The 8 Best Computer Monitor For Music Production In 2022

Modern music production begins with a solid computer, everyone knows that. It doesn’t matter if you’re recording tracks, mixing a large project, or making new beats from scratch. It all centers around your computer. There is one vital part of your studio computer that you might be overlooking though, and that’s your monitor. Finding the best computer monitor for music production will surely improve your workflow, and potentially save your eyes and neck from long-term problems.

It’s safe to say that music production would be far more difficult if you weren’t able to see what’s happening on your digital audio workstation (or DAW). On most DAWs, there is a ton of information crammed on the user interface (or UI). I’m talking about all of those little knobs and faders, all of those tiny numbers telling you what level everything is at. All of this information needs to be seen clearly, and without straining your eyes too much.

That leads me to why I wrote this particular article. In this roundup, I will give you my top picks of the best computer monitors for music production in an effort to help you find the right choice for your studio setup. Before that, we will go over all of the most important factors to consider before buying a new computer display monitor so you can make an informed decision.

Quick Picks

Image	Product	Score	Price
TOP PICK	LG 34WN80C-B Screen Size: 34” — Screen Resolution: 3440 x 1440 — Connectivity: 2 x HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C — Refresh Rate: 60 Hz — Panel: Curved IPS — Aspect Ratio: 21:9	9.9	View On Amazon
RUNNER-UP	ASUS VL279HE Screen Size: 27” — Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 — Connectivity: 2 x HDMI, 1 x VGA — Refresh Rate: 75 Hz — Panel: IPS — Aspect Ratio: 16:9	9.7	View On Amazon
BUDGET PICK	SAMSUNG C27F398 Screen Size: 27” — Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 — Connectivity: 1 x HDMI, 1 x DisplayPort — Refresh Rate: 60 Hz — Panel: VA — Aspect Ratio: 16:9	9.5	View On Amazon
BEST DUAL-MONITOR SETUP	HP VH240a Screen Size: 23.8” — Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 — Connectivity: HDMI, VGA — Refresh Rate: 60 Hz — Panel: IPS — Aspect Ratio: 16:9	9.4	View On Amazon
PREMIUM PICK	SAMSUNG CRG9 Screen Size: 49” — Screen Resolution: 5120 x 1440 — Connectivity: 2 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI — Refresh Rate: 120 Hz — Panel: VA — Aspect Ratio: 16:9	9.8	View On Amazon
BEST SCREEN	Dell UltraSharp U2720Q Screen Size: 27” — Screen Resolution: 3840 x 2160 — Connectivity: USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB — Refresh Rate: 60 Hz — Panel: IPS — Aspect Ratio: 16:9	9.2	View On Amazon
WELL-ROUNDED	Samsung LS27F354FHNXZA  Screen Size: 27” — Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 — Connectivity: HDMI, DVI — Refresh Rate: 75 Hz — Panel: IPS — Aspect Ratio: 16:9	9.1	View On Amazon
FOR GAMERS	BenQ EX3203R Screen Size: 32” — Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1440 — Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, USB A — Refresh Rate: 144 Hz — Panel: VA — Aspect Ratio: 16:9	9.3	View On Amazon

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Best Computer Monitor For Music Production

As I stated before, there are a few key factors to keep in mind when shopping around for music production monitors. Moreover, there are some specific specifications to look for in a monitor for music production that will make a world of difference in your workflow.

Before we go any further, you should really take your studio needs into account. What is the purpose of your new computer monitor?

Also, it’s important to take a look at your studio setup and determine what will work best for you. Are you in a dark room or well-lit room? Should you go for a gaming monitor for enhanced graphics performance? How many ports and what kind of ports do you need?

These are all things to mull over before buying the best computer display monitor for your studio desk. Now, let’s get into the other important things to consider when looking at the best computer monitors for music production.

Screen Size

First and foremost, the size of the screen on the monitor is super important. If you’re like me — and most other music producers — you probably started your music-making journey on a laptop. Most laptops have a screen size of 13-inches or 15-inches. Screens that are that small ensure that you’ll spend most of your time squinting trying to read everything on your DAW.

The ideal screen size to look for in a computer display monitor for music production is 24-inches or larger. In fact, you should really be looking for the biggest screen size that you can afford. This will not only vastly improve your studio workflow, but it will ultimately make your eyes happier and healthier. 

Just think about the amount of time you spend looking at a monitor screen. The last thing you want is to be straining your eyes the entire time. Your eyes will thank you in the long-run if you invest in a monitor that offers plenty of screen real estate, that’s my main point here.

Screen Resolution

The resolution of computer monitors for producing music goes hand-in-hand with their screen size. The general rule is: the higher the resolution, the sharper and clearer everything will be, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for in a monitor for your DAW.

Nowadays, the standard is ever-changing in regards to screen resolution. Some folks still swear by a resolution of 1920×1080, while others insist that 3440×1440 is the way to go. In terms of music production, 1920×1080 is the bare minimum you should look for. If you can afford it, then don’t hesitate to go for a higher resolution.

Types Of Panels

Now, we’re not going to get overly technical here, but the type of panel that a computer monitor uses is still an important thing to consider. To make things easier to digest, I will break down the three main types of panels seen on computer display monitors today.

• TN (or Twisted Nematic) – this type of LCD monitor panel is one of the oldest varieties in existence. They’re cheap to make, have very low input lag, and support refresh rates of up to 240Hz. They do suffer from poor color reproduction and good viewing angles are quite limited.
• IPS (or In-Plane Switching) – IPS panels are pretty much the polar opposite of TN computer display monitor panels. They offer wider viewing angles and better overall color reproduction. They are usually more expensive, generally have slower refresh rates, and sometimes suffer from backlight issues.
• VA (or Vertical Alignment) – this type of panel sits somewhere in between IPS and TN. VA computer display monitor panels offer better contrast ratios, have less backlight issues than IPS, and still provide wide viewing angles. They do have slower response times despite having good refresh rates. Also, color reproduction at certain viewing angles is inconsistent.

So, what does all of this mean for you? Well, that’s actually up to you. Some producers love using TN panels for their digital audio workstations. FL Studio in particular has a vibrant, colorful, and deep UI that could benefit from higher refresh rates.

In most cases, IPS is the way to go in a computer monitor for music production. The wide viewing angles and great color reproduction are why IPS is easily the most popular choice.

VA is a great choice if you want to go for a dual-screen setup. Some producers use one IPS or TN panel in landscape and a VA panel in portrait. Although this setup is more common for gaming or coding, it can be useful to have a vertical monitor to display your mixer. If you are an Ableton Live user, Session View works very well on a vertical monitor. Just food for thought.

Either way, we’ll get into dual-monitor setups in more detail later on in this article.

At the end of the day, the type of panel you use is your decision. Think about the DAW you use and what your setup consists of and the choice will fall into place from there.

Connectivity Ports

In an ideal studio setup, you will be using an audio interface and your computer tower to handle the majority of your connectivity needs. When it comes to the computer monitor itself, you should really only need a couple HDMI ports to connect to your computer and potentially another monitor. That’s it.

You should definitely avoid using your computer display monitor as a way to connect any of your studio equipment. The ports on a monitor could potentially introduce latency in your signal flow, and they’re simply not as reliable as the inputs/outputs on an audio interface. 

As long as you can plug the monitor into your computer via HDMI ports or DisplayPorts and get everything to display correctly, then you’re set. If you need USB ports for external consumer devices, then go ahead and get a monitor that has some, but again, try not to connect music studio equipment through it.

Built-In Speakers

The built-in speakers on a computer display monitor aren’t anything to think too hard about. You’ll be using studio headphones, studio monitors, and any other form of audio output to handle most of your sonic references. 

Don’t get me wrong, you should definitely try to get a computer monitor that has built-in speakers, but you don’t need them to be the best sounding speakers in the world. You should use the built-in speakers as a reference point for mixing and that’s all. Also, it’s not the end of the world if the monitor doesn’t even have built-in speakers.

Just like the way you use your phone and car speakers to check your mix, that should be the only thing you use your computer monitor speakers for outside of watching YouTube videos or any other “normal” task.

Dual-Monitor Setup

If you feel like you need a wider viewing angle in your studio, then you can opt for a dual-monitor setup. This is a common thing for producers to do because it enhances their field of vision and makes things less cluttered. If you’re the type of person who needs organization in your workflow, then a dual-screen setup might be the best route to go.

The idea behind this type of setup is to have all of your arrangements on one screen, and your digital mixing board on the other. This helps to make your workflow insanely efficient.

In this regard, you really have two choices: ultra-wide or dual-monitors. Dual-monitors work better for some folks because everything is split between two physical monitors whereas ultra-wide screens use split screen technology on one single monitor.

The choice is yours, but to achieve an ultra-wide setup instead of dual-monitors, then you’ll need to get a special kind of computer monitor. That leads me to my next point.

Curved Vs. Flat

Ultra-wide curved screen computer monitors are pretty darn great for music production, but they’re quite expensive. These types of monitors typically have a bezel-free design and offer excellent viewing angles. 

All in all, ultra-wide curved monitors are more of a “premium” option with a “premium” price-tag. You can basically do the same thing on one screen that you’d do in a dual-screen setup, and still be able to organize your DAW the way you want. Things might be a little more cluttered on an ultra-wide screen, but it’s still an improvement over a regular-sized one.

Where ultra-wide curved screens really shine is with arrangements. Your tracks will be laid out with extra clarity and you’ll be lazer-accurate in pinpointing certain parts of a waveform. 

Dual-monitors or ultra-wide? Again, it’s entirely up to you and what your plans are. Either option will be more expensive than simply getting a single basic monitor, but either choice will surely make a noticeable difference.

What Digital Audio Workstation Do You Use?

Last but not least, the specific DAW that you use will be the last determining factor in your decision. As I said before, FL Studio has a robust UI that has different demands than say Ableton Live. Although Ableton has an efficient UI, it’s much more basic and less flashy than FL Studio.

If you’re a Mac user then chances are you’re using Logic Pro and a computer display monitor made by Apple. This setup is perfectly fine, and you really don’t need to upgrade from a Mac display.

Pro Tools, Cubase, Studio One, the list goes on. Each DAW has a UI that’s slightly different, and depending on which one you use, you might need a certain kind of computer display monitor to accommodate it.

No matter what DAW you use, you certainly don’t need the most expensive gaming monitor though, and I want that to be clear. Most machine and computer monitors for music production will be just fine for handling the UI of most DAWs. Again, the goal here is to make sure that you can see all of the information your DAW displays clearly without having to strain your eyes. 

That being said, if you are a gamer and a producer, then obviously you can choose a computer monitor that’s great for both. 

At this point, I’m sure you’ve come to the conclusion that a lot of this is subjective. All I can do is lay out the groundwork, and you need to make the choice from there. Speaking of which…

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Best Computer Monitors For Music Production List

It’s now about time that we get into my list of the best computer monitors for music production on the market today. We’ve gone over a lot up to this point, and you should be able to make a confident decision based on the factors above.

I’ve done my best to include computer display monitor options to suit an array of different needs. I’ve got ultra-wide curved monitors, monitors ideal for dual setups, and of course, plenty of average single displays for general music production jobs.

So, with that in mind, let’s dive into the list.

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In the buyer’s guide section, we talked about ultra-wide curved monitors quite a bit. While it’s true that monitors of this type take some getting used to, they really are the best option for music production. This computer monitor in particular, the LG 34WN80C-B, sits at the top of the ultra-wide monitor list especially for using with a DAW.

This option was specifically designed for multimedia tasks, making it a very versatile computer monitor. You can use it for virtually anything including video editing, CAD, and of course, music production. No matter what task you throw at it, it will give you a beautiful, clear, and robust picture.

The screen size is pretty much perfect for music production as well. All of those small details will be right in your face and you won’t have to squint your eyes to see them. The one and only downside here is the price. It’s certainly not the most expensive monitor on this list, but it’s not the cheapest either.

Overall, the LG 34WN80C-B is an easy choice for the top spot on this list of best computer monitors for music production because it simply checks all of the boxes. If you can get past the price-tag, then this monitor is sure to improve your workflow for years to come.

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Next up, we have a great all-around computer monitor from another trusted name in the industry. ASUS is known for making quality computer components, and the VZ279HE is no exception. 

What sets this monitor apart from the rest is the fact that it is specifically designed to be easy on your eyes. It uses ASUS Eye Care technology to achieve this. This technology utilizes flicker-free technology and a blue light filter to minimize eye fatigue. 

As we talked about before, producers spend many hours staring at monitor screens. With that, the inclusion of the ASUS Eye Care technology on this particular monitor is very welcome.

Outside of that, the monitor has a beautiful IPS panel with a resolution of 1920×1080. The screen size is also more than suitable for most home studios and can even make for a great dual-monitor option. The price-tag also makes a dual-screen setup more realistic.

Again, the ASUS VZ879HE is a great, well-rounded monitor. It doesn’t exceed expectations in terms of specs, but it performs very well and will make your eyes very happy. A worthy option on this list of best computer monitors for music production.

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Here we have our first computer monitor option from Samsung. The C27F398 monitor fills the “budget-friendly” category even though it doesn’t sacrifice much in terms of specs. It’s still a 27-inch monitor with a gorgeous screen. On top of that, it still manages to be a curved monitor that adequately fills your field of vision.

This computer display monitor, like many on this list, comes with an eye-saver mode that uses a blue-light filter to lessen eye-strain. 

Now, this monitor won’t necessarily have the level of color reproduction that you’d find on a more expensive option, but it’s still a great performer for music production tasks. Also, it only comes with 1 HDMI port and 1 DisplayPort. Like I said before, you don’t need a whole slew of connectivity options on a computer display monitor for music production so this isn’t a deal breaker.

Overall, I included the Samsung C27F398 on this list as an affordable monitor that will still perform well in your music production studio. It’s the perfect size and won’t break the bank. What’s not to love about that?

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The HP VH240a is probably the best value on this list, depending on how you decide to use it. It gives you a ton of flexibility and gives you a lot of freedom to use it in the exact way you want.

Now, I know that the screen size is a measly 24-inches, but the display is still very clear, and the bezel is super thin. You can definitely use this monitor in a dual-monitor setup, and moreover, that’s exactly what you should do. Let me explain why I’m saying this.

So, this computer monitor is very adjustable. You can adjust the tilt, the height, and it can be rotated 90° to portrait. The rotation feature is what makes this monitor so versatile. You can easily use two of these bad boys in a dual-monitor setup and you can use one of them in portrait if need be. That’s pretty cool if you ask me.

On top of that, the price-point of this computer display monitor isn’t very steep either. The only thing I’d say is that this monitor probably won’t be ideal to use by itself for music production. Like I said, I’m mainly recommending it to use in a dual-monitor setup due to the screen size. Thankfully, you won’t have to put a hole in your wallet to do so.

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Now it’s time for an ultra-premium option. The Samsung CRG9 is a top-tier computer monitor with a very hefty price tag. Okay, that’s putting it lightly, but this monitor truly commands attention, and it will excel at anything you use it for.

The screen is a whopping 49-inches while also being ultra-wide and curved. If you want to see every inch of your DAWs UI with ease, then that’s exactly what this monitor will give you. You’ll have a full panoramic view of your DAW, all of your plugins, your mixer, and pretty much everything else. 

On top of that, the screen is about as clean and crisp as it gets. If you’re a cinephile, a video editor, graphic designer, and a producer all at once, then the Samsung CRG9 won’t even break a sweat.

That’s really who this computer display monitor is for though. It’s for serious producers who need a serious display monitor that can handle multiple tasks. Or, if you’re a jack of all trades and want a monitor that can do it all, then it’ll suit your needs just as well.

Obviously, the major downside to this monitor is the price. Outside of that, this is simply a crazy powerful monitor that’s fantastic in almost every category. 

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The UltraSharp U2720Q computer monitor from Dell is certainly the best 4K flat panel option on this list. It’s a no frills monitor that sets out to accomplish one job: to provide excellent clarity. In fact, this computer display monitor has one of the best screens out there and is highly regarded among its users.

It all really boils down to the HD screen on this bad boy. Everything else is an afterthought. It is height adjustable which is always nice, but the star of the show is that amazing screen. 

It’s a 27-inch screen with an IPS panel. It has a high resolution screen (3840×2160 to be exact) and is the only true 4K monitor on this list. 

Now, the exceptional screen isn’t enough to make this monitor perfect though. There are no built-in speakers and the price is a bit high. To be fair, most anything that’s 4K nowadays is going to be pricey, but the lack of built-in speakers makes it hard to justify.

Despite its shortcomings, the Dell UltraSharp U2720Q still felt worthy of a spot on this list. It’s big enough and more than clear enough to use for music production, and that beautiful screen is hard to ignore.

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If you’re only out to get a simple computer monitor that’s basic and easy to use, then the Samsung LS27F354FHNXZA is the right choice for you. This is a monitor that gives you a clear picture without accomplishing much else than that.

Like I said, this is a basic computer display monitor, so there isn’t a whole heck of a lot to say about it. It has a screen resolution of 1920×1080 and has a slim, attractive design.

Now, this display monitor isn’t completely void of useful features. It does come with eye-saver mode as well as an Eco-Saving Plus feature that monitors brightness to conserve energy.

The only thing missing here is the ability to adjust the height and tilt of the monitor. Besides that, this is a great option for those of you who like to keep things simple. Also, it’s small form factor makes it great for small home studios and can easily be placed in between your studio monitors. 

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Last but not least, I wanted to include at least one gaming monitor option. I know that some of you are gamers just as much as you are music producers, so the BenQ EX3203R should fill that spot quite well.

This is a curved computer monitor with a resolution of 2560×1440. It boasts a high refresh rate and is HDR 400 VESA Certified. I mean, it’s a gaming monitor, so you know what you’re getting.

That being said, gaming monitors can easily handle the task of displaying the user interface of a DAW while still giving you everything you need when switching over to gaming. This BenQ computer display monitor is inherently made for multitasking, so it should suit pretty much any need.

On the other hand, if you’re not a gamer, then this monitor might be overkill. This particular gaming monitor doesn’t have the full-blown gaming aesthetic you’d expect, but the high refresh rates and maxed out specs are simply unnecessary if you don’t use this thing for gaming.

At the end of the day, this is a cool looking monitor that will perform very well in a music studio, a gamers den, or both all at once. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Choosing a new display monitor for music production is an important step as you start to upgrade your studio. The better that you can see everything in your DAW makes for a more efficient workflow.

In this case, the best computer monitor for music production in my eyes is the LG 34WN80C-B. It’s ultra-wide curved design is hard not to appreciate and the clarity of the screen is unparalleled.

Really though, all of the best computer monitors on this list are great in their own way. There are options that are better for dual-screen setups, gaming setups, and even single monitors that are budget-friendly.

My only hope is that this article has given you some useful tips as you’re shopping around. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out anytime. 

Good luck on your research guys!