A summary of recommended equipment for DTM beginners: This is what you need to create music on your PC!

I want to get started with DTM, but what do I need? What is the minimum equipment needed to create music with DTM? I'm sure there are many beginners with questions like these.

So, this time we will introduce the equipment necessary for DTM."The bare minimum"と"It's useful to have."I hope this will be helpful when you start DTM.

Equipment required for DTM

First, if you are doing DTM normally,Minimal toolsThe following three things are required:

PC Without this, you can't start DTM!

DTM is the process of creating music on a PC, so you can't get started without this.
You can use either Windows or Mac as your OS, but we recommend Mac as it is specialized for creators and has stable operation!
It is possible to create music on either a desktop or laptop PC, but if the PC's processing power is low, when playing many sound sources at the same time using music production software, the sound may cut out and stop (and noise may occur), or the performance may stop midway due to processing lag.
If you want smooth operation, you will need a PC with a high-performance CPU, SSD, and plenty of memory.
However, as long as it meets the specifications required for the DAW software you plan to use, there will be no problem.

[amazonjs asin="B08N6MMJX5" locale="JP" title="Latest Apple MacBook Pro Apple M1 Chip (13-inch Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) – Space Gray"]

DAW software (Digital Audio Workstation)

DAW(Digital Audio Workstation) is, simply put, software for creating music on a computer. It allows you to input sounds, record vocals and instruments, and also perform editing tasks such as mixing and mastering.
Are you wondering which DAW to choose from the many available?Logic,Studio One,Cubase,Live,FL StudioWe recommend the following five. These DAWs are currently the top five in market share, so you can't go wrong by choosing from them. There are also free software versions with limited functionality and time limits, so try them out and choose one that seems easy to use, or one that your favorite artist uses. However, be aware that some DAWs are only compatible with Windows or Mac.

Image-Line Software FL STUDIO 20 Fruity EDM Music Production DAW for Mac/Windows [Official Japanese Product]

If you really don't want to spend money, there are some recommended free DAW software that are just as good as the share versions, so you might want to consider those as well.

https://akihabara-bc.jp/free-dtm-soft/

Please note that the MIDI keyboard will not make any sound when used alone!

MIDI is a standard for sending and receiving performance data from electronic musical instruments. A keyboard-like controller is used to input that MIDI data into a DAW.MIDI keyboard.
Using this, you can create music with the same feeling as playing a real keyboard.
Some people may think that they don't need a keyboard because they're not good at playing it or can't play it in the first place, but I used a MIDI keyboard for my DAW.Step input (recording)Don't worry, there are tools and functions that make it easy for even those who aren't good at playing to input music!
Well, it's possible to type using just a mouse, but wouldn't it be more efficient to type using just one or two fingers rather than having to tap each time?

The keyboard I'm using now is the 49-key ROLAND "A-800PRO".

[amazonjs asin="B0042D8N82" locale="JP" title="Roland A-800PRO-R 61-key MIDI Keyboard Controller"]

This is the ultra-compact and slim KORG "nanoKEY 2" that I use when traveling.

[amazonjs asin=”B004M8YOMQ” locale=”JP” title=”KORG nanoKEY2 WH Standard USB MIDI Keyboard, White, Music Production, DTM, Compact Design, Ideal for Travel, Software License Included, 25 Keys”]

Depending on the keyboard, the number of keys and size may vary, and some models prioritize functionality. Some even come with a DAW or software synth, so it's a good idea to consider these when purchasing a MIDI keyboard.

Please be aware that a MIDI keyboard is an input device that sends instructions to the DAW to play sounds.Generally, a MIDI keyboard alone will not produce any sound.Here you go.

Other equipment that would be good to have

Monitor headphones: Balance the sound of your musiccheck!

Monitor headphones reproduce sound faithfully without any processing, and are characterized by a flat sound from low to high frequencies, making them ideal for checking the finer details of music production and the presence or absence of noise. They are an essential item if you are doing even the slightest bit of sound creation or mixing. Regular headphones are fine, but most are processed to remove unnecessary low and high frequencies for music listening, making them unsuitable for music production. At the very least, you should use monitor headphones.

The recommended headphones are the classic SONY headphones, which are the most used in the Japanese music industry."MDR-CD900ST"!

[amazonjs asin=”B000UPEJCU” locale=”JP” title=”SONY Closed-Back Studio Monitor Headphones MDR-CD900ST”]

By the way, the author himselfSHURE OfMy recommendation is the SRH840...(stealth marketing).

[amazonjs asin=”B002UUQ8ZE” locale=”JP” title=”SHURE SRH840 Professional Studio Headphones SRH840-A [Official Japanese Product]”]

Monitor Speakers　Song qualityIt's an essential item for improving your

Like monitor headphones, speakers are able to faithfully reproduce the original sound without any processing. If the sound is not reproduced accurately, it can make a big difference in the quality of the finished song, so speakers are essential for music production.
If you are concerned about noise in your music production environment, it might be better not to buy this and use monitor headphones. Make sure you can play the sound properly before purchasing, otherwise you will definitely cause trouble for your neighbors.

This is a compact, high-quality MACKIE speaker that can also be used for listening to music."CR3"These are monitor speakers that I personally recommend.

[amazonjs asin=”B00OJUBJOS” locale=”JP” title=”Mackie CR3 Monitor Speakers (Pair) - Official Japanese Product”]

All you need is an audio interfaceImproved sound quality

This is a device that can be connected to a PC and can record and play back in high quality. Here is a simple explanation of how it can be used:

• Recording live sounds such as guitar and vocals to a PC (input)
• Playing PC sound through speakers or headphones (output)

It also eliminates sound delays that occur during recording work, and depending on the device, as the number of input and output channels increases, it becomes easier to record small ensembles such as microphones, guitars, and basses.Simultaneous RecordingIt is also possible to connect multiple speakers.

My favorite STEINBERG"UR22mkII"This is a recommended standard product that can be used for a wide range of purposes, from DTM to streaming.

[amazonjs asin="B017MVUAHM" locale="JP" title="Steinberg 2x2 USB 2.0 24-bit/192kHz Audio Interface UR22mkII"]

Plug-ins for tone and expressionrepertoireLet's spread the word!

Plugins are small pieces of software used within a DAW. They fall into two categories: "sound sources" like synthesizers and guitars, and "effectors" like equalizers, compressors, delays, and reverbs. While most DAWs come with a set of pre-installed plug-ins, additional plug-ins often offer more powerful, sophisticated features, or unique functions. These can help you create sounds that aren't possible with existing plug-ins alone, and can also increase your workflow efficiency!

Most plugins are paid, and the higher the quality, the more expensive they are, but there are also some free plugins that are quite useful, so it might be worth trying them out.

↓We also feature recommended free plug-in sound sources here!

https://akihabara-bc.jp/dtm-free-plugin/

https://akihabara-bc.jp/vst_plugin_effects/

Let's start DTM!!

So what do you think? (standard format)
To get started with DTM, the first thing you need is a PC and a DAW.
A MIDI keyboard is the minimum equipment required to make DTM work more efficient, but I don't think you need to get monitor headphones or speakers right away if you don't need to do detailed sound creation or mixing, or if you only create songs using programmed sounds.
Even with the onboard sound functions of modern PCs and inexpensive headphones, a certain level of sound quality and tone is guaranteed, so if you want to create sounds with more precision or get serious about DTM later on, it's a good idea to purchase the necessary equipment.