4. Other tools
While what I’ve previously listed are some of the more essential tools adequate for you, as a beat maker, looking to make your own rap beats, there are still other tools you should consider to take you into that next level. First, before I get any further, I would like to remind you that you’ll always hear others claim that a certain tool is better than the other. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s kind of like the Mac vs. PC discussion: it’s never ending! The same holds true for beats, whether it’s MPC vs. MV3000, Reason vs. FL Studio, or Cubase vs. Logic. There is no better; only best for you. Try not to get caught up into all of that, because in the end it all comes down to your ability as an artist to use your creativity to create something, while effectively utilizing the tools you have at your disposal. A good producer should be able to become a master of his or her own tools. A good way determine whether you’ll need to expand your production arsenal is by looking at what you already have and the style of music you intend on creating then figuring out what’s limiting you. This is the best way of gauging whether you should buy new gear because software and hardware is not cheap and investing in either or both of these things can mean a couple hundred or thousand of dollars spent. This free guide is about making beats on a tight-pocketed budget, so I’ll detail what I did and strictly outline some costs incurred as a result. When I did this evaluation myself early on, I realized that the most limiting factor was the variety of sounds I had which clued me into what I needed at the time, which was more sounds to work with.
Sounds:
In addition to containing nearly all the tools you’ll need to begin making beats, FL Studio also comes with some stock sounds to get your production game started. Bundled with FL Studio is some drum kits, bass tones, and several other sounds such as strings, synths, percussion, etc. While these sounds may help get you started, sooner you’ll find that they get used and re-used fast and you’ll need to load up on some newer sounds to stay creative.