Popular Tips and Advice on How To Make Your Own Beats Today. From what you need to learn such as mastering MIDI, the best beat making software to use to, learning self assessment, to staying focused. This article is a must read for those seeking to make your own beats.
There are 2 popular ways of making beats today. Those 2 ways are using either hardware or software. Below I explain the best options for you plus additional skills you need to learn before even making your first beat. Let’s bet started. Let me help you compare the difference on making beats using either hardware or software programs side by side.
Making Beats With Hardware
Hardware is the older way of doing beats of the 2. Hardware examples would be things like a sampler, drum machine or MPC (like Kanye west style). Some other examples include things like a modern synths such as Yamaha Motiff (such as neptunes sound). Using hardware is more hands on when making beats. More stable then using computer software and much easier to use at a live show. However hardware is a bit more expensive and a little less flexible compared to using software.
Making Beats With Software
Then there is software or normally called DAW when referred to. DAW stands for digital audio workstation. Examples of this would be FruityLoops, Sonar, Reason. They are all software you install into your computer. These programs are also known as software synths which are emulations of hardware type synths such as what I mentioned above — drum machines and samplers.
Software is becoming ever more popular today now because it’s cheaper to get and is much more convenient (however this is arguable) so it’s more of a personal preference. Also you don’t need a professional recording studio to start making beats. Pretty much anyone with a computer at home can download beat making software and start making beats.
It is possible to incorporate both. So experiment until you find your comfort level on which you’d like to go with. As far as starting out I’d recommend starting with software. Much more convenient to use to start learning. Also check out YouTube. There are many great video tutorials on making beats and using software.
Learn To Make Your Own Beats
The first thing to make your own beats is to know what type of sound your wanting to make. Learn and read about producers that produce tracks you like and go from there.
Don’t limit yourself to just the hip-hop genre. Learn about all types of music and get a feel from them all. In additional to that, learn the history of music. Also learn the art of sampling. Very important and another important skill to know and learn. Study live bands. Study instruments and the types of sounds they make. Learn the basics of chords and harmonies. Master the fundamentals to help make it easier when making beats.
Learn about MIDI
Before buying any beat making software it’s best to learn and fully understand the MIDI language. MIDI is the universal language of pretty much ALL MUSIC. Learn about it. Learn how it works. Learn what is it as it’s crucial to making music and using music production software. Look at MIDI as the fundamentals to music production.
Practice The Craft of Making Beats
Whatever software or tool you use on making your beats stick to it and be consistent on learning and improving each day. Many times people give up on the software because it’s to hard and complicated then move on to the next one and starting the learning process all over again. Understand that it takes times to learn it. Don’t expect to master making beats overnight. As you continue to use your software each day you’ll grow more comfortable into learning and using it.
In addition to that read the MANUALS to whatever software you use! Music production software ALWAYS come with learning manuals. Study it. If you don’t understand something. Google it. Learn what it means. Don’t be so damn lazy and blame the software for not doing what you want. Chances are it can do it. You just didn’t take the time to research and read about how to do it.
The Neptunes was quoted saying, Learn from your equipment. Get comfortable with your equipment and sound. Learn how to master your tools which is very true.
How To Make Beats Like The Professionals
Learn to copy sounds and techniques from those producers that have made it to the top in the genre of music your shooting for. This is a great point. Study those producers that produce the type beats you want to make. Study what they use. What they read. Who they learn from and so on. Success leads clues. Follow and seek their advice.
To be successful in any field follow the path of someone that’s made it to the position you would like to be. Please read that line again. A very simple statement but powerful and true. That “someone” we’ll label as a famous music producer.
Let’s pick a producer at random. Dr. Dre. World-Wide known to everyone in music as famous hip hop music producer. Whether you like him or not, Dre made it to a position where millions of aspiring music producers around the world (like yourself) would like to be.
- He’s known worldwide as a music producer — Wouldn’t you like to be?
- He’s made millions of dollars doing what YOU would love to do right now — make beats that people will gladly pay you for.
Right?
So find a producer that’s making the type of beats you’d like to make and follow him.
Start Now—Not Tomorrow
In which ever way you pick to start making beats – start NOW. Pick a software and go. Pick a tool and learn it. Press buttons. Play around with it. Experiment. Get your feet wet. You’ll make mistakes but correct them each time. Understand what they do, the sounds they make. The features they provide. Many times people try to look for the perfect software to do it all and just waste precious time. Time they could have spent on using any software and gaining experience from using it. Reading and watching videos are great however nothing beats hands on experience.
Learn to do a self assessment
As you continue to make beats learn to do an honest self assessment (or self-evaluation to put it another way) on yourself. What this means is be real with yourself. Including your skill level and compare it to real competition such as powerhouse producers like Dre, Timbaland, Swizz Beats or whoever style of music your trying to produce like…Doing so will help see your flaws and what needs to be improved. I’ve read from tons of aspiring producers that this is crucial. Learn to compare your music with the pros and be ready to take
What’s the best software to make beats?
There is no one program that can do it all. Don’t look for this. As each program will offer something different then the next. Learn to know what style of music your going after. Learn what sounds they use. Then seek the programs that offer them. Also consider investing into a 2 monitor display. With 2 or more monitors you can have much more monitor space to work with and easily space the windows apart vs having only 1 monitor where your screen space is limited.
Here’s a list of popular software you can download today for making beats. Some are free. Some are paid. Some have demos. But overall there good pieces to own and use for making beats.
- Sonic Producer: not free but cheap. Over 100,000 quality sounds to use,
- Sony Acid Pro 11
- Fruity Loops 5 (FL Studio) 111
Download-able demo for free but also advanced versions. Easy to start out.
- GarageBand (Mac) 1
- ProTools
- CuBase (PC)
- LMMS
- Audacity
Consider investing in paid software over free software.
Free software often is outdated. Doesn’t get updated by the maker. Limits you on what you make with it because – it’s free. Look at it this way.
Look at paying for software as an INVESTMENT toward yourself on making beats. The software is an investment because you will get something out of by using it. You’ll learn to make beats. Learn to make music. Learn to producing music — for the rest of your life. A new skill you’ll develop in life that’s worth a million-times the cost of the software….right?
Don’t limit yourself to free software. There is only so much a free beats making software program will do. Plus you be taken serious. You don’t want people laughing at your beats. You don’t want to give people that first impression on your beats.
Stay Focused, Driven and Humble
With the internet there are just so many new tutorials and videos teaching you how to make beats. Continue learning and reading to get better to master the craft of beat making. Follow the tips in this article to help you avoid things you don’t need and to help skyrocket your skill faster to making bangin’ beats.
And what does being humble have to do with music production? Once you start you think you know everything there is to music production you’ll stop learning, stop reading, stop taking advice and lose focus on getting better and will lose your drive. Avoid being cocky and one who doesn’t take criticism, advice and the willingness to listen when others offer ideas.
I would advice you to re-read this article once more. Re-reading helps your brain get a better and more clearer picture of what is said. It help understand something you didn’t first pick up. Take a minute again to re-read these tips on this page.
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