). Buy music-editing software for your PC such as Reason, Cakewalk, Pro Tools or Fruity Loops. For best playback quality run from the sound card into a mixer or amplifier and then to your monitor speakers. For best recording quality, run instruments/mics into a mixer then run from the mixer into the sound card. Learn how to record a sound from an input line and how to arrange pre-recorded sounds. Also learn how to turn an arrangement into a wav file or MP3 file. Now you can start producing hip-hop beats.

To create hip-hop beats you can start with the drums and bass first. This is the foundation of your production. You then should add in the melody sounds such as guitar, piano, strings, etc. You can ten add the percussion and sound effects to fill the spaces in your mix. It’s wise to EQ each sound in the mix. Each sound should have its own unique EQ settings, your overall mix will sound more balanced.

As a hip-hop producer it is recommended to do things to stand out. This would allow you to be individually successful as a producer in the industry.  Experiment with things such as melodic electric bass guitar lines, distinctive melodic and chord structures, orchestral string selections, chartered horn sections and beat tempos ranging from 90 to 180.The need for one to be different and to be a star hip-hop producer, as opposed to merely being a talented one, is a relatively new phenomenon that can take you on the road to superstardom in the hip-hop industry.