How to Create Electronic Dance Music

A guide to creating Electronic Dance Music, with tips on composition, software and hardware, and the best resources for learning more.

Introduction

The electronic dance music scene is booming, and there are no signs of it slowing down anytime soon. If you’re looking to get involved in this rapidly growing industry, you’ll need to know how to create electronic dance music.

Fortunately, creating EDM is easier than you might think. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course on everything you need to get started. We’ll cover the basics of choosing the right software and hardware, as well as some essential tips and tricks for making your tracks sound professional.

So whether you’re a budding producer or a experienced DJ, read on to find out how to create electronic dance music that will get people moving.

What is electronic dance music?

Electronic dance music is any music created with electronic instruments and rhythms. It is a type of music often played in nightclubs, raves, and festivals. It can be created with a wide variety of electronic instruments, including synthesizers, drum machines, andturntables.

The history of electronic dance music

Electronic dance music, also known as EDM, has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 1970s. Developed from a variety of different genres, including disco, techno, and house, EDM has become one of the most popular genres of music in recent years.

Though it has its roots in underground clubs and parties, EDM has exploded in popularity in recent years, thanks in part to the rise of social media and streaming services. Today, there are hundreds of different EDM festivals held all over the world, featuring some of the biggest names in the genre.

If you’re interested in creating your own electronic dance music, there are a few things you’ll need to get started. First, you’ll need a computer with a powerful processor and enough RAM to run your desired software. You’ll also need a sound card and speakers or headphones. Finally, you’ll need a good MIDI keyboard to create your melodies and basslines.

With these few simple steps, you’ll be on your way to creating your own electronic dance music in no time!

The different genres of electronic dance music

Electronic dance music, or EDM as it’s commonly called, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres produced largely for nightclubs, raves and festivals. EDM is generally made using computer software, and often includes synthetic sounds. It has become one of the most popular genres of music in recent years.

The different genres of electronic dance music can be divided up into subgenres and further sub-divisions. The four main genres are house, techno, trance and Drum & Bass.

House is a style of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the 1980s. House is characterized by a four-on-the-floor beat and repetitive, layered melodies. Common house subgenres include deep house, acid house and tech house.

Techno is a type of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit in the mid-1980s. Techno is characterized by a driving, hypnotic sound that often uses repetitive rhythms and sounds. Common techno subgenres include Detroit techno, acid techno and minimal techno.

Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that evolved out of the rave scene in the early 1990s. Trance is characterized by higher BPMs (beats per minute) and a focus on melody and atmosphere over traditional song structure. Common trance subgenres include progressive trance, tech trance and Uplifting trance.

Drum & Bass (also called D&B or simply Drum n Bass) is a style of electronic dance music that originated in London in the early 1990s. Drum & Bass is characterized by fast breakbeats (usually around 160-180 BPM), drum kits and basslines. Common Drum & Bass subgenres include Jump up D&B, Liquid D&B and Neurofunk D&B

Tips for creating electronic dance music

1) Start with a pre-existing song: Using a song that already exists can give you a great foundation to start with. You can use the original track as-is, or you can manipulate it in any number of ways to create something completely new. There are no rules here – let your creativity be your guide!

2) Use a software program: There are many software programs available that will allow you to create electronic dance music. Some of the most popular programs include Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and FL Studio. However, there are many other programs out there as well, so do some research and find the one that’s right for you.

3) Utilize samples: Samples are snippets of audio that can be used in your track. They can be taken from any source, such as another song, a movie, or even real-life sounds (think: crowd noise, nature sounds, etc.). Samples can add an extra layer of interest to your track and help it stand out from the rest.

4) Experiment with different genres: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different genres of music when creating your track. Mixing and matching different genres can lead to some interesting results!

5) Have fun: Creating electronic dance music should be enjoyable, so make sure to have fun with it!

The equipment you need to create electronic dance music

The type of equipment you need to create electronic dance music depends on the type of music you want to create. If you want to create DJ-style music, you’ll need a laptop or desktop computer with audio production software, a sound card, and a pair of headphones. If you want to create club-style music, you’ll need a laptop or desktop computer with audio production software, an audio interface, a MIDI controller, and a pair of studio monitors.

Here’s a list of the equipment you’ll need to create electronic dance music:

-Laptop or desktop computer with audio production software
-Sound card
-Audio interface
-MIDI controller
-Studio monitors
-Headphones

The software you need to create electronic dance music

If you want to create electronic dance music, you will need a computer with a sound card and music software. You can use either digital audio workstations (DAWs) or tracker software. DAWs are more popular for creating EDM, but tracker software has its own advantages.

DAWs are mostly used for mixing and mastering tracks. They usually come with a wide range of features, including virtual instruments, effects, and automation. The most popular DAWs for creating electronic dance music are Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro.

Tracker software is less popular for creating EDM, but it has its own advantages. Tracker software is typically more focused on the sequencing of music than DAWs. This makes tracker software more suitable for creating complex patterns and rhythms. The most popular tracker software for creating electronic dance music is Renoise.

How to create a basic electronic dance music track

In order to create a basic electronic dance music track, you will need a few things:
-A computer with a sound card and speakers
-An audio editing program like Audacity (optional)
-A digital audio workstation (DAW) like FL Studio, Logic Pro X, or Ableton Live
-Virtual instruments and/or samples
-A MIDI controller

Step 1: Choose your DAW
The first step is to choose the digital audio workstation you want to use. If you are just getting started, we recommend using FL Studio because it is relatively easy to use and has a wide variety of built-in sounds and instruments. Once you get more comfortable with making music on your computer, you can experiment with other DAWs like Logic Pro X or Ableton Live.

Step 2: Set up your workspace
Once you have chosen your DAW, launch the program and set up your workspace. This usually involves setting up the different tracks or channels you will be using for your music. In FL Studio, for example, there are have separate tracks for drums, bass, lead instruments, and so on.
You can also add effects to each track, like reverb or delay. When you have everything set up the way you want it, you are ready to start making music!
If you are using Audacity instead of a DAW, setting up your workspace is as simple as creating separate tracks for each instrument or element of your song. You can do this by clicking the “Create New Track” button at the top of the interface.

Step 3: Choose your instruments
Now it’s time to choose the instruments or samples you want to use in your track. If you are using a DAW like FL Studio or Logic Pro X, you can browse through the available virtual instruments and drag and drop them into your project. You can also record live instruments into your track if you prefer. Once you have chosen all of your instruments, it’s time to start making music!
If you are using Audacity, you will need to either find or create samples that you can use in your track. You can find free samples online by doing a search for “free sound effects” or “free loops.” To record live instruments into Audacity, simply click the “Record” button at the top of the interface and start playing!
No matter which method you choose for adding sounds to your track, be sure to experiment until you find something that sounds good to you. There are no rules when it comes to making electronic dance music!

How to add effects to your electronic dance music track

Adding effects to an electronic dance music track can make it more dynamic and interesting. Effects can be used to create a sense of space, change the timing of a track, or add interest to a melody. There are many different types of effects that can be used, and some are more suitable for certain genres than others.

Reverb is an effect that can be used to create a sense of space in a track. It is often used on drums and percussion, as well as on vocal tracks. Reverb can be used to make a track sound as if it is being played in a small room or a large hall.

Delay is an effect that repeats a sound after a short period of time. It is often used on percussion and guitar tracks. Delay can be used to create an echo effect, or to make a track sound more spacious.

Chorus is an effect that doubles a sound and slightly detunes it. This gives the impression of multiple instruments playing the same part. Chorus is often used on keyboard and guitar tracks.

Flanger is an effect that combines two signals and creates a sweeping ‘whooshing’ sound. It is often used on keyboard and guitar tracks. Flanger can be used to create moving textures in a track.

Compression is an effect that reduces the dynamic range of a signal. This means that the loudest parts of the signal are reduced in level, while the quietest parts are increased in level. Compression is often used on drums and percussion, as well as on vocal tracks. Compression can be used to even out the level of a track, or to make it sound ‘fuller’.

EQ (Equalization) is an effect that allows you to boost or cut certain frequencies in a signal. EQ is often used on drums and percussion, as well as on vocal tracks. EQ can be used to change the timbre of a track, or to make it sound ‘fuller’.

How to mix and master your electronic dance music track

Great sounding electronic dance music comes down to two things: a great mix, and great mastering. In this article, we’ll show you how to create a great mix, and then how to master it so it sounds even better.

Mixing is all about creating the right balance between the different elements in your track. You want each element to be audible, but you don’t want any one element to dominate the others. The best way to achieve this is to use a mixing console, or a digital audio workstation (DAW).

There are two main types of mixing consoles: analogue and digital. Analogue consoles are usually cheaper and easier to use, but they can introduce artefacts into your track that you may not want. Digital consoles are more expensive, but they give you more control over your track and generally sound better.

Mastering is the process of making sure your track sounds its best when played back on different playback systems. This includes making sure the levels are balanced, the EQ is correct, and that the track has a consistent loudness across all playback systems. Mastering is usually done by a professional engineer using specialized equipment.