Beat Production
Whether it's hip-hop, house, or synth-pop, every great track comes down to the beat. Sweetwater's drum machines, MPCs, and grooveboxes feature the latest tech, hands-on workflows, and expressive pads, freeing you to focus on your groove.
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Top Beat Production Brands
- 1010music
- Ableton
- AirTurn
- Akai Professional
- Alesis
- Allen & Heath
- AlphaTheta
- Analogue Solutions
- Arturia
- ASM
- Behringer
- Bitwig
- Black Lion Audio
- Blackstar
- BlipBlox
- Boss
- Buchla
- CME Pro
- Cre8audio
- Crumar
- Dexibell
- Disaster Area Designs
- Doepfer
- Dreadbox
- DW
- Elektron
- Erica Synths
- Expressive E
- Fender Studio
- Fishman
- Gamechanger Audio
- Groove Synthesis
- GSi
- Hammond
- Hornberg Research
- Hosa
- Hotone
- iConnectivity
- IK Multimedia
- Intellijel
- Kawai
- Kenton
- Korg
- M-Audio
- Make Noise
- Meris
- MIDI Solutions
- Modal Electronics
- Moog
- MOTU
- Muse Kinetics
- Native Instruments
- Nektar
- Nord
- Novation
- Oaktone
- Oberheim
- Odisei Music
- Otamatone
- Pearl
- Pioneer DJ
- Pittsburgh Modular
- Polyend
- PreSonus
- PWM
- Reloop
- Roland
- Samson
- Sequential
- Singular Sound
- Source Audio
- Strymon
- Studio Electronics
- Studiologic
- Suhr
- Tech 21
- Teenage Engineering
- V3 Sound
- Waldorf
- Yamaha
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About Beat Production
Gone are the days when DJing just meant running a couple of decks and a mixer. Today, beat production can mean everything from creating tracks for DJs to spin to manipulating a tabletop full of synth modules to create new beats and grooves in front of a live crowd. No matter where or how you like to produce, Sweetwater has the sequencers, synths, samplers, and more to help you build your rig.
Drum Machines to Hybrid Beat Production Rigs
Traditional beat production often began with a hardware sampler or drum machine, such as the long-running Akai MPC series. Today’s beat producers have more options, with many popular hybrid controllers pairing software flexibility with hands-on control. Many models from Akai, Ableton, Native Instruments, and Novation tie into software platforms that let you create performance-ready tracks.
Hardware Samplers and Sequencers for Live Performance
On the standalone side, companies including Korg and Elektron make excellent hardware samplers and drum machines. Some double as sequencers, making them ideal central hubs for tabletop synth rigs. The rise of Eurorack modular synthesis and other analog gear controlled by control voltage (CV) has helped make standalone sequencers relevant again for live electronic music production.
MIDI Controllers for Software-Based Beat Production
More of an in-the-box beatmaker? A MIDI controller gives you real-time control of your favorite soft synths and virtual instruments. Full-size controller keyboards are well suited to studio production, while compact pad controllers such as Novation’s Launchpad series turn your laptop into a live performance rig.
Find the Gear That Fits Your Beat Production Style
Not sure which keyboard or controller suits you? Our best MIDI keyboard controllers guide breaks down keyboard options by key feel and skill level.
Beat Production Categories
