How to Make Electronic Music for Beginners

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

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

A complete guide on how to make electronic music for beginners. In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of electronic music production, including choosing the right software, finding samples, and creating your own beats.

Introduction

Making electronic music is a fun and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Thanks to advances in technology, it has never been easier or more affordable to get started. In this guide, we will show you how to make electronic music for beginners using some simple tips and tricks.

With a little creativity and perseverance, you’ll be making your own tracks in no time!

What You Need

In order to make electronic music, you will need a computer with a sound card, a software program that allows you to create and edit audio, and a MIDI keyboard. You will also need a sound library, which can be either virtual or hardware-based. If you are just starting out, you may want to consider investing in a hardware-based sound library, as it will give you a wider range of sounds to work with.

A Computer

In order to make electronic music, you will need a computer. Any computer will do, but if you want to get into more complex music production, you will need a computer that is powerful enough to run music production software. While you can find cheaper options, we recommend investing in a good quality computer that will be able to handle anything you throw at it. If you’re not sure what kind of computer to get, feel free to ask us for help.

In addition to a computer, you will also need some other basic equipment. This includes speakers or headphones, an audio interface, and a MIDI controller. You may also want to invest in some additional software, though many music production programs come with a built-in sound library.

Audio Editing Software

If you want to get into making your own electronic music, you’re going to need some audio editing software. This is the program that you’ll use to create and mix your tracks. Depending on how serious you are about making music, your budget, and what kinds of features you need, there are a few different software options to choose from.

Here are a few of the most popular choices:

-Ableton Live: A favorite among professional DJs and producers, Ableton Live is an extremely powerful and versatile audio editing program. It’s packed with features and can be used for everything from simple track editing to complex live performances. However, it’s also one of the more expensive options out there.

-Apple Logic Pro: Logic Pro is a great option for Mac users who are looking for a powerful but user-friendly audio editing program. It comes with a lot of features and plugins, but it can be pricey.

-FL Studio: FL Studio (formerly known as Fruityloops) is a popular choice for many electronic musicians. It’s relatively affordable and easy to use, making it a good option for those just getting started with music production. However, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of the more expensive programs.

Virtual Instruments

In order to create professional quality music, you will need more than just a DAW. You need something called virtual instruments. These can be thought of as software versions of traditional instruments like pianos, guitars, drum kits, etc. They are played using a MIDI controller, which we will talk more about later. Many DAWs come with a selection of virtual instruments already installed. If yours doesn’t, or if you want more options, there are plenty of high-quality virtual instruments available for purchase online.Here are a few examples:

-Cakewalk’s Rapture and Z3TA+ 2
-Native Instruments’ Massive and Battery
-ReFX’s Nexus 2
-Spectrasonics’ Omnisphere

These are just a few of the many great virtual instruments available. Do some research and find the ones that are right for you and your music.

Setting Up

If you want to get into making electronic music, you’re going to need the right tools. In this section, we’ll go over what you’ll need to get started. You’ll need a computer with a reliable internet connection, a DAW (digital audio workstation), and some basic equipment. We’ll cover each of these in more detail below.

Installing the Software

Now that you have your hardware, it’s time to install the software. In this article, we will be using the free and open source software application called Ardour. You can download Ardour from their website (www.ardour.org). Once you have downloaded and installed Ardour, launch the program.

Creating a Project

Now that you’ve got your software installed, it’s time to create a new project. In Ableton, go to File > New Live Set (Ctrl+N). This will open up a new window with a single Default MIDI track.

Recording

One of the most important pieces of equipment that you will need for making electronic music is a recording interface. This is the device that will allow you to connect your instruments and microphones to your computer so that you can record them.

MIDI

MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a standard protocol for electronic musical instruments, computers and other devices to communicate with each other. It was first developed in the early 1980s to standardize the way electronic musical instruments communicate with each other. MIDI uses a language that is very similar to musical notation, and can be used to create anything from simple melodies to complex symphonies.

MIDI is not an audio format like WAV or MP3. MIDI is a set of instructions that tell electronic musical instruments what to do. These instructions can be store in a MIDI file, which can be played back on any device that supports MIDI.

MIDI files do not contain any audio data, so they are very small compared to audio formats like WAV or MP3. A three-minute song can easily fit in less than 1 megabyte. MIDI files can be created with any text editor, but special software is required to play back MIDI files on computers and other devices.

Audio

In order to make electronic music, you will need some type of audio recording software. There are many different programs available, and which one you choose will depend on your personal preferences. Some of the most popular programs include Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and Pro Tools.

Once you have chosen your recording software, you will need to set up a basic project. This will involve creating a new project file, adding tracks, and setting up your audio interface (if you are using one).

Once your project is set up, you can start recording your music. For each track, you will need to record a separate audio file. Once all of your tracks are recorded, you can then start mixing them together. This process will involve adjusting the levels of each track, adding effects, and EQing the tracks to balance the overall sound.

Once your mix is sounding good, you can then export it as an audio file so that it can be shared with others or played back on any media player.

Editing

Now that you have your music software and equipment set up, you’re ready to start making music. In this section, we’ll cover the basics of editing in your music software. We’ll go over how to create and edit audio files, how to use automation, and how to mix your tracks.

MIDI

MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a protocol that allows computers, synthesizers, controllers, and other devices to communicate with each other. It’s what enables your keyboard to control your plugins, or lets you use a hardware synth as if it were a plugin instrument.

Audio

Audio is an important part of electronic music production, and there are a few things you need to know in order to get started.

First, you need to understand the different types of audio files. WAV files are the most common type of audio file, and they can be played on any type of computer. MP3 files are also very common, and they can be played on most computers and portable devices.

Once you have your audio files, you need to edit them to make them sound the way you want. There are a few different ways to edit audio, but the most common way is to use an audio editor like Adobe Audition or Audacity.

When you edit your audio, you can do things like change the tempo, add effects, or even add new instruments. Once you have your edited audio file, you can then export it as a WAV or MP3 file so you can play it on any device.

Mixing

If you’re new to the world of electronic music production, you might be wondering how to go about mixing your tracks. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to mix your electronic music so that it sounds great. We’ll also give you some guidance on what plugins and software to use.

MIDI

MIDI, or Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a protocol that allows computers, musical instruments and other hardware to communicate with each other. It was first developed in the 1980s to standardize communication between different electronic musical instruments.

Today, MIDI is commonly used to create electronic music using sequencers, drum machines and virtual instruments. It can also be used to control lighting and video displays in live performances.

If you’re just getting started in making electronic music, here’s a quick guide on how to get started with MIDI.

First, you’ll need a MIDI interface. This is a device that connects your computer to MIDI devices such as keyboards, controllers and drums. Most MIDI interfaces will have both USB and 5-pin DIN connectors. The 5-pin DIN connector is the standard MIDI connector, while the USB connector is used to connect newer devices such as controllers and keyboards that use USB ports.

Once you have your MIDI interface set up, you’ll need some software to create your music. There are a variety of programs available depending on your needs and budget. For example, FL Studio is a popular program that offers a wide range of features for both beginners and advanced users. If you’re just starting out, you might want to try a free program like Audacity or Garageband.

Once you have your software set up, you can start connecting your MIDI devices. Most devices will use the 5-pin DIN connector, but some newer devices may use USB. You can connect multiple devices using a MIDI splitter cable if needed.

Now that everything is connected, you can start creating your music! If you’re new to making electronic music, start by exploring the different sounds and capabilities of your MIDI devices. Once you have a good understanding of what each device can do, you can start experimenting with different ways of putting them all together. Remember to have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment!

Audio

An electronic musician is someone who creates music using electronic equipment. This can include anything from classic analog synthesizers to modern digital controllers. The beauty of electronic music is that it can be created by anyone with the right tools and knowledge.

If you’re interested in creating your own electronic music, there are a few things you’ll need to get started. Firstly, you’ll need some sort of audio interface to connect your instruments and devices to your computer. This will allow you to record and edit your music on a digital audio workstation (DAW).

There are many different DAWs available, but some of the most popular include Ableton Live, Logic Pro X and FL Studio. Once you’ve selected a DAW, you’ll need to choose some virtual instruments (VSTs) or drum machines to create your sounds.

There are also many hardware options available if you prefer working with physical instruments. Synthesizers, samplers and drum machines are all popular choices for electronic musicians.

Once you have all of your equipment set up, it’s time to start creating music! Experiment with different sounds and rhythms to see what you can come up with. There are no rules in electronic music, so feel free to let your creativity run wild.

Mastering

Before you can start making your own thumping club anthems or beautiful, melody-driven downtempo tracks, you need to understand the basics of electronic music production. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course in everything you need to know to get started making your own electronic music. We’ll cover the basics of sound design, composition, and mixing, and give you some tips on how to get the most out of your electronic music production setup.

MIDI

MIDI is a critical part of electronic music production. It is a protocol that allows computers, hardware controllers, and instruments to communicate with each other. MIDI files store information about the pitch, velocity, and duration of notes in a song. They do not store actual audio waveforms like WAV or MP3 files. Instead, they store instructions that tell a device how to reproduce a specific sequence of notes.

MIDI devices can be used to control parameters like the volume, pitch, and timbre of notes in a song. They can also be used to trigger audio samples or sequences stored on another device. MIDI files can be played back on any MIDI-compatible device, making them extremely versatile.

If you’re just getting started with electronic music production, you may be wondering how to use MIDI in your workflow. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course in MIDI and show you how to use it in your music productions.

Audio

The term “audio” refers to the sound that you hear. In order to create audio, you need a way to record or capture sound waves and convert them into digital data that can be stored on a computer. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common methods are through the use of microphones and audio interfaces.

Microphones come in all shapes and sizes, and they can be used for a variety of different purposes. For our purposes, we’re going to focus on two main types of microphones: condenser microphones and dynamic microphones.

Condenser microphones are typically used for recording vocals and acoustic instruments. They are very sensitive and have a wide frequency response, which means that they can pick up a lot of detail. However, they also require phantom power, which means that you need an audio interface or mixer that can provide it.

Dynamic microphones are less sensitive than condenser microphones, but they don’t require phantom power. This makes them a good choice for live applications, such as live music or podcasting. They also tend to be more durable than condenser microphones, so they can withstand more wear and tear.

Once you have a microphone (or two), you’ll need an audio interface. This is a piece of hardware that allows you to connect your microphone (or other analog audio devices) to your computer so that you can record or play back digital audio. Audio interfaces typically have one or more inputs and outputs, as well as a variety of controls such as gain knobs and phantom power switches.

Once you have an audio interface and a microphone (or two), you’re ready to start recording! In the next section, we’ll talk about some of the software options that you have for recording and editing your audio.

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed this guide on how to make electronic music for beginners. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us. We wish you the best of luck in your musical endeavors!

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