Laptop Producer: This Gear is a Perfect Match
Everything Fits Together – Inspiration for Your Next Purchase
3,7 / 5,0 | 
In our “Perfect Match” series, we regularly showcase gear that we think goes together perfectly. Today’s topic is laptop producers. Nowadays, producing professional music exclusively on a computer is no longer a problem. If you’re often on the go, you’ll want to use a laptop for this purpose. After all, laptops offer enough power. But what equipment is helpful, or even indispensable, for producing music on the go with your laptop? We’ll show you three products that we think are essential – and a perfect match.
Laptop Producers – Perfect Match
Gear for Mobile Laptop Producers
Producing music exclusively on a laptop is no longer anything special. Computers are powerful enough to compose, arrange, mix, and master music “in the box.”
In fact, many of today’s hits were created entirely on a computer and may have even been produced on a laptop in a hotel room. Even if you’re not a fan of “laptop producers,” it’s sometimes convenient to work on musical projects on the go or on the sofa.
In addition to a laptop and a digital audio workstation (DAW), there is other useful gear for laptop producers. Headphones are, of course, at the top of the list, but there are a few other items that can complement your setup. We would like to introduce you to three items – as always in this series, they are only intended to inspire you.
beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X: Reliable Studio Headphones for Laptop Producers
If you produce and mix music on a laptop, then you need a way to listen to your work. Stationary studio monitors are probably the best option, but as a laptop producer, we imagine that you also like to work on the go. That’s where headphones come in.
Maybe you’ve already researched this topic and seen how many high-quality studio headphones are available. That’s why the choice isn’t easy. We have a purchase advisor that recommends a few models. You might find the perfect pair right away!
We present the DT 700 PRO X, a new addition to the Pro X series by the German manufacturer, beyerdynamic. This series features advanced Stellar.45 drivers and improved wearing comfort. Compared to older models, these headphones impress with their replaceable, single-sided cable. Two cables, a jack adapter, and a carrying case are included in the package. The ear pads and headband padding are also replaceable!
The DT 700 PRO X are closed-back, circumaural headphones with a frequency response of 5 Hz to 40 kHz. Closed-back headphones isolate you better from the outside world, but some people prefer open-back models, such as the DT 900 Pro X*, for mixing. Ultimately, your decision comes down to personal preference. The DT 700 PRO X is available from Thomann*.
Studio Sound for Mobile Laptop Producers: IK Multimedia ARC ON-EAR
You own a laptop on which you have installed a DAW, and you also own headphones – or at least have them on your wish list. We would now like to introduce you to what we consider a great addition to your setup:
The ARC ON-EAR system from IK Multimedia is a new product that enhances the capabilities of your headphones. It is a small, portable, standalone headphone correction system. It is equipped with a DAC, or converter, and a studio-quality headphone amplifier. With this little box, you can correct the frequency response of your headphones and simulate studio environments with professional monitor speakers.
You can use the accompanying software to customize your ARC ON-EAR hardware with your headphones to suit your needs and create up to five user-defined profiles. The simulated environments include more than 20 well-known studio monitors and 15 playback systems. There is a USB-C port for connecting to a computer and charging, as well as an analog audio input, which is convenient. Therefore, this tool can be used in a wide variety of setups.
ARC ON-EAR is interesting not only for laptop producers but also for anyone who frequently produces and mixes with headphones in a studio environment. You can find out more about the system in our review. ARC ON-EAR is available here at Thomann*.
What’s Missing? A Controller, Perhaps?
Now, let’s finish setting up for laptop producers. In principle, anything is possible “in the box,” and you can theoretically accomplish any task in the DAW with a trackpad and keyboard. However, in practice, it’s often more enjoyable to use a controller. We have two great buying guides on this topic.
Read both to determine what’s important to you. It’s not easy to choose a single controller that’s the perfect match. Let’s assume you want a small model. A “backpack controller” can be taken anywhere and easily set up. But what’s important to you? Do you want a few keys for playing, pads for triggering drums, knobs for modulation, or faders for quick parameter changes? Or maybe you want a little bit of everything?
The Arturia MiniLab 3 meets these requirements, which is why we are presenting it as an example of a flexible controller. It has 25 slim keys that respond to velocity. It also has eight small pads, eight rotary controls, and four faders.
You can connect an expression or sustain pedal to the back. Two touch strips are suitable for pitch bend and modulation. It also comes with a great software package. Notably, it is available in several colors – champagne is brand new! Get the Arturia MiniLab 3 at Thomann*.
Conclusion: This Trio is the Perfect Match
As a laptop producer, you likely already have a laptop, your favorite DAW, and perhaps even a quality audio interface. Headphones are definitely a good addition for mobile production. The beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X is a reliable, closed-back model.
Additionally, the IK Multimedia ARC ON-EAR system is an interesting option because it enhances your headphones’ capabilities and enables you to mix with studio-quality sound. It also provides simulations of different listening environments and headphone models.
A compact controller like the Arturia MiniLab 3 is also worth considering because it lets you play melodies, basslines, and chords anywhere. You can also jam on drum pads, record modulations with controls, and perform other tasks.
In our opinion, this gear is a perfect match for laptop producers.
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