It might be quite obvious as a hip hop beat maker that there are just too many options to choose from when looking to setup your own personal beat creation studio. You have hardware makers such as Roland, Akai Professional, and Yamaha with their slew of innovative keyboards, mixers and the such; and then you have the software music creation companies such as Propellerheads, Avid, Apple, and Image Line to name a few, which also have a multitude of software options that you can choose from to get your beats done.

So, with so many choices, and no absolute right or wrong choice to be made as a matter of factly, how do you go about finding the right tools for you and your hip hop beat maker aspirations? Well I have a few ideas...

Research and Test Before You Buy

Disclaimer: As a producer who came into the game around 2004, I was introduced to beat making early on with the MPC/keyboard combination process of making a beat, but it was also in 2004 when I was first introduced to Reason, and I realized that I didn't need my MPC or keyboard anymore. So I am highly biased to software production setups, they just make sense to me.

But before you go out and buy anything, whether hardware gear or software, I suggest you utilize the online resources and do some research; and from there go into your local Guitar Center and put your hands on some of the gear that you have been researching. Buying gear and buying shoes are pretty much the same, you gotta try them both on for size and find the right fit for you.

Purchasing music equipment can become extremely expensive, so you want to make sure that your purchases last, and that you are choosing gear that you can both learn from and grow with. Treat the gear is if it were your children.

Software Beat Machines Are Taking Over

Yes, they really are. What got me to thinking on this topic was the announcement of the new Akai MPC Renaissance that will be coming soon, every hip hop beat maker and their Mama's are gonna be checking this thing out. But, what threw me for a loop was the fact that the process that made the MPC so iconic for hip hip music production was somewhat being shelved, and now switched up with a software approach to making beats itself! It looks to me as if the MPC Renaissance will be a $1,300 MIDI controller in my opinion.

Now for a company that is known for it's hardware approach to making beats via sampling and drum sequencing; I was surprised to see a software element included within their new beat box. But at the same time, I know that there is honestly no way around it, technological advancements have greatly shaped the way music is being made, and also the tools necessary to make music aren't the same tools we used 20 years ago.

One software application, such as Pro Tools, could easily replace a classic studio full of vintage equipment. The room full of gear could have easily costed hundreds of thousands of dollars, whereas Pro Tools only costs $500.00. So you tell me which one the masses would be attempting to make their own?

I made the switch a long time ago to a software setup, and I haven't looked back since. I'm able to make beats wherever I go, so long as I have my laptop with me. You can even make beats on your Iphone or Ipad now; it was only a matter of time before the hardware manufacturing companies took notice. I wouldn't be surprised to see keyboards become much like tape decks in new cars.... Non existent. Better Beats Ahead.