Top 10 Accessories For Music Producers

As I started to brainstorm ideas for the top 10 accessories for music producers, I reflected on many of the sessions that I’ve been involved with from both sides of the microphones.

Like the best recording studio accessories, I wanted to include items that you can easily fit into your gig bag and take with you to any session, but there are some items that are important enough to include that don’t fall into that category.

Always remember – Gear is important, but one of the key concepts of music production is building and expanding your knowledge base. It’s important not to put too much emphasis on things, but to focus on honing your craft skillset.

If you do want some accessories to help you with your music production chops, we have a few suggestions.

Best music production laptops: Dell XPS and Apple MacBook Pro

Since the traditional studio format is almost extinct, as a producer it’s common to find yourself in all sorts of recording environments. What you don’t want to do is leave a session up to chance.

Will they have the DAW and plugins you’re familiar with? Obviously, there are hardware considerations with the studio interface being compatible with your machine to keep in mind.

But having your own music production computer you can take with you everywhere can help minimize some of the unknowns.

Best room treatment for music producers: Primacoustic London 16 Room Kit

Acoustic room treatment is a critical element of a proper studio space, but it’s often overlooked in favor of “sexier” gear. Unless you build the room to ideal dimensional specifications, every room needs some type of acoustic treatment.

You can piece it together from disparate parts, or even DIY, but why not make sure you have all the bases covered and get a kit? Primacoustic makes some of the best kits.

The London series comes in kits that range from eight to 16 pieces to accommodate any type of recording space. Forty-two panels come in the London 16 that include bass traps, diffusers, broadband absorbers, control columns, scatter blocks, and more.

No matter what acoustic anomalies affect your space, the best type of treatment panels are here. It’s not cheap, but it’s more than a worthwhile investment into your recording studio.

Best ergonomic mouse for music producers: Kensington Expert Trackball Mouse and Microsoft Surface Arc

Long hours in the studio these days means long hours spent in front of a computer. You’ll want to have an ergonomic mouse that reduces strain but doesn’t impede workflow.

Selection here is very much up to personal taste/needs, but luckily there are a wide variety of options on the market. Trackball models are very popular with music and media professionals of all types.

Best studio headphones for music producers: Sennheiser HD300 and AKG K240

A good pair of headphones is an invaluable tool. Closed-back designs are great for tracking, as they reduce bleed. But an open or semi-open back design can be better can give you a better sonic image for mixing – if you have to mix on headphones.

Just as important is having plenty of 1/8″ to 1/4″ adapters for use with different types of gear.

Best external hard drive for music producers: SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

Even if you’re not traveling between recording locations (or working out of a bedroom studio), and redundancy (pun intended!) is intentional here – storage drives are the lifeblood of your sessions.

A really durable model that you can take with you wherever you go is a necessity. Solid State Drives (SSDs) are the best way to go, considering the fact that they’re more durable and reliable than traditional hard drives and available in a range of storage options. 

Some DAWs (like Reaper) can be run from a hard drive without having to install locally, so you can fire up your software of choice anywhere.

Best MIDI controller for music producers: Arturia Keylab 88 and M-Audio Keystation 49

A good MIDI controller goes a long way. You can control virtual instruments, write automation, and more. The more keys the better, and 88 is ideal. But depending on what you’ll be using it for you might only need a few octaves.

It’s also best to get a model with weighted keys. This will come in handy if talent wants to play it and they are used to the feel and response of these kinds of keys.

If you want to take it a step further, some keyboards offer a host of quality onboard sounds and can act as a MIDI controller as well. Many are even compact enough for you to travel with from session to session.

Best frequency analyzer plugin: Blue Cat Audio Multi-Frequency Analysis Pack and Voxengo Span

Frequency analyzers are one of the most critical tools or accessories for music producers. Aside from providing a visual representation of what is happening across the equalization range of your mix, they also provide readouts of volume levels and phase correlation.

There are plugins, hardware units, even phone apps (that are surprisingly accurate!) that are all great. SPAN from Voxengo is an amazing application that is totally free.

Best control surface for music producers: Presonus Faderport and Korg Nanocontrol Studio

Definitely one of the more esoteric recording studio accessories for engineers and music producers, this can be a love it/hate it item. While they do introduce some of the tactile elements back into the workflow, they can be clunky and glitchy.

Obviously, this is more of an individual preference than any slight to manufacturers. If the idea works for you and is properly integrated into your system it can be a tremendous time saver and headache reducer.

Best headphone extension cable for music producers: LiveWire Essential Headphone Extension Cable and Pig Hot Solutions Headphone Extension Cable

Any studio you’re working in should have multiples of these, but it’s a good idea to have your own.

It’s great to add additional length if you’re tracking, giving musicians more freedom when tracking and performing, and for freeing up engineers and producers at the computer workstation or mixing console.

Best cable tester for music producers: LiveWire Cable Tester and Mackie MTest-1

Cabling issues can kill the momentum of a session very quickly. In the heat of the red light, you don’t have time to bust out the multi-meter to troubleshoot cables.

A cable tester is one of the best recording studio accessories and provides an easy and fast way to narrow down issues. And some can even check the efficacy of vacuum tubes as well.

Best studio chair for music producers: Sauder Woodworking Company Big and Tall Office Chair

Of all of the recording studio accessories for music producers, this might be the most overlooked. We all know how much time is spent in the studio, so you want to make sure you have a great chair, as it might be the most used piece of equipment.

Wheels are a must regardless of size of your space, and one with removable arms is a guitarist’s best friend. Last but definitely not least- it will help your posture.

Any office chair can work, but there are certainly models that are made just for the recording studio. Remember, comfort equals concentration!

FAQ

Should I use a desktop or a laptop for music production?

Both have pros and cons. Desktops typically offer better performance and upgrade options, while laptops provide portability. The best computers for recording for you is based on your needs and workflow.

What equipment does a music producer use?

Some of the most necessary gear for a music producer includes a computer designed for music production – RAM and a powerful processor being two of the most critical elements.

Additionally, they need an audio interface and DAW. Other items include microphones, cabling, headphones, and studio monitors. There are certainly more, but these are the best to start.

Why do I need specific accessories for music production?

Music production accessories enhance your workflow in many ways. They provide better sound quality, improve ergonomics, and help you work more efficiently. Most importantly, they make it easier to focus on creativity and reduce workflow inconveniences.