The rise of electronic music over the last half century brought on an influx of ways for DJs and mixers to create music. Some stay completely in the box, using computers and software to shape their music, while others prefer the sound and feel of analog. Whatever the case, every beginner has to start somewhere, but not every beginner has to start the same way. Below we’ve laid out three different beginner rigs made to facilitate creativity in your growing studio with loads of built-in sounds, effects, and the tools needed to take that 4-bar loop from simple idea to club banger.
EDM Rig 1
MacBook Pro, Ableton Live, and Apollo Twin
If you’re building your first personal EDM rig from scratch, a good place to start is with a rig that is widely considered a standard in home production. Between a MacBook Pro, Ableton Live Standard, and an Apollo Twin interface, you’ll have a foundation of software and hardware needed to create high-quality EDM or electronic tunes from the comfort of your home or production office.
MacBook Pro
At home or onstage, a reliable computer serves as the core of your rig. We at Sweetwater love MacBook Pros. They’re powerful enough to handle virtually any DAW or production software yet are easy to use. The workhorse of this setup, a MacBook, gives desktop power in a portable machine for on-the-move production.
Ableton Live Standard Edition
When it comes to EDM production and performance, Ableton Live is unmatched by many modern DAWs. The native workflow lends itself extremely well to loop-based production and flexibility, and it also performs all the standard functions you need from a DAW. Session View lets you create music in a traditional, multitrack view featuring all the standard functions of a DAW. Arrangement View lets you take those loops, phrases, and blips and play them into a musical structure. Arrangement View is also where you can turn Ableton into a beat machine to be used by a number of external hardware controllers. Included with Ableton Live Standard edition are over 10GB of sounds, five soft instruments, over 40 effects, and 16 sample packs. Live also supports VST and Audio Unit plug-ins, multitrack recording up to 32-bit/192kHz audio, and a wide variety of file formats from WAV and AIFF to FLAC and Ogg Vorbis audio files. If workflow and flexibility are a must, Ableton Live should also be at the top of your list.
Universal Audio Apollo Twin MKII
An interface expands your computer and DAW’s audio capabilities, letting you add live instruments and vocals to the mix. Beginners and pros alike love Universal Audio’s Apollo Twin interface for its simple yet powerful design, offering Thunderbolt connectivity, 24-bit/96kHz AD/DA resolution, an easy-to-use interface, built-in processing power for UAD plug-in use, and high-quality Unison preamps. And at less than 6.5″ wide and deep, and under 3″ high, you’re getting a high-quality audio interface that travels well.
EDM Rig 2
Akai MPC Live and Roland SE-02
If something a little more traditional is on your radar, the combination of the Akai MPC Live and Roland SE-02 is a beginner EDM rig that harkens back to the days of electronic music lore. The Akai MPC is one of the most recognizable electronic instruments on the market, and Roland has been making electronic instruments and synthesizers since 1972. “Classic” is a term that comes to mind with this combo.
MPC Live
The Akai MPC Live in combination with the Roland SE-02 analog synth is a lethal combo for achieving any EDM style. With the MPC Live, Akai has transformed its iconic MPC into a standalone DAW and controller with the built-in MPC 2.0 platform, 7″ multi-touch display screen, and 10GB of production-ready sounds. Combined with the 16 velocity-sensitive pads, transport controls, touch-sensitive Q-Link control knobs, and a pad bank section, the MPC Live is a supremely flexible controller. Need to hit the road? The compact form factor and 6-hour battery charge give you a mobile workstation for making music on the go. The MPC Live features balanced TRS I/Os, 5-pin MIDI DIN ports, SD card slot, and USB to connect to a variety of external gear.
SE-02
The Roland SE-02 is an accessible, 3-oscillator (voltage-controlled), monophonic analog synth that pairs perfectly with the MPC Live. Featuring a bank of 384 synth presets, 16-step sequencer, and straightforward control panel, the SE-02 provides an unending range of sounds to create. Pair as a MIDI-controlled synth with your MPC Live, you can cue your favorite melody or bass lines over your beats to hone in on your ideal sound. Once you’ve found your sound, save the patch into the SE-02’s onboard user memory for easy recall in the future. Suffice it to say, the SE-02 is a great synth for any beginner EDM rig.
EDM Rig 3
Native Instruments Maschine MK3 with Komplete 11
It may be one of the newer kids on the block, but Maschine from Native Instruments is no child. This powerful controller has enough functionality built into it to make your head spin, and that’s without including the latest version of Native Instruments’ world-renowned production suite, Komplete 11.
Maschine MK3
When Native Instruments’ Maschine was launched back in 2009, the goal was to create a music production hardware/software combo that could be used as a standalone production suite or in tandem with any DAW, as well as a performance machine (pun intended). With Maschine MK3, Native Instruments has come one step closer to a complete standalone production platform that works for both beginners and professionals alike. With two high-res displays, you can manage nearly every aspect of your music production, from melody/chord notation and beat production to sample editing and effect manipulation. You don’t need to concern yourself with an external audio interface, because the MK3 comes with an onboard, studio-grade, 24-bit/96kHz audio interface for mic recording, sampling, or routing in a synthesizer.
Komplete 11
Rounding out this rig is the inclusion of Komplete 11, which is Native Instruments’ full suite of synthesizers, drum machines, mastering/effects plug-ins, and virtual instruments. You can find or create any sound imaginable, whether it’s authentic-sounding drums with Studio Drummer, growling, powerful synthesized bass sounds in the aptly named Massive, or a full symphony with Session Horns and Sessions Strings. These examples are just a fraction of the 13,000 sounds and 155GB worth of audio content that come in Komplete 11. When we say “create any sound” with this suite, we mean that quite literally.
While we at Sweetwater agree these are great starting points for any beginner, there is no shortage of rigs to choose from outside this list. Want to talk to a professional rather than hoping to have your questions answered by watching another YouTube video? Call one of our highly trained Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700, and they can answer any question you have.
