In fact, it's his preferred aesthetic.Īs he so aptly put it in a 2015 interview with, 'I don't like clean beats, clean videos. And Brown doesn't seem the least bit concerned that such limited tools may not yield the same squeaky clean sound as some of his peers. The prolific producer still composes and creates all of his music with the same archaic software today, even though music technology has improved exponentially in the past 22 years. In the end, we hope these artists and vignettes inspire you to take whatever equipment you have access to and create something distinctive and unique.Īfter first learning how to make beats on Voyetra software for Windows 95, Mello Music Group mainstay Apollo Brown later upgraded to the multi-track editing and recording program Cool Edit 2000 in 1996. Though some of the artists covered below use the same gear, you'll notice that each person has a distinct workflow that highlights their originality and inimitability. With that in mind, here's a look at nine notable production masters and their weapons of choice.

And looking at the vast array of tools used by producers over the years can bring about a newfound appreciation for the rampant DIY ingenuity in rap and sample-based music. It can provide us with some interesting insights into how certain equipment features and limitations helped notable artists create their signature sounds. While this may be true, studying producers and their methods isn't an endeavor without merit. Or as Madlib once said, 'If you don't bear, it don't matter. Many veterans caution aspiring beat makers against fetishizing gear and promote a philosophy of getting the job done regardless of what tools you have access to. The study of producers and their chosen DAW, equipment, and studio setup is a tricky one to navigate.

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