Getting Started with Making Electronic Music

In this post, we’ll go over some tips on getting started with making electronic music. We’ll cover the basics of what you need to get started, and some advice on where to go from there.

Introduction

Why make electronic music? This is a question you may be asking yourself if you are new to the world of music production. The answer is simple: because it is fun! Making electronic music is a great way to express yourself creatively and it can be a lot of fun. In this section, we will talk about some of the basics of making electronic music.

What is electronic music?

Electronic music is music that is produced using electronic musical instruments, digital instruments or electronic sound effects. It is a broad genre that includes music made using synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers and other electronic devices.

Most electronic music is made using pre-recorded sounds or samples, which are then processed and mixed to create new tracks. This processing can be done using a variety of techniques, including mixing, layering, filtering and sequencing.

Electronic music has been around for many years and has been used in a wide range of genres. It was first used in the early 20th century in experimental music and avant-garde music, and became more widely used in the mid-20th century with the development of new technologies such as synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines.

Nowadays, electronic music is extremely popular and can be heard in all kinds of different genres, from pop to hip hop to classical. It is also widely used in film, television and video games.

The history of electronic music

The history of electronic music is often traced back to the creation of the theremin in the early 1920s, but its roots go much deeper. Instruments such as the keyboard and synthesizer have been around for centuries, with various examples appearing in different cultures across the globe. In fact, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that these instruments began to take on a more familiar form. With the advent of new technologies in the early 20th century, such as vacuum tubes and magnetic tape, musicians were able to create new sounds that had never been heard before. These early pioneers laid the foundation for the electronic music we know today.

One of the earliest examples of electronic music is “The Hunting of the Snark” by English composer Charles Williams. Written in 1925, it was one of the first pieces of music to be created using only electronic instruments. Williams used a theremin, keyboard, and two magnetic tape recorders to create his piece. Other early electronic composers include Pierre Schaeffer and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Schaeffer is credited with developing Musique Concrète, a form of composition that uses recorded sounds as musical material. Stockhausen is one of the most important and influential figures in 20th-century music, renowned for his experimental and avant-garde approach to composition.

As technology continued to develop throughout the mid-20th century, so did electronic music. In 1957, American composers Milton Babbitt and Charles Wuorinen created one of the first pieces of electronic music to be performed using live instruments and tape machines. This piece, titled “Composition for Synthesizer,” was groundbreaking not only for its use of technology but also for its experimental use of sound.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, electronic music became increasingly popular and accessible. In 1977, Japanese composer Isao Tomita released an album called “Snowflakes Are Dancing,” which was one of the first records to be made entirely using synthesizers. This album helped pave the way for artists like Vangelis, who composed scores for films such as “Blade Runner” and “Chariots of Fire.” In 1980, German group Kraftwerk released their album “Computer World,” which explored themes related to technology and society. This album would go on to influence a generation of musicians including Afrika Bambaataa, who sampled Kraftwerk’s song “Numbers” on his 1982 track “Planet Rock.”

The history of electronic music is long and varied, with roots stretching back centuries. With each new technological development, musicians have been able to push boundaries and explore new soundscapes. As we move into the 21st century, there’s no telling what new sounds will be discovered next.

The basics of making electronic music

Making electronic music is a process that can be broken down into a few simple steps. The first step is to come up with a melody. This can be done by either humming a melody or using a keyboard to play one. Once you have a melody, the next step is to add a drum beat. You can either create your own drum beat or find one online. Once you have a drum beat, the next step is to add bass.

What you need to get started

The first thing you need when making electronic music is a computer. You can use either a Windows PC or a Mac. If you don’t have either of these, you can also use a Raspberry Pi.

Next, you need to choose a DAW (digital audio Workstation). This is the software that you will use to create your music. There are many different options available, so it’s important to do some research and find one that’s right for you. Some of the most popular DAWs include Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, FL Studio, and Reaper.

Once you’ve chosen your DAW, you’ll need to get some plugins. These are pieces of software that add new features to your DAW and help you make better music. Some popular plugins include Sylenth1, Massive, and Serum.

Finally, you’ll need some hardware. This includes things like keyboards, MIDI controllers, and drum machines. You don’t need all of this hardware to get started, but it can help if you want to create more complex music.

The different types of electronic music

Electronic music is a genre of music that is created using electronic musical instruments or electronic sound processors. It is a broad category that includes a wide range of styles, including house, techno, trance, drum and bass, dubstep, and ambient.

The different types of electronic music can be broadly divided into two categories: dance music and experimental music. Dance music is intended to be danced to, and is usually played in clubs and festivals. Experimental electronic music is created by artists who are more interested in exploring new sounds and textures, and is often less danceable than dance music.

Advanced tips for making electronic music

Many people who are interested in making electronic music don’t know where to start. It can be a daunting task, but we’re here to help. These advanced tips will help you take your music to the next level. With these tips, you’ll be making professional-sounding tracks in no time.

Sequencing

Now that you understand the basic concepts of sound synthesis, it’s time to start putting those sounds together into something musical. This process is called sequencing, and it’s the heart of electronic music composition.

In its simplest form, sequencing is just a matter of putting your sounds in a particular order. You can sequence any kind of sound, but most electronic music is built around drum sounds and synth sounds. By sequencing these sounds in different ways, you can create all sorts of different styles of music.

If you’re just getting started with sequencing, the best way to learn is to start with a simple drum machine. These devices are designed specifically for making beats, and they come with all sorts of features that make sequencing easy. Once you’ve mastered the basics of beatmaking, you can move on to more advanced techniques like synth programming and sound design.

Sampling

Sampling is the process of taking a sound from one source and using it in a composition as part of a new piece of music. It can be used to create new melodies, rhythms, and other sonic elements, or to add texture and interest to a track.

There are two main types of sampling: digital and analog. Digital sampling is the most common type, and is done using a computer and software. Analog sampling is done using hardware such as drum machines, samplers, and synthesizers.

Sampling can be a great way to get started with making electronic music, as it’s relatively simple and doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment. All you need is a computer with some basic audio editing software (like Audacity) and you can start experimenting.

Arrangement

One of the main differences between amateurs and professionals when it comes to music composition is arrangement. A good arrangement can make a simple song sound exciting, while a bad arrangement can make a great song sound boring. In this section, we’ll give you some tips on how to arrange your music so that it sounds its best.

The first thing to keep in mind when arranging your music is that less is often more. It’s easy to get carried away and add too many elements to your song, but doing so can make it sound cluttered and chaotic. When in doubt, leave out an element or two and see how it sounds. You can always add them back in later if you think the song needs them.

Along similar lines, be sure to give each element of your song some “breathing room.” If everything is crammed together, it will sound busy and difficult to listen to. Give each part its own space so that the listener can appreciate all the elements of the song.

Finally, don’t forget about transitions. A good transition can make your song flow smoothly from one section to the next, while a bad transition can break up the flow and leave the listener feeling disoriented. If you’re not sure how to create a good transition, try fading out one part as another fades in. This is a simple but effective way to move from one section to another without interrupting the flow of the song.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial on getting started with making electronic music! If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to reach out to us. We wish you the best of luck in your musical endeavors!