Your First DAW Setup: What You Actually Need (And What You Don't)

Getting Started
August 02, 2024•7 min read

So you're ready to start making music for games and films, but every time you research "what equipment do I need," you get overwhelmed by expensive gear lists and conflicting advice? Yeah, I feel you.

Here's the truth: you don't need to spend a fortune to get started. In fact, some of the most successful composers I know started with basically nothing and built their studios piece by piece.

What You'll Learn in This 10-Minute Guide:

  • The one piece of software that can get you composing today (spoiler: you might already have it)

  • Essential vs. nice-to-have equipment - what actually impacts your music

  • Smart upgrade paths that won't break the bank

  • Three common beginner mistakes that waste money

  • A realistic budget breakdown for different experience levels

Perfect for: Complete beginners who want to start composing without going broke
You'll need: About $0-200 to get a solid starter setup

The Reality Check: Start Small, Think Big

Before we dive into gear lists, let's get real about something. Your first compositions don't need to sound like Hans Zimmer or Jesper Kyd. They need to sound like you learning and growing.

The best investment isn't in expensive gear - it's in your skills and creativity. I've heard incredible game music made entirely in GarageBand, and terrible music made with $10,000 worth of plugins.

So let's focus on what actually matters for getting started.

Your Three-Tier Setup Guide

Tier 1: "I Want to Try This" ($0-50)

Software Options:

  • GarageBand (Mac) - Free, comes with your Mac, surprisingly powerful

  • REAPER (60-day free trial) - $60, incredibly deep, steep learning curve

  • FL Studio Demo - Free version, can't save but great for learning

  • BandLab - Free online DAW, works in browser

Equipment:

  • Your computer (seriously, that's it for now)

  • Any headphones you own

  • Maybe a cheap USB microphone if you want to record ideas

Why This Works: GarageBand alone has everything you need to create professional-sounding demos. It comes with solid instruments, effects, and even some orchestral samples. Don't let anyone tell you it's "just a toy" - plenty of successful composers still use it for sketching ideas.

Try This: Open GarageBand right now, load up the "Vintage Electric Piano" and just start playing around. Set a 15-minute timer and see what you can create. That's your first step into composition.

Tier 2: "I'm Getting Serious" ($200-500)

Software:

  • Logic Pro ($199, Mac only) - Professional features, amazing sample library

  • REAPER ($60) + some plugins - Incredibly flexible, works on everything

  • Studio One Artist ($99) - Great workflow, comes with solid content

  • Cubase Elements ($99) - Industry standard features at entry price

Equipment:

  • Audio interface ($80-150): Focusrite Solo or 2i2, Behringer U-Phoria

  • Studio headphones ($50-100): Audio-Technica ATH-M40x, Sony MDR-7506

  • MIDI keyboard ($60-120): Akai MPK Mini, Arturia MiniLab

Why This Tier Makes Sense: This is where you start getting professional-quality tools without the professional price tag. Logic Pro, especially, is kind of a steal - it comes with a massive orchestral library that would cost thousands if you bought it separately.

The Game-Changer: An audio interface might seem boring, but it's the difference between "bedroom producer" and "this actually sounds good." It reduces latency (that annoying delay when you play keys) and gives you way better audio quality.

Tier 3: "I'm Ready to Work Professionally" ($800-1500)

Software:

  • Logic Pro ($199) + Native Instruments Komplete ($399)

  • Cubase Pro ($559) + select third-party libraries

  • Pro Tools ($299/year) for film scoring collaboration

  • FMOD Studio (free) or Wwise (free) for game audio

Equipment:

  • Better audio interface: Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 or RME Babyface

  • Studio monitors: KRK Rokit 5, Yamaha HS5, or Adam T5V

  • Full-size MIDI controller: Native Instruments S49, Arturia KeyLab 61

  • Acoustic treatment: Some foam panels and bass traps

Sample Libraries to Consider:

  • Spitfire Audio LABS (free, but their paid libraries are incredible)

  • Native Instruments libraries (comes with Komplete)

  • EastWest ComposerCloud ($19.99/month subscription)

Why This Investment Pays Off: At this level, you have tools that can compete with anyone in the industry. The quality gap between this and a $10,000 studio is mostly about the person behind the keyboard, not the gear.

The Free Starter Pack That Actually Works

Before you spend anything, grab these free tools:

Essential Free Plugins:

  • Surge Synthesizer - Incredible synth, totally free

  • Vital - Modern wavetable synth with amazing presets

  • Spitfire LABS - Free orchestral instruments that sound expensive

  • TDR Nova - Professional EQ that rivals paid options

Free Sample Libraries:

  • BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover - Full orchestra, free with signup

  • Orchestral Tools SINE Player - Free orchestral samples

  • 99Sounds sample packs - High-quality loops and one-shots

Learning Resources:

  • YouTube University - Endless tutorials for any DAW

  • FMOD Learn - Free game audio tutorials

  • Coursera - Music production courses (audit for free)

What NOT to Buy (Yet)

Skip These Expensive Mistakes:

  1. Hardware synthesizers - Learn software first, hardware later

  2. Expensive microphones - You're not recording orchestras yet

  3. Massive sample libraries - Start small, learn what you actually use

  4. Professional monitors - Get decent headphones first

  5. Analog gear - Digital is fine for learning and even professional work

The "Shiny Object" Trap: New gear won't make you a better composer. I've seen beginners spend thousands on libraries they never learned to use properly. Master what you have first, then upgrade strategically.

Smart Upgrade Strategy

Phase 1: Get Started (Month 1)

  • Choose one DAW and stick with it for at least 6 months

  • Use free plugins and samples exclusively

  • Focus on learning, not buying

Phase 2: Improve Quality (Months 3-6)

  • Add audio interface and decent headphones

  • Buy one good sample library in your preferred style

  • Learn to mix and master your own work

Phase 3: Professional Tools (Months 6-12)

  • Upgrade to full DAW version if needed

  • Add game audio middleware (FMOD/Wwise)

  • Invest in acoustic treatment for your room

Phase 4: Specialization (Year 2+)

  • Buy tools specific to your niche (orchestral for film, electronic for games)

  • Professional collaboration tools

  • Advanced mixing and mastering plugins

Budget Breakdown by Goals

"I Want to Learn" Budget: $0-100

  • Free DAW or GarageBand: $0

  • Decent headphones: $50

  • USB microphone for voice memos: $30

  • Total: $80

"I Want to Create Demos" Budget: $300-500

  • Logic Pro or REAPER: $60-200

  • Audio interface: $100

  • Studio headphones: $80

  • MIDI keyboard: $70

  • Total: $410

"I Want to Work Professionally" Budget: $1000-1500

  • Professional DAW + plugins: $600

  • Audio interface + monitors: $400

  • MIDI controller: $200

  • Room treatment: $200

  • Total: $1400

Platform-Specific Recommendations

For Mac Users:

Start with GarageBand, upgrade to Logic Pro when ready. The transition is seamless, and Logic includes everything you need for professional work.

For PC Users:

REAPER is your best bet for flexibility and value. Studio One is great if you want something more polished out of the box.

For Chromebook/Budget Computer Users:

BandLab (online) or caustic (mobile) can get you started. Focus on songwriting and arrangement skills first.

Your Action Plan for This Week

Day 1: Download or open whatever DAW you have access to Day 2: Find 3 YouTube tutorials for that DAW and watch them Day 3: Try to recreate a simple game or film music track you like Day 4: Experiment with the free plugins we mentioned Day 5: Start your first original 30-second composition Weekend: Share your creation somewhere (even if it's rough)

Remember: every professional composer started exactly where you are now - with questions, limited gear, and a desire to create something cool.

What's Next?

Once you've got your basic setup running, you'll want to learn the fundamentals of game music composition. Check out our guide on "Why Game Music is Weird (And Why That's Awesome)" to understand what makes interactive music different from regular music.

And if you're wondering whether you need formal music education to do this professionally, our post "Do I Really Need Music School? (Spoiler: Probably Not)" has the honest truth about credentials vs. skills in this industry.

Quick question for the comments: What's your current setup? Are you just starting out, or have you been creating music for a while? I'd love to hear where you're at in your journey and help with any specific questions about gear or software.

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