If you have spent any time at all listening to modern hip-hop, you have heard his tag. Leland Tyler Wayne - better known as Metro Boomin - has defined the sonic landscape of the last decade.
But for the aspiring producer, the question isn't just what he makes, but how he makes it. If you want to capture that dark, cinematic, and heavy-hitting atmosphere, you need to know the tools behind the talent.
In this guide, we’re diving deep into the Metro Boomin DAW of choice, his essential studio equipment, and the production philosophy that keeps him at the top of the charts.
The primary DAW used by Metro Boomin is Image-Line’s FL Studio.
Metro has been a loyal user of FL Studio (formerly FruityLoops) since he was 13 years old, starting on a laptop his mother bought him. While many professional engineers eventually migrate to other platforms for mixing, Metro has stuck with FL Studio for the core of his beat-making process.
For Metro, and many other titans of the trap genre like Southside and Lex Luger, FL Studio is the ultimate beat making tool because of its:
The Piano Roll: Widely considered the best in the industry, it allows for the effortless creation of the complex hi-hat rolls and 808 slides that define Metro's sound.
Step Sequencer: Its "click-and-play" nature allows for incredibly fast drum programming.
Speed: Metro is known for his "cook-ups." He can start and finish a skeleton of a hit in under 20 minutes, and the FL workflow is built for that kind of efficiency.
While FL Studio is the brain, Metro’s production setup has evolved from a bedroom laptop to a multi-million-pound professional environment (his famous Boominati Studios).
To understand his audio workstation fully, we have to look at the hardware and recording software he uses to polish those raw FL beats.
While the beats are born in FL Studio, Metro often uses Avid Pro Tools as his primary recording software for vocals and final mixing. In professional studios, Pro Tools is the industry standard for its stability and precision in audio editing.
Metro is a massive fan of tactile gear. He famously uses a modified Akai MPC 2000XL. This piece of studio equipment provides a "swing" and a "grit" that is hard to replicate purely inside a computer. He often samples directly into the MPC to give his sounds a vintage, analogue warmth before pulling them back into his DAW.
To bridge the gap between his hands and his music production software, Metro utilizes several MIDI controllers:
Akai MPK249: A staple MIDI keyboard found in many of his "cook-up" videos.
Native Instruments Maschine: Used for additional drum layering and tactile sequencing.
Razer Blade Laptops: Metro has a long-standing partnership with Razer, often using their high-performance laptops to run his sessions on the go.
It is easy to look at a list of beat making tools and think that buying the same laptop or DAW will make you a superstar. But if you asked Metro, he’d tell you that the gear is secondary to the craft.
Metro’s genius lies in his selection. He doesn't over-complicate his beats. He picks the right 808, the right snare, and a haunting melody, then lets the artist (like Future or 21 Savage) find the space. He prioritises the "vibe" over technical showing off.
Even when working in a digital audio workstation, Metro strives for a human element. This is why he uses the MPC and plays in his melodies by hand rather than clicking every note into a grid. He wants the music to breathe.
If you want to emulate the Metro Boomin production setup, you don't need to spend thousands on an SSL console. You need to sharpen your musical instincts.
One of the best ways to bridge the gap between being a "button pusher" and a "producer" is to master musicality and rhythm. This is where Melodics becomes your most valuable asset.
Metro’s beats are driven by rhythm - not just the tempo, but the pocket. By using Melodics to practice your finger drumming and keyboard skills, you develop the "muscle memory" needed to play in your drum patterns and melodies with the same confidence Metro does.
Develop Better Timing: Learn to play "behind the beat" for that laid-back trap feel.
Master the Keys: Stop clicking notes and start playing chord progressions that evoke emotion.
Tactile Creativity: Using a MIDI controller with Melodics trains your brain to treat your DAW like a real instrument.
Pro Tip: Metro often starts with the drums to set the energy. Try loading up a "Metro-style" kit in your DAW and use Melodics to practice complex hi-hat rhythms on your pads. You'll find that your beats start to sound much more organic.
So, what DAW does Metro Boomin use? It’s FL Studio, backed by the power of Pro Tools and the tactile soul of the Akai MPC.
But remember: Metro didn't become a legend because of the software. He became a legend because he spent over a decade honing his ears, his timing, and his taste. Whether you choose FL Studio, Ableton, or Logic, the most important "software" is your own brain
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