How to Get Into Making Electronic Music

A guide on how to get into making electronic music, including what software and equipment you need to get started.

Introduction

How to Get Into Making Electronic Music

If you’re interested in making electronic music, there are a few things you should know before getting started. This type of music generally relies heavily on computers and software to create and manipulate sounds, so it’s important to have a basic understanding of these tools before diving in. In this article, we’ll give you a quick overview of the basics of making electronic music.

First, you’ll need a computer with enough processing power to handle the software you’ll be using. If you’re planning on doing any serious audio editing or plugin programming, you’ll also need a good audio interface to connect your instruments and microphones. Once you have your hardware sorted out, it’s time to choose your software.

There are a few different types of software used for making electronic music, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The most popular option is probably a digital audio workstation (DAW), which is essentially a blank canvas that allows you to create whatever kind of music you can imagine. If you’re looking for something more specific, there are also drum machines, samplers, and synthesizers that come with their own built-in sounds and effects.

No matter what type of software you choose, there are some basic skills you’ll need to learn in order to use it effectively. These include things like recording audio, arranging tracks, adding effects, and mixing down your final composition. Luckily, there are plenty of resources available online (and offline) that can help you learn these skills; we highly recommend starting with some tutorial videos or books before diving into the deep end.

With all that said, making electronic music can be an incredibly rewarding experience; it’s a great way to express yourself creatively and make something unique that nobody has ever heard before. So don’t be afraid to get started – who knows where your musical journey will take you next?

The Different Types of Electronic Music

There are many types of electronic music, and the best way to get into making it is to first decide what kind of music you want to make. If you’re into making club music, you might want to start with house or techno. If you’re into making more experimental music, you might want to try making ambient or glitch music. Once you’ve decided what kind of music you want to make, you can start learning about the different types of electronic music and the equipment you’ll need to make it.

Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originates from England. It first became popular in the early 2000s, and has since evolved and grown to become one of the most popular genres in the world.

Dubstep is characterized by its heavy bass, often with deep sub-bass frequencies, as well as its dark, atmospheric melodies and sparse, syncopated percussion. The genre often features elements of grime, garage, and 2-step, and is generally slower than other genres such as house and trance.

If you’re interested in making dubstep, the best way to start is to find some good software (such as Ableton Live or Logic Pro) and some good sample packs. Once you have those, you can start experimenting with different sounds and rhythms to create your own unique style.

House

House is a style of electronic dance music characterized by a four-on-the-floor drum pattern, a repeated chord progression, and a distinctive, often repetitive, bassline. It was created by DJs and producers in Chicago in the 1980s. House music became popular in nightclubs in Europe and North America in the early 1990s. By the mid-1990s, house music had become the most popular form of club music in Europe.

The style was named after a type of club music that was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. House music is usually played in clubs, bars, and festivals. It is also sometimes played at parties and raves. House music is characterized by a 4/4 time signature, a strong bassline, and repeated chord progressions. The genre often features synthesizers, drum machines, and sampled sounds.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s. It is generally characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 BPM, repetitive melodic phrases, and a musical form that builds up and down throughout a track. The genre is said to have been pioneered by German DJ and producer Ulrich Schnauss.

Techno

Techno is a type of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit, Michigan, in the United States during the mid-to-late 1980s. The first techno tracks were produced by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who are often referred to as the ” Belleville Three”.A wide variety of electronic music genres have been influenced by techno including house, trance, breakbeat hardcore, jungle and drum and bass.

What You Need to Get Started

You might be wondering how to get into making electronic music. It’s not as difficult as you might think. All you really need is a computer and some basic software. In this article, we’ll go over what you need to get started making electronic music.

A Computer

Before you do anything else, you need a computer. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive or powerful machine on the market, but it does need to be able to handle the software we’ll be using. If you’re not sure whether your computer can handle it, here are the minimum requirements for the most popular software:

Software | Minimum system requirements
—————————-|——————————
Ableton Live | 2 GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM
FL Studio | 2GHz Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 (or later), 2GB RAM
Logic Pro X | Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or better
Pro Tools | Mac: Intel Core i5 processor; PC: Intel Core i7 processor

Music Production Software

There are many software programs available for music production, ranging from simple to complex. The type of software you need will depend on the style of music you want to make, and how much money you’re willing to spend.

For most electronic music styles, you’ll need a sequencer, which is a program that lets you create and edit musical patterns. Many sequencers also come with built-in synthesizers and drum machines, which can be useful if you want to create your own sounds. Some popular sequencers include FL Studio, Ableton Live, and Logic Pro.

If you’re planning on making more complex music with a lot of sound design, or if you want to use virtual instruments (software versions of real-world instruments), you’ll also need a digital audio workstation (DAW). DAWs let you record and edit audio, as well as add effects. Some popular DAWs include Pro Tools, Cubase, and Reaper.

MIDI Controller

A MIDI controller is a device used to send MIDI messages. It can be used to control anything that responds to MIDI, such as a synthesizer, sound module, drum machine, or computer software.

There are many different types of MIDI controllers, from simple ones with just a few buttons and knobs, to complex ones with lots of pads and faders. You don’t need a fancy controller to get started making music; even a simple one can be quite powerful.

Here are some things to look for when choosing a MIDI controller:

-Number of pads: If you want to trigger drum sounds or play melodies on a virtual instrument, you’ll need pads. The more pads the better, as this will allow you to play more complex rhythms and melodies.
-Number of knobs and faders: Controllers with knobs and/or faders give you more control over the sound of your instruments and effects. For example, you can use a knob to control the cutoff frequency of a low-pass filter on a synth.
-Type of pads: Some controllers have rubber or silicone pads, while others have velocity-sensitive pads that respond to how hard you hit them. Velocity-sensitive pads are great for playing drums, as they allow you to vary the dynamics of your playing.
-Size and weight: Controllers come in all shapes and sizes. Decide what’s most important to you: portability or functionality? Some controllers are very compact and can easily fit in a backpack, while others are designed for studio use and stay put on a desk.

How to Make Electronic Music

Making electronic music is a popular hobby for many people. It can be a great way to relieve stress, and it can also be a lot of fun. If you’re thinking about getting into making electronic music, there are a few things you should know. In this article, we’ll go over some of the basics of making electronic music.

Choose a Genre

When you’re first getting into making electronic music, it can be tough to decide which genre you want to focus on. There are so many different options out there, and it can be hard to know where to start.

One of the best ways to narrow down your options is to listen to a lot of music and pay attention to the genres that you’re drawn to. Once you have a general idea of the style of music that you want to make, you can start doing some research on that particular genre.

If you’re not sure which genre you want to focus on, here are a few of the most popular options:

-House: House music is a style of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It is characterized by a 4/4 time signature, deep basslines, and minimalistic melodies.

-Dubstep: Dubstep is a type of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2000s. It is characterized by its heavy basslines and dark, atmospheric soundscapes.
-Drum and Bass: Drum and bass is a style of electronic dance music that originated in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s. It is characterized by its fast tempo (usually 160-180 BPM) and its use of breakbeats.
-Trance: Trance is a style of electronic dance music that originated in Germany in the early 1990s. It is characterized by its euphoric melodies and futuristic soundscapes.

Find Your Sound

When you’re just getting started in the world of electronic music, it can be tough to find your sound. With so many different genres and sub-genres, it can be hard to know where to start. Do you want to make club bangers or chilled-out beats? Melodic anthems or experimental soundscapes? There are endless possibilities, and the best way to find your sound is simply by experimenting.

One of the great things about electronic music is that you can create any sound you can imagine. If you can hear it in your head, chances are you can create it with a synth or sampler. So don’t be afraid to experiment and play around with different sounds. You never know what you might come up with.

Another tip for finding your sound is to listen to a lot of music. Not just electronic music, but all kinds of music. Be open to new sounds and new genres, and let them inspire you in your own productions. When you hear something you like, try to figure out how it was made and what elements you could use in your own tracks.

Of course, there’s no substitute for experience, so the more you produce, the better you’ll get at finding your sound. Just keep working at it and eventually you’ll develop a style that’s all your own.

Arrange Your Song

In its simplest form, your electronic composition will have four basic ingredients: a lead, a bass, some chords, and rhythms. You can use any number of sounds to create each one of these elements, but it’s helpful to start with just a few basic sounds for each section. In the following sections we’ll go over some general sound choices for each element as well as specific tips on how to arrange them into a song.

Mix and Master Your Track

Now that you have all of your sounds recorded, it’s time to mix them all together. This is where you will set the levels of each sound, add effects like EQ and reverb, and generally make everything sound good together.

A well-mixed track will have a good balance between all of the elements, with each sound sitting in its own space in the mix so that everything is heard clearly. You don’t want any one sound to be too loud or too quiet, and you want to avoid having two sounds competing for the same space in the mix.

Spend some time playing around with the levels and effects of each sound until you are happy with how they all fit together. You may find it helpful to use a reference track to help you achieve the right balance.

Once you are happy with your mix, it’s time to master your track. Mastering is the process of preparing your track for release by giving it a polished, professional sound.

In mastering, you will again adjust levels and add effects, but this time you will be doing it with the whole track in mind rather than individual sounds. You want to achieve a balanced overall sound that is loud and clear but not distorted.

You may want to hire a professional mastering engineer to do this for you if you are not confident in your own abilities. Otherwise, there are many software programs that can be used for mastering, such as iZotope Ozone or Waves bundles.

Spend some time experimenting with different techniques until you are happy with the results. Then your track will be ready for release!

Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of making electronic music, you can start experimenting with different sounds and techniques to create your own unique style. With practice, you’ll be able to produce professional-sounding tracks that you can share with the world.