How to Make Electronic Music That Will Blow Their Minds

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

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

A step-by-step guide to creating electronic music that will impress your listeners.

Introduction

In this guide, I’ll show you how to make electronic music that will blow their minds. I’ll also show you some of the most common mistakes that producers make when they’re starting out. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to make your music sound professional and stand out from the crowd.

What You Will Need

To make electronic music that will blow their minds, you will need:

-A computer with a sound card and an internet connection
-Music software such as Logic, Cubase, Ableton or Pro Tools
-A MIDI controller or a keyboard
-Synthesizers, drum machines and other sound-making devices
-Headphones or speakers

The Basics of Synthesis

In order to create interesting and unique sounds, you will need to understand the basics of synthesis. Synthesis is the process of creating new sounds by combining different waveforms. There are many different types of synthesis, but the most common are subtractive synthesis and additive synthesis.

Subtractive synthesis is the most common type of synthesis used in electronic music production. It involves starting with a complex waveform and then removing part of it to create a new sound. The most common way to do this is with an oscillator, a filter, and an envelope.

An oscillator is a device that produces a waveform. A typical oscillator will have a control for the type of waveform it produces, as well as controls for the pitch and volume of the waveform. The most common types of waveforms are square waves, sawtooth waves, and sine waves.

A filter is a device that removes part of a waveform. The most common type of filter is a low-pass filter, which removes the high frequencies from a waveform. Other types of filters include high-pass filters, band-pass filters, and notch filters.

An envelope is a device that controls how the amplitudeof a sound changes over time. Envelopes have four main parameters: attack, decay, sustain, and release (ADSR). The attack parameter determines how quickly the sound reaches its maximum amplitude when it is first triggered. The decay parameter determines how quickly the sound fades from its maximum amplitude to the sustain level. The sustain level is the amplitude that the sound will remain at until it is released. The release parameter determines how quickly the sound fades from the sustain level to silence when it is released.

Sampling

Choosing the right samples is one of the most important aspects of making electronic music. The right sample can take a track from good to great, and the wrong sample can ruin an otherwise perfect song. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing samples for your tracks.

First, think about the emotion you want to convey with your track. Is it a happy song? A sad song? An angry song? The samples you choose should reflect the overall mood of the track. Second, consider the tempo of the track. Up-tempo tracks will require faster samples, while slower tracks can use slower samples. Third, think about what kind of message you want to send with your track. Are you trying to make a political statement? A love song? A message of hope? The samples you choose should reflect the overall message of the track.

Once you’ve considered all of these factors, it’s time to start looking for samples. There are a few places to look for good samples:

-Your own music collection: You may be surprised by how many good samples you already have in your own music collection. Take some time to go through your albums and see if anything catches your ear.
-Online sample libraries: There are many online resources that offer high-quality samples for electronic musicians. Some of our favorites include Splice, Loopmasters, and Sample Magic.
-Commercial songs: If you’re feeling ambitious, you can try chopping up commercial songs to use as samples in your own tracks. Just be sure to get permission from the copyright holder before using any copyrighted material.

Once you’ve found some potential samples, it’s time to start experimenting. Load them into your DAW and start playing around with them until you find something that works well with your track. Remember, there is no wrong way to do this – just have fun and see what sounds good!

Drum Programming

The kick drum is the most important element in any dance track. It’s the foundation of the rhythm and provides the tempo for the entire song. So it’s important to get it right! Here are some tips on how to program an effective kick drum pattern:

1. Start by creating a basic 4/4 beat with a kick on each beat.
2. Add a clap or snare on beats 2 and 4 to add more interest and energy to the rhythm.
3. Use different bass drum sounds for different parts of the song to keep things interesting. For example, you could use a heavier sound for the chorus and a lighter sound for the verse.
4. Experiment with different rhythms and patterns – don’t be afraid to get creative!
5. Make sure your kick drum is punchy and hits hard – this will make it stand out in the mix and really drive the track forward.
6. Finally, don’t forget to add effects like reverb or delay to give your kick some extra power and presence.

Arrangement

Arrangement is critical in electronic music. It is the process of putting all the elements of your song together in a way that will engage the listener and keep them listening. A well-arranged song will have a clear beginning, middle, and end. It will have a build-up and release of energy, and it will tell a story that the listener can follow.

There are many ways to arrange a song, but here are some basic tips to get you started:

-Create a clear structure for your song. Decide where the verses, chorus, and bridge will go, and make sure each section has a distinct purpose.
-Establish a catchy melody early on. This will be the main hook that listeners remember, so make it good!
-Build momentum throughout the song. Start with simple ideas and build them up into something bigger and more exciting as the song progresses.
-Add interest with variety. Use different sounds, textures, and rhythms to keep things interesting.
-End on a strong note. Leave your listeners wanting more with a powerful final chord or an unforgettable drop.

Mixing and Mastering

Now that you have all of your tracks recorded, it’s time to mix them down into a stereo file. The mixing process is where you decide how loud each track should be, which tracks should be panned left or right, and what effects ( EQ, reverb, etc) should be used. It’s also the stage where you correct any problems with the individual tracks, such as clipping, hiss, or unwanted background noise.

After you’ve mixed your track down to a stereo file, it’s time to master it. The mastering process is where you optimise the audio for playback on different systems – from car stereos to club PA systems. This includes finalising the EQ and levels, adding any final effects (limiter, compression), and creating separate tracks for release on different formats (mp3, CD, vinyl).

Conclusion

So there you have it, our tips on how to make electronic music that will blow their minds. If you’re looking for more ways to improve your music, check out our other articles on sound design,music production and mixing and mastering.

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