The best budget-friendly music production software and hardware from Native Instruments
Until recently, creating a fully-fledged studio brimming with music production equipment demanded a hefty financial investment. For most people, producing music was a prohibitively expensive art form. Luckily for beatmakers and musicians everywhere, a transformative shift has occurred. Recent technological advancement means that building a home recording studio has become more accessible than ever before.
Great music production equipment is now affordable. In other words, you can start producing high-quality music on a modest budget today. A readily available array of tools for music production means that nothing will get in your way when bringing your musical ideas to life. But with so many great options out there for cheap music production equipment and cheap dj equipment, you might feel overwhelmed about where to start. That’s why we’ve made a list of our favorite budget-friendly music producer equipment and software. Get ready to make your own beats without breaking the bank.
Great music production equipment is now affordable. In other words, you can start producing high-quality music on a modest budget today. A readily available array of tools for music production means that nothing will get in your way when bringing your musical ideas to life. But with so many great options out there for cheap music production equipment and cheap dj equipment, you might feel overwhelmed about where to start. That’s why we’ve made a list of our favorite budget-friendly music producer equipment and software. Get ready to make your own beats without breaking the bank.
1. Komplete Kontrol M32
This sleek controller offers a host of features to enhance your MIDI expression. It’s also fully portable, so you can make music wherever you feel inspired. Get hands-on and dive into all sorts of adjustable parameters using touch-sensitive NKS-ready features. Komplete Kontrol M32 comes bundled with Ableton Live 11 Lite, along with synths and samples to get you creating immediately.
Want something a little larger with semi-weighted keys, a crystal clear full-color display, and Light Guide functionality? You should look into Komplete Kontrol S61.
Get Komplete Kontrol M32
Want something a little larger with semi-weighted keys, a crystal clear full-color display, and Light Guide functionality? You should look into Komplete Kontrol S61.
Get Komplete Kontrol M32
2. Kontrol S-Series S49
The Kontrol S-Series S49 is an advanced MIDI keyboard that features an intuitive connection to thousands of instruments, effects, and your DAW, plus immersive navigation on a high-res screen.
The Kontrol S-Series is the world’s first widely available controller keyboard to combine polyphonic aftertouch with weighted, hammer-action keys. It also has a direct connection with Kontakt, making it easier than ever to access, adjust, and play your sounds thanks to intelligent auto-mapping that understands the parameters.
The Kontrol S-Series’ integration with all major DAWs means you can keep your eyes on your keyboard and away from your computer screen, too. Hit record, stop, and rewind on the keys, mix and edit, and see all your project’s channels on the display.
Get Kontrol S-Series S49
The Kontrol S-Series is the world’s first widely available controller keyboard to combine polyphonic aftertouch with weighted, hammer-action keys. It also has a direct connection with Kontakt, making it easier than ever to access, adjust, and play your sounds thanks to intelligent auto-mapping that understands the parameters.
The Kontrol S-Series’ integration with all major DAWs means you can keep your eyes on your keyboard and away from your computer screen, too. Hit record, stop, and rewind on the keys, mix and edit, and see all your project’s channels on the display.
Get Kontrol S-Series S49
3. Komplete Audio 2
Whether you’re new to the world of music making equipment, or a seasoned recording veteran, you’ll know the importance of a good audio interface. One of the essential tools for music production, an audio interface lets you record directly into your computer and hear your audio come to life through monitor speakers or headphones. With two XLR/jack combo inputs that record in pristine quality, Komplete Audio 2 is all you need to capture the perfect sound.
Ableton Live 11 Lite, synths, and samples are included to jumpstart your recording journey. Komplete Audio 2 is the ultimate option for cost-efficient professional sound and routing.
Get Komplete Audio 2
Ableton Live 11 Lite, synths, and samples are included to jumpstart your recording journey. Komplete Audio 2 is the ultimate option for cost-efficient professional sound and routing.
Get Komplete Audio 2
4. Maschine Mikro
The Maschine Mikro is a piece for the beatmakers and sample flippers—a powerhouse controller in a budget-friendly package. It is a compact version of the original Maschine which the Native Instruments team crafted with a multitude of production styles in mind. Actualize your ideas swiftly and intuitively either within the Maschine software system or on your preferred DAW. Maschine Mikro has 16 velocity-sensitive pads which you can use as triggers or a sequencer.
If you want to get the most out of your Maschine Mikro, you should kick off with this Maschine Mikro starter’s guide.
Get Maschine Mikro
If you want to get the most out of your Maschine Mikro, you should kick off with this Maschine Mikro starter’s guide.
Get Maschine Mikro
5. Rudiments
Native Instruments’ Play Series instruments are a great budget option to fill your music production toolkit with fresh sounds and inspiration. They all offer incredible-sounding presets in a very intuitive interface so you can really up your game for an affordable price. As part of the Play Series, Rudiments lets you lay down beats with curated kits, patterns, and samples. Each kit has 16 hip hop drum patterns that can be edited in any DAW with MIDI drag and drop. It’s ideal for hip hop, modern pop, trap, and everything in between.
Get Rudiments
Get Rudiments
6. Sway
Another great budget option from the Play Series, Sway is built on samples from soulful hip hop’s distinctive pianos, guitars, synths, and bells. Everything has been treated with original, analog gear so you can get a true grainy, filtered vibe without investing any extra gear. Bring mellow hip hop vibes to your tracks with dozens presets and mix things up with hands-on macro controls.
Get Sway
Get Sway
The best budget-friendly music production software and hardware from Native Instruments
7. Komplete Select
Komplete Select is an all-in-one powerhouse designed to fuel the creation of a song from start to finish. This comprehensive production suite features cutting-edge synths, meticulously crafted samples, and a range of modulation effects and processing like reverb, phaser, and compression. With everything you need right in this collection, it truly is up to you how to use it.
What’s great about Komplete is that the packages are upgradeable at any time. So if you’re loving Komplete Select and are searching for the next step up, check out Komplete 14 Standard.
Get Komplete Select
What’s great about Komplete is that the packages are upgradeable at any time. So if you’re loving Komplete Select and are searching for the next step up, check out Komplete 14 Standard.
Get Komplete Select
10. iZotope Elements Suite
No track is ever complete without a good mix and master. But outboard gear for these tasks can be totally unaffordable. iZotope Elements Suite transforms your computer or laptop into state-of-the-art music mixing equipment.
Elevate your sound with this smart and powerful collection of mixing, mastering, and tonal shaping tools. AI-powered features remove the guesswork from these processes, so you can streamline your tasks and ensure that your tracks are distribution-ready in no time.
If you like the sound of iZotope’s cutting-edge plugins and want to explore a bundle filled with even more exciting features, look no further than the Music Production Suite.
Get iZotope Elements Suite
Elevate your sound with this smart and powerful collection of mixing, mastering, and tonal shaping tools. AI-powered features remove the guesswork from these processes, so you can streamline your tasks and ensure that your tracks are distribution-ready in no time.
If you like the sound of iZotope’s cutting-edge plugins and want to explore a bundle filled with even more exciting features, look no further than the Music Production Suite.
Get iZotope Elements Suite
11. Duets
Duets has everything you need for vocals and synths in one great value package. Ideal for pop, hip hop, and R&B productions it’s a hybrid instrument with 151 tweakable presets of vocals, leads, basses, and pads. Also part of the Play Series, Duets was built in collaboration with legendary engineers Curtis “Sauce” Wilson and Rochad Holiday who have worked with the likes of Ne-Yo, Ariana Grande, Will Smith, and Dr Dre.
Also check out Glaze and Hybrid Keys in the same family.
Get Duets
Also check out Glaze and Hybrid Keys in the same family.
Get Duets
Start producing music with budget-friendly gear and software
Music production equipment is more affordable than ever before. A diverse range of gear and software is now available at a low cost—welcoming all producers, beatmakers, DJs, and musicians to the table.
You can hold the power to translate your musical visions into reality. Why not try something that fits your budget and create your own original track today? Get started with the Komplete Kontrol M32, a perfect addition to your studio that controls all your instruments and effects.
Get Komplete Kontrol M32
You can hold the power to translate your musical visions into reality. Why not try something that fits your budget and create your own original track today? Get started with the Komplete Kontrol M32, a perfect addition to your studio that controls all your instruments and effects.
Get Komplete Kontrol M32