Tools Every Independent Artist Needs to Create Professional Tracks

The music industry is putting the spotlight on independent musicians, and more indie artists are getting recognition. In 2020, a report on the recorded music market by MIDiA revealed that independent artists are dominating the market, and collectively growing by 27%. Together, both independent labels and artists increased their combined market share on streaming platforms by 31.5%.

This positive news shows that independent artists can be at par with signed musicians on streaming platforms and other venues. If you want to kickstart your music career and get a piece of that pie, here’s what you’ll need to create professional tracks:

Digital Audio Workstation

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is foundational for music production, since this software application can be used to edit, record, and produce your audio tracks.

New producers that are interested in simple compositions can use Ableton to record multiple tracks and automatically match their tempos. Meanwhile, musicians who want to process several tracks can use Logic Pro, which has more comprehensive editing options. However, some DAWs cannot upload files onto Spotify, so our article on ‘Adding Songs on Spotify as Local Files’ suggests that you manually upload your local files through your computer. Just simply open the Local Files section of your Spotify account, and upload your tracks in a MP3, MP4, or M4P file format.

Mixing Tools

Recording artists often use mixing tools to elevate the raw sound of individual vocal and instrumental tracks and make them more suitable for specific genres.

Musicians who prefer to use guitars for their songs can utilize a range of Fender guitar pedals to make songs that can work for genres like rhythm and blues, country music, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and several other genres. Compressor pedals provide greater control over the tone of your guitar, while reverb pedals create greater depth and produce a complex echo for each sound. By investing in these mixing tools, it'll be easier for you to blend recorded sounds and turn them into a balanced, professional track.

Studio Recording Mic

There are a ton of different microphone types, so it’s important to consider which recording microphone would be able to pick up the best sound for your purposes.

While many people prefer condenser microphones for their high sensitivity, countless professional records use dynamic microphones like the famous SM7b by Shure to minimize room noise and produce less harsh sounds. Singer or vocalists can also apply less compression during recording, since the microphone’s natural restriction can help in controlling the recording of the vocals. This makes the dynamic microphone ideal for home studios, while condenser microphones are best fit for noise-controlled environments so that they can easily capture sound details.

Studio Headphones

Studio headphones are great for inspecting your track’s quality because they can help you pick up performance imperfections and other audio issues.

Since studio headphones have different makeups, Real Player Faq recommends that you consider the genre of your music while choosing the right device for your needs. Electronic music, hiphop, and other genres with low tones need headphones that respond well at low frequencies, like the JBL Everest Elite 700. Meanwhile, artists playing classical or jazz will benefit from headphones that have balanced responses to medium-high frequencies, such as the Sennheiser HD 650.


These tools are great investments that can help you produce tracks with much higher quality. Whether you’re recording in a studio or at home, investing in your gear can help you record with accuracy, tune the sounds, and edit your music to your liking— and bringing your indie music dreams closer to reality.

Written by Aliyah Cox
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