A man holding a Surface and wearing headphones

January 23, 2024

How to use your laptop for music production

Thanks to the evolution of technology, music production has transformed from a studio-exclusive craft to a dynamic, portable endeavor. Among the various tools available for music production, your trusty laptop can be a powerhouse for editing, recording, and composing music—no matter where in the world that inspiration might strike. Here’s how you can leverage your laptop to dive into the art of music production.

Understanding the basics of music production

Music production involves a multitude of processes that encompass creating, editing, and finalizing music tracks. It includes recording instruments or vocals, arranging and mixing sound elements, and editing the composition to produce a polished final product. If you’re looking to expand your skillset into music production, it can help to pay attention to these topics:

Music theory: Understanding basic music theory can greatly benefit music producers. Knowledge of scales, chords, harmony, and rhythm can help in composing and arranging music.
Sampling: Sampling involves using pre-recorded sounds or portions of audio (such as drumbeats, melodies, or vocal snippets) to create new music or a backing beat, especially for hip-hop and electronic music.
Editing and sound design: This involves refining, manipulating, and fine-tuning sounds, often using synthesizers, effects, and various audio processing tools to craft unique and original sounds.
Mixing: This process of balancing and adjusting individual tracks within a song involves setting levels, panning, applying EQ (equalization), adding effects, and creating spatial depth in the audio.
Mastering: This final stage of production involves preparing and transferring the final mix into a format that is ready for distribution. Mastering involves optimizing the overall sound and preparing it for various listening environments.

A woman mixing music on a laptop at home

Credit: Image created with AI

How laptops for creating music can unleash your creativity

The best music-making laptops can handle advanced and multiple tasks associated with a variety of music production applications. Not only can they handle the intensive demands of mixing, recording, and producing beats, but they also have the latest processing features and built-in accessory integration to make producing music more streamlined than ever.

Many of these skills rely on digital software and inputs as tools for harnessing creativity. A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is the software where music production takes place: where you record, arrange, edit, mix, and master your music.

What’s more, laptops can take the production out of the studio and into the real world. Record ambient sounds and environmental audio for your projects. Use portable microphones to capture a real-world experience, and then listen to the output on a set of acoustically powerful headphones or earbuds. Bring your laptop to the studio, and then take your jam sessions home with you.

The best laptop features for music making

Consider the following features in the lineup of powerful and ultra-portable Surface devices:

Portability: The lightweight and portable design of Surface devices makes them ideal for on-the-go music production. Whether you're in a studio, coffee shop, or on the road, Surface adapts to your creative needs. Record ambient sound out in the world and incorporate it into your production and editing wherever creativity strikes.
Touchscreen and Surface Slim Pen 2: Surface touchscreen functionality facilitates precise editing, allowing you to trim, adjust, and mix tracks with ease. Coupled with Surface Slim Pen 2 and its integrated wireless charging, Surface Laptop Studio 2 allows for a more intuitive and hands-on music-making experience: draw notes, adjust volume levels, or play virtual instruments with precision.
Powerful processor and RAM: Surface devices are equipped with powerful processors and ample RAM, especially with the latest 12th Gen Intel® chipset technology on devices such as Surface Pro 9—which enables smooth operation of resource-intensive music production software without lags or hiccups.
Record and edit music: With its robust processor and RAM, Surface devices are equipped to handle recording and editing tasks seamlessly. Connect accessories such as microphones or Surface Headphones 2 directly to your device. With 13 hours of battery life and Omnisonic sound technology, you’ll be able to focus on precise notes and elements in your editing.¹,²
Handling the right software: The foundation of music production on your Surface lies in choosing the right software. Some of the most popular software offer a comprehensive suite of tools for editing, recording, and composing music. Look for trial versions of these software that will introduce you to basic tools without an expensive subscription package.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, your laptop is the gateway to a world of musical possibilities. Compare Surface devices to take advantage of software versatility, touch features, and robust performance. Start producing, editing, and composing music today, and let your musical genius flourish.

DISCLAIMER: Features and functionality subject to change. Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.
[1] Chargers, software, accessories, and devices sold separately. Availability may vary by market.
[2] Battery life varies significantly based on device configuration, usage, network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, and other factors. Learn more about Surface battery performance for details.

Products featured in this article

How to use family sharing between laptops and 2-in-1 PCs

Learn how to share your favorite Microsoft apps and programs with your family. Your family can access the apps on their different Surface laptops and 2-in-1 PCs.

Share the power