My Music Equipment

M-Audio Oxygen Pro

The Oxygen Pro MIDI Keyboard by M-Audio is my current MIDI Keyboard for making beats. I created a Custom Oxygen Pro FL Studio Template which is available for purchase. The Oxygen Pro is JAM-PACKED for its price, with drum pads, knobs, sliders, and semi-weighted piano keys. I've always liked a 49-Key MIDI Keyboard.

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SSL2+ Audio Interface

I have tried A LOT of audio interfaces over my years, and they are definitely not all the same.. Remember, an audio interface is BOTH hardware & software (drivers).. both need to be good for a great experience.. the SSL2+ Audio Interface has been EXCELLENT for me. You may only need the SSL2 (I have the SSL2+). Note: a Version 2 is out now, but more expensive.

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Yamaha HS80m Studio Monitor Speakers

My version of the Yamaha HS80m's are discontinued, (there's a newer model now). They've been above average. I have them paired with a subwoofer to truly hear the low-end. (My first studio speakers were 5" paired with a sub, which I think produced better results.. the 8" woofer seems a little flabby, and hard to accurately hear the low-end.. the 8" woofer of speakers I think try to do too much of the low-end & low-mids. If I upgrade, I'd like to try a smaller speaker again to let the subwoofer have the low-end.)

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Avantone Mixcube (Active Powered Speaker)

It's important to have mono speakers to avoid a speaker's crossover of a tweeter (high frequencies) to its woofer (mid to low frequencies) when referencing a mix to help with translation to most audio systems. Avantone Mixcubes are often mentioned in the industry as a go-to, but I would say they are overpriced. The Mixcube is built extremely well and makes a studio look really nice, but you can get away with any small mono speaker. (I would also like to try two mono speakers next time for extra loudness, as the single speaker is a hard to hear detail, even at loud volumes.)

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Monitor Controller (Heritage Audio Baby RAM)

A Monitor Controller is music hardware for how to switch between different sets of studio speakers.. the problem is they are EXPENSIVE. I decided to go for a passive monitor controller, and Heritage Audio seemed to have a good name. I'm happy with the product, except you have to volume match your banks of speakers, as there's no volume control on the Baby RAM 👎. This means if one speaker bank can't go as loud as the other, you can't have loud music. (Thankfully I had an old pre-amp which I plugged into my mono speaker to boost its volume.. a dirty hack 🤫)

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FabFilter Pro-Q 3

Pro-Q 3 is one of the best EQs for music production when it comes to workflow. It is also an amazing EQ to teach with, too.. and looks great!

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FabFilter Pro-C 2

Pro-C 2 Compressor has many compressor styles built-in, and can easily map to your MIDI Keyboard in FL Studio for Hands-On.

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FabFilter Pro-L 2

Pro-L 2 Mastering Limiter can be pushed so hard for loudless without aggressive pumping. It truly is an industry standard for balanced masters to control audio peaks.

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FabFilter Pro-MB

Pro-MB multi-band compressor allows tremendous transparent audio compression. The ability to create bands, control range and knee gives such control.

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FabFilter Bundles

FabFilter plugins are expensive, but they offer FabFilter Bundle Discounts! I suggest either Pro, Mastering, or Essentials Bundle (in that order). I have the Pro Bundle, but the Mastering Bundle gives the core FabFilter plugins I'd highly recommend for mixing and mastering. (FabFilter honors an excellent license activation appraoch 👍)

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T-RackS Classic Clipper (IK Multimedia)

Unlike a limiter which produces audible audio pumping, a clipper clips audio peaks to increase loudness without pumping (but can produce harsh distortion if not careful). T-RackS Classic Clipper VST variable knee allows "analog" or "digital" clipping, and simple to use with INPUT & OUTPUT knobs to fine-tune clipping. (IK Multimedia's activation licensing forces a portal software 👎, but has an excellent history of long-term product maintainence!)

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Youlean Loudness Meter

Today's audio loudness standards require loudness meters. When LUFS loudness measurement was first introduced, VST Audio Loudness Meters were ridiculously expensive.. Youlearn came in clutch with a free and paid version of his loudness meter. 👍

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reFX Nexus VST ROMpler

A virtual instrument's audio quality is much more than its code-base.. it truly is the sound designer creating the presets. Many reFX Nexus presets are designed by Manuel Schleis (Vengeance-Sound). You'll immediately hear beatmaking & dance presets with utmost quality. (I do not like how Nexus forces us to download a license portal software to use the VST).

Sylenth1 VST

Sylenth1 Virtual Instrument (created by LennarDigital) is a mature VSTi, which is still maintainted. Sylenth1 gives quite a bit of sound design flexibilty, and there's many FREE Sylenth1 Presets! Its activation license is normal (but exposes your Windows username to LennarDigital's server 👎)

Serum VST

Serum Virtual Instrument Synthesizer quickly grew in popularity due its visual Wavetable Synthesis, Wavetable Creator, & ability to easily map any knob to a parameter with simple drag & drop! Created by Xfer Records (Steve Duda), Serum's sound quality is great if using presets aimed @ beatmaking, with a powerful modular effects rack. (Serum honors an excellent license activate approach 👍)

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Pigments VST

Pigments VST by Arturia offers probably the most jam-packed sound design flexibility in one VST with so many types of synthesis, easy drag & drop routing, and lots of effects.. but I find the plugin slow to open, and Arturia forces a portal software to install the plugin, which I strongly disagree with for music production tools. (Besides the strong negatives, it is a good Virtual Instrument, and I have a FREE Pigments Bank.)

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