What do you actually need to get started composing music for film? All the juicy details and plenty of useful advice, with at least three different options and price points for each bit of kit. Enjoy!

00:00 Intro
01:12 Computer
04:59 Software
06:04 Sample Libraries
08:43 Sound Card
09:33 Keyboard
10:41 Headphones
12:58 Monitors
13:42 Midi Controller
15:40 DAW Controller
16:17 Mics

COMPUTER
At least 16G RAM, 32G is better and 64G or higher is best. It depends on your budget and your ambitions! Minimum 2.4Ghz processor, but you shouldn’t have much trouble getting more power than that these days. This will make exporting your projects a lot faster. Minimum 500G internal HD, but try to have at least 1TB if you can. I recommend a 1TB external SSD for your sample libraries, NVMe if you can. I use Sandisk. Definitely consider an external backup HDD drive, about 2TB should do it, they are not too expensive. A secondary display is very useful, as is a mouse I use the Logi MX3 for Mac.
This video by Dan Keen @DanKeenMusic really helped me make some good choices [   • My Desk Setup for Music Production  ](   • My Desk Setup for Music Production  )

SOFTWARE
Logic Pro X 199,99€ @Apple
Ableton Live 69 € 599€ @Ableton
Cubase Elements 59€ 285€ @steinberg
Digital Performer 499€ @motuTV
Free : Cakewalk / Reaper / Ableton Live Free version

FREE SAMPLE LIBRARIES
@OrchestralTools Orchestral tools layers (https://www.orchestraltools.com/store...)

@spitfireaudiollp Spitfire Discover [https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbcsym...](https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbcsym...)

@spitfireaudiollp Spitfire Labs [https://labs.spitfireaudio.com](https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/)

@RedRoomAudio Palette Primary Colours [https://redroomaudio.com/product/pale...](https://redroomaudio.com/product/pale...)

For more free orchestral libraries check out [https://blog.landr.com/bestfreeorch...](https://blog.landr.com/bestfreeorch...)

PAID LIBRARIES MENTIONED
@spitfireaudiollp Spitfire Albion One, BBC Core, @ViennaSymphonicLibrary Vienna Symphonic Library, @OrchestralTools Orchestral Tools, @NativeInstruments Native Instruments, @EWQLTutorials EastWest Quantum leap, @cinesamples.official Cinesamples, @8dioproductions 8dio, @AudioImperia Audio Imperia

SOUND CARDS
@behringer Behringer UPhoria UMC22 52€
@FocusriteTV Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen 159€
@UniversalAudio Universal Audio Apollo Solo TB3 Heritage Ed. 489€

KEYBOARDS
@AkaiProVideo AKAI MPK Mini MK3 88€
@ArturiaOfficial Arturia Keystep Pro 444€
@MAudioMK MAudio Hammer 88 422€

HEADPHONES

Closed DT 770 pro 139 or Sony MDR 7506 99€
Semiopen Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro 185€
Open Beyerdynamic DT990 pro 139€
Check out this video by AnneKatherin Dern, her advice on using headphones is stellar [   • Composer Hardware  ](   • Composer Hardware  )

MONITORS
KRK Rokit RP5 G4 145€ each
Yamaha HS8 289€ each
Neumann KH 120 A 664€ each

MIDI CONTROLLERS
@KorgOfficial Korg nanoKONTROL 2 59€
Nuances Pierre Caillet 225€ 2 faders only
https://nuancescontroller.fr/?post_ty...
@AudioImperia Fvde Audio Imperia 379€ 4 faders

DAW CONTROLLERS
Korg nanoKONTROL 2 59€
@presonus Presonus Faderport V2 179€ 1 single motorised fader
@behringer Behringer XTouch 458€

MICS
Rode NT1 A 179€
Sure SM7 B 358€
AKG P170 89€
SM 57 100€

Watch more movies and clips with my music here : [   • Original film music  ](   • Original film music  )

If you like what you hear please give me a thumbs up and consider subscribing!

If you would like to talk about working or collaborating with me please visit my website [http://www.davidchivers.studio](http://www.davidchivers.studio/) you will find out more about what I do and how to get in touch.

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I’m also making stuff over here :

► Facebook : [  / davidhchivers  ](  / davidhchivers  )
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► Bandcamp : [https://davidhchivers.bandcamp.com](https://davidhchivers.bandcamp.com/)
► Spotify : [https://open.spotify.com/artist/39gIE...](https://open.spotify.com/artist/39gIE...)

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#composer #filmmusic #

Underscore by me.