The music industry has changed significantly in the last few years. With music production on a laptop becoming more popular and common. Many aspiring music producers are wondering whether they really need expensive studio equipment to produce music or if they can just use a laptop.
The short answer to this question is YES, you can make beats with just a laptop and many professionals do. However, there are limitations that a laptop may pose and pieces of hardware that may be required for the best results.
In this article, we will look at the pros and cons of using a laptop to make beats, along with some recommendations on laptops and resources you can use to make beats.
Why Use a Laptop to Make Beats
With music production on a laptop becoming more common many music producers are wondering what benefits laptops provide over traditional studio setups.
First of all music production on a laptop is much more convenient. Recording music in the studio requires setting up expensive music equipment, transporting music equipment to and from studios, and finding a place to buy or rent for the studio.
Laptops are small enough to transport easily so music producers can take their music anywhere they want without difficulty. Additionally, laptops can plug into docks that can connect to complex hardware setups.
Next, music production on a laptop can be much more affordable. High-quality music equipment for music production is expensive, but music production laptops enable music producers to produce high-quality music without having to purchase music equipment or large computer rigs.
With a laptop, you do not have to purchase a mouse and keyboard, monitors, or even a desk. Although you may be paying more money for a less powerful computer, you’re getting a portable setup that is powerful enough to start producing music.
Pros and Cons of Using a Laptop to Make Beats
There are several benefits and drawbacks to using music production music gear to make music.
Pros
- Portable
- No need for a dedicated studio space
- Cheaper
- Convenient
Cons
- More expensive than a similarly specced desktop computer
- Small screen size
Pro: Portable
The first benefit of a laptop is music producers can produce music anywhere they want without having to travel to the studio or be stuck at home on their desktop computer. A laptop allows producers to produce music on the go and not be tied to one location or studio.
Pro: No need for a dedicated studio space
The second benefit, music producers can produce music more affordably. Buying a laptop means you do not need to find a dedicated spot to produce music, whether that’s being a studio or space in your home.
Pro: Cheaper
Without a laptop you can go routes, buying or renting a studio space, having a dedicated room set up as a studio, or dedicated space for a desktop computer setup.
Buying/renting a studio is not cheap. Not only will you have to get the space you will have to still buy the hardware to go with it.
Buying a desktop computer means you’ll need a dedicated place to have it set up and a desk to place it on. Not to mention buying a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Pro: Convenient
Laptops are convenient, especially if you travel or are going to other people’s music studios. A laptop for music production essentially means you have a portable music studio that you can take anywhere with you or set up in any place you want!
Con: More expensive than a similarly specced desktops
Laptops can be cheaper when considering the extra purchases you’ll have to make when setting up a desktop computer (monitor, keyboard, mouse, desk, chair, etc.) However, laptops are typically not as powerful as similarly priced desktop computers.
For the convenience and portability of a laptop, you’re sacrificing performance – the most important being processing power. Less processing power means fewer plugins and tracks that can be used at one time.
Con: Smaller screen size
Laptops may come with everything you need to start producing music; however, they do not come with large screens – and some may not even like using a trackpad.
Buying a laptop may be cheaper, but you may find yourself buying a monitor, docking station, keyboard, and mouse and setting the laptop up like a desktop anyways.
Ask yourself first, do you really need the portability or do you typically only stay at home to produce music? When you travel, are you actually going to produce music or sit back and relax?
Best Laptops for Making Beats
There are many laptops and brands out there and many of them will be capable of producing music. However, buy the computer with the most processing power and RAM within your budget.
Music production does not require a beefy graphics card and storage space can be expanded with external drives.
With that being said here are my top 3 picks for the best laptops for music production. They offer lots of processing power, RAM, and storage space.
Summary
In conclusion, music production on a laptop is becoming widespread as music production music software and music hardware become more available and affordable to music producers without professional studio equipment.
While it is possible to make music with just a laptop, specialized music equipment such as keyboards and MIDI controllers make the music production process much easier.
Laptops provide producers with portable music studios that allow them to create music on the go. Although they are more expensive than similarly specced desktop setups, they are still cheaper than a full studio setup. And, the convenience and entry cost of them can be well worth it!