How to Make Electronic Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

A beginner’s guide to making electronic music. Covers the basics of equipment and software needed, and provides tips on getting started.

Get Started with the Right Tools

Making electronic music used to require an expensive studio and a team of engineers. But now, with the right tools, you can create professional-sounding electronic music at home. All you need is a computer and some basic software. In this article, we’ll show you how to get started.

Get a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

Your DAW is the music software that you’ll use to create and produce your tracks. It’s where you’ll do everything from recording audio and MIDI, to composing with virtual instruments, to mixing and Mastering. There are a lot of great options out there, so do your research to find the one that’s right for you. Some of our favorites include Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, and FL Studio.

Once you’ve chosen your DAW, it’s time to get started! In this section, we’ll give you an overview of the basics of using your DAW. If you’re new to music production, we recommend checking out our beginner’s guide to electronic music production.

Choose the Right Microphone

If you’re just starting out, you may not need anything too fancy or too expensive. A USB microphone is a great option for beginners. These mics are affordable and easy to use—you can simply plug them into your computer’s USB port and start recording.

As you become more serious about making music, you may want to invest in a higher-quality microphone. Large-diaphragm condenser microphones are typically used in studios for their clear, rich sound. If you’re recording at home, however, you may want to consider a less expensive option, such as a small-diaphragm condenser microphone. These mics are less sensitive than large-diaphragm microphones, so they don’t require as much soundproofing in your recording space.

No matter what type of microphone you choose, be sure to get a pop filter. This simple device attaches to your microphone stand and helps reduce the “plosive” sounds (like “p” and “b”) that can cause clipping (distortion) in your recordings.

Get Synthesizers, Samplers, and Drum Machines

To create electronic music, you will need a computer with music production software, and a few MIDI controllers to create and manipulate sounds. You may also want to consider investing in some synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines.

Synthesizers are electronic instruments that generate sounds by convertingsignals from an oscillator into audible waves. They come in a wide range of sizes and types, from floor-standing units to small tabletop models. Many synthesizers come with built-in keyboards, while others can be played using an external MIDI controller.

Samplers are devices that can record and play back audio samples. These samples can be recorded from a variety of sources, including vinyl records, CDs, or digital audio files. Samplers can be used to create new sounds by manipulating the playback speed, pitch, and other parameters of the sample.

Drum machines are devices that generate percussion sounds using electronic drum pads or sequences. Drum machines can be used to create rhythms for a song or performance, or they can be played live using an external MIDI controller.

Learn the Basics of Music Theory

In order to make electronic music, you will need to understand the basics of music theory. This includes learning about rhythm, melody, and harmony. You can learn about music theory by taking a class, online course, or reading a book. Once you have a solid understanding of music theory, you can start creating your own electronic music.

Know the Different Types of Notes

In music theory, a note is a pitch and a duration. The duration of a note is how long it sounds for, and the pitch is how high or low the note sounds. There are four different types of notes: whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes.

Whole notes are held for the entire duration of a measure. They are typically only seen in very slow songs. Half notes are held for half the duration of a measure. Quarter notes are held for a quarter of the measure, and eighth notes are held for an eighth of the measure.

In addition to these four main types of notes, there are also sixteenth notes, thirty-second notes, and sixty-fourth notes. Sixteenth notes are held for one sixteenth of the measure, thirty-second notes are held for one thirty-second of the measure, and sixty-fourth notes are held for one sixty-fourth of the measure.

Understand Key Signatures and Time Signatures

In music, a key signature is a set of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, denoting which notes will be sharp or flat for the rest of the piece. A time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat.

Music theory is the study of how music works. It covers everything from the basics of rhythm and pitch to more advanced concepts like harmony and counterpoint. Understanding music theory can help you become a better musician, no matter what instrument you play. And even if you don’t play an instrument, understanding music theory can help you appreciate music more.

Learn About Chords and Scales

Music theory is the study of how music works. It’s the foundation of everything we do as musicians. If you’re new to music theory, this page will help you get started.

Chords and scales are the basic building blocks of music. A chord is simply two or more notes played together. A scale is a series of notes played in ascending or descending order.

There are many different types of chords and scales, but the two most important are major and minor chords, and major and minor scales. Major chords are made up of the first, third, and fifth notes of a major scale. Minor chords are made up of the first, third, and fifth notes of a minor scale.

To learn more about chords and scales, check out these resources:

-Theory Basics: Chords & Scales by Musician’s Friend
-How to Read Music: The Basics of Chords & Scales by Nate Bosch
-Chords & Scales 101 by Guitar Center

Record and Edit Your Music

To make music electronically, you need to use a computer and some type of recording software. You can use either digital audio workstations (DAWs) or tracking programs. Once you have your software set up, you’ll need to record your instruments or vocals. After you have your recordings, you can start editing your music.

Set Up Your Recording Space

One great thing about making music at home is that you can design your studio however you want it. You can have the most high-tech, expensive gear money can buy, or you can use what you already have to get started. If you’re just beginning, start simple and work your way up as your needs and budget change. And remember, the best music comes from the heart, not the gear.

That being said, there are a few basics you’ll need to set up your own recording studio. First, you’ll need a computer with enough processing power to run your music software (more on that later). You’ll also need some way to get the sound into your computer. This is typically done with an audio interface, which converts analog audio signals into digital ones that your computer can understand. Lastly, you’ll need speakers so you can hear what you’re recording (and mixing, and mastering…but we’ll get to all that later).

Of course, there are other things you may want in your studio – like MIDI controllers, microphones, instruments, and outboard gear – but we’ll cover all that in other articles. For now, let’s just focus on the essentials.

Record Your Audio

If you want to make electronic music, you need to start by recording your audio. This can be done with a microphone, an instrument, or even a field recorder. Once you have your audio recorded, you can edit it in a music production program like Ableton Live or Logic Pro.

There are a few things to keep in mind when recording your audio:

– Make sure you have a clean signal. A lot of electronic music is made using synthesizers and other electronic instruments, so it’s important to make sure your signal is clean. Use a noise gate if necessary.
– Use a pop filter if you’re using a microphone. This will help reduce any pops or clicks that might occur when you’re recording.
– Record at a high quality. You’ll be able to edit your audio more easily if it’s recorded at a higher quality. 24-bit/48kHz is ideal.
– Use compression if you’re recording vocals or an instrument. This will help even out the levels and make sure all of the audio is audible.

Once you’ve recorded your audio, you can start editing it in your music production software. Experiment with different effects and processing techniques to get the sound you want.

Edit and Arrange Your Tracks

Now that you’ve recorded all of your tracks, it’s time to start editing and arranging them into a song. This is where you’ll start to get a feel for how the final product will sound, and you’ll have a chance to add your own creativity and personal touch.

To start, load all of your tracks into your DAW (digital audio workstation). If you recorded each track as a separate file, you can just drag and drop them into the DAW. If you recorded everything into one long file, you’ll need to use the “cut” or “trim” tool to split the file up into individual tracks.

Once all of your tracks are loaded, take a listen through them and decide which parts you want to keep and which parts you want to get rid of. This is where editing comes in – use the cut tool to snip out any unwanted parts, then move the remaining pieces around until they’re in the order that you want them.

You may also want to add some extra elements to your song at this stage, such as effects or additional instrumentation. This is entirely up to you – experiment and see what sounds good!

When you’re happy with how everything sounds, it’s time to export the final file. Depending on where you plan on sharing or using the song, you may need to export it in a specific format (e.g., MP3 for playback on a music player) or at a specific quality (bitrate). Consult your DAW’s documentation for more information on exporting files.

Mix and Master Your Music

If you want to make electronic music, you need to know how to mix and master your music. This can be a difficult process, but it is necessary in order to make your music sound professional. In this article, we will go over some tips on how to mix and master your music.

Mix Your Tracks

Once you have all of your tracks recorded, it’s time to mix them down into a single stereo track. This is where you will adjust the levels of each track so that they sound good together. You will also add effects to each track, such as reverb or delay.

The goal of mixing is to create a balance between all of the tracks so that they sound good together and none of them are too quiet or too loud. You will also want to make sure that the tracks fit together well rhythmically and that there are no abrupt changes in volume or sound.

When you are first starting out, it can be helpful to find a tutorial or course on mixing. This will give you a good overview of the basics and help you understand how to use the various tools and effects. Once you have a general understanding, you can experiment on your own and find what works best for your specific tracks.

Master Your Tracks

Before you can start thinking about how to mix and master your tracks, you need to make sure that they’re finished and ready to be mixed. This means ensuring that all the elements are in place and that the levels are set correctly.

Next, you need to start thinking about the overall sound of your track and what you want to achieve with the mix. Do you want a clean and polished sound or a more raw and edgy sound? Once you have a clear idea of what you want, you can start looking at different mixing techniques that will help you achieve your desired sound.

when it comes to mixing and mastering your tracks, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. First, always remember that less is more. It’s easy to get carried away with different effects and processing, but it’s important to resist the urge and keep things subtle. Second, take your time and experiment with different techniques until you find something that works for you. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a professional if you get stuck.

Promote and Sell Your Music

If you’re an artist who makes electronic music, you might be wondering how you can get your music out there and start making some money. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to promote and sell your music.

Create a Press Kit

Creating a press kit is an important step in promoting and selling your music. A press kit is a document that contains information about you and your music, and it is used to promote you to potential fans, media outlets, and booking agents. A press kit can be physical or digital, and it should be professional and well-designed.

Your press kit should include the following:

-A biography or “press release” that tells the story of you and your music
-High-quality photos of you and your band
-A list of your previous performances
-Press coverage that you have received
-A link to your music online

Distribute Your Music

There are a number of ways to get your music out to the public, but one of the most effective is to distribute it through an online music distribution service. These services help you reach a larger audience than you could on your own, and they make it easy for fans to find and buy your music.

One of the best things about using an online music distribution service is that you can reach a global audience. No matter where you live, there are people all over the world who are interested in electronic music. With the help of a distribution service, you can make sure that your music is available to them.

Another benefit of using a distribution service is that they can help you promote your music. Many services offer promotional tools that can help you reach a wider audience. They may also offer marketing assistance, which can help you sell more albums and reach a larger fan base.

If you’re serious about making a career out of electronic music, then distributing your music through an online music distribution service is a must. It’s one of the best ways to reach a global audience and sell more albums.

Sell Your Music Online

With the internet, selling your music has never been easier. You can reach a global audience with just a few clicks. But, with so many options out there, it can be tough to know where to start.

Here are a few tips on how to sell your music online:

1. Use a reputable platform. There are many online music stores, but not all of them are created equal. Do your research to find a platform that is well-established and has a good reputation.

2. Make sure your music is high quality. If you want people to pay for your music, it needs to be worth their money. Invest in good quality recordings and make sure your mixes are professional-sounding.

3. Use social media to promote your music. social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach a wider audience. Create a page for your music on Facebook or Twitter and start sharing your tracks with the world.

4. Price your music fairly. If you charge too much, people will be less likely to buy it; if you charge too little, they may not take you seriously as an artist. Find a happy medium that reflects the quality of your work and what people are willing to pay for it.

5 . Offer something unique . With so much music available online, you need to offer something that will make people want to buy from you instead of someone else . Think about what makes your music special and use that as a selling point .

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