Becoming A Top Beat Maker With These Steps

Everyone does it, you got the music production software and you’re dreaming of becoming the next top beat maker in the game. This happens a lot in the world of hip hop.

Many up coming online beat makers think it’s easy to be a top notch music producer, and while not everyone wants to rap, many think that they can produce tracks just as good as some of the best in the world.

Something as simple as a 2 second bass line or note could very well be the next big hit, right?

Well that’s what people think and it’s fascinating to see people try, and fail.

If you have tested the waters, and weren’t that good, then it’s time to change things up and look at some steps that can help you become the next big beat maker.

These steps are tried and tested, and could very well see you making serious beats for some of your favorite rappers, and more.

Beat Maker, Don’t Follow The Latest Trends

Here is the thing about the beat maker of 2016, they love to follow the latest trends.

The thing about creating beats is that they don’t always come from the familiar resources.

You cannot just sample James Brown all the time. You need to dig deep into the archives of music, and find out the root elements that make up the best songs.

The best beat makers today aren’t just organically making sounds.

That can help, but if you’re going to make it big, you need to learn how to create your own style.

 

 

Learn To Create Your Own Sounds

One of the major things that you will get wrong when trying to make beats, is relying only on samples.

It’s a dichotomy that you have to learn to live with.

You should know how to sample and use sounds that way, but you should also know how to produce your own sounds too.

That means guitar, keyboards, or bass guitar.

Learn how to play at least one instrument.

You don’t have to be the next Mozart, but you should have an understanding of rhythm, and timing, so that you can read music or at least create elements that allow others to float over with rhyme or singing.

If you don’t know this, then you will have a hard time going organic when the time comes.

 

A Good Computer

The next thing that you should look into is getting a good computer.

You may know how to play instruments, you may have a huge record collection or files on many hard drives, but you will need to store them and use software to manipulate tracks.

That’s where a good computer comes into play.

Many musicians swear by the MacBook Pro, but if you don’t have the money to get one of those, get a PC that is equivalent at a lower cost.




Software and a Maschine

You will need to pick up a Maschine, which is a device that lets you build beats, loop sounds and more.

You will also need to have software that can help you make, record, and manipulate audio.

The main software choices that you will find includes Reason, Pro Tools, Logic, Fruity Loops and even Audacity.  Spend some time learning how to use these platforms, and do NOT think that you can get away without these things.

You need to have software, and hardware in order to master beat making for any purpose.

In the rare case that you can’t get any of these things, then you will need to save some money and start building your home recording studio slowly.

 

Good Headphones

No, this is not a call to get “Beats by Dre”. You need studio headphones that have high fidelity, and isolate noise, as well as reduce static and more.

You may have to pay upwards of $200 for a good pair.

Some people swear by $1,000 studio gear.

You don’t have to spend that much, but you will need a good pair of headphones that are NOT necessarily sponsored by your favorite rapper, just saying.

 

Turntable or Record Player With Audio Outputs (In Case You Sample)

If you’re going to go the way of sampling to make beats, you will need a good turntable.

You will need a professional grade solution that ties into your computer’s software. You’re going to want to pull sounds, rip audio, mix, and more.

There’s a reason why DJ’s end up becoming great beat makers, and it’s because they are isolating noise and sounds with their computers and record players.

Now, on the low cost end, you can get away with a record player that has an audio out, but you’ll want to spend a little more to get a turntable that is of a professional grade.

The more you spend here, the better the quality of your audio.

 

A Microphone

The next thing that you are going to need is microphone. This will help you out not only to record vocals, but also to create unique sounds by the way of the microphone.

Good microphones are not cheap, but you don't have to break the bank on this purchase. Start with the beat making then purchase a microphone later on.

 

Time and Time and Time

At the end of the day, the best way to become a beat maker is simple, take your time.

You can go through a checklist of equipment, but at the end of the day, time is the biggest issue that you will need to deal with.

You cannot rush the creative or learning process.

Spend time getting to know your equipment, how the pros do it, and focus on sound design.

Listen for loops, and samples from your favorite records.

Track down the original artists, and make sure that you spend as much time as you can listening, and getting to know how the masters slice, dice, and create organic sounds from existing elements and new sounds.

The more you spend time learning, the better you will understand the composition of hip hop and other types of beats.

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FL Studio – Is It Worth The Hype?

A Review of FL Studio – Is It Worth The Hype?

There are a lot of people that want to learn how to make beats, and get into the music business.

Unfortunately, not everyone can master all the elements that some of the masters used to create their blistering hits.

That is, until now.

There’s a lot of software that is getting pushed around the internet, and it all promises you the glory of creating music from scratch, taking samples and much more.

It’s easy to find these things, but which ones are worth the hype and which ones aren’t that grand?

That’s the hard part to decipher. It’s for that reason that this review of FL Studio was compiled.

With this, you will see whether or not FL Studio is in fact worth the hype it’s been getting around the music world.

If you haven’t heard of this software, then check out the following breakdown.

What Is FL Studio?

Simply put, this is a software choice that is often referred to as a DAW.

This stands for digital audio workstation.

Some people in the industry refer to this software was “Fruity Loops”, and it’s an audio software that can help you record, mix, master, and publish music.

It’s one of the crucial components that you need to have in place if you’re going to make hip hop or any type of electronic music.

Whether you want organic sounds or you want to loop samples, this converts your computer into a complete mixer overall.

The Feature List

When you decide whether or not purchase FL Studio, you’re no doubt going to want to know what features are in the mix.

Some platforms just give you bare bones options, which can work, but if you want something a bit more compelling, then you will definitely want to look at the list of features that are getting a lot of buzz today.

The following are just some of the most prominent features overall.

Easy To Use Interface – if you have ever used any sort of music studio software, then this one will come easy to you. It’s been designed to look like a large multi-channel mixer, only this is all digital.

Multi- Touch – want to mix several sounds at once? Well you can do so with ease. You can extend elements in a mix simultaneously, and use several sounds at once.

Channel Settings – the latest update features an all new robust channel settings and menu mixer. Whether you want to work with multiple channels, or one at a time, you can separate, edit, and mix everything with these options.

You don’t have to deal with pop ups, or anything that you may have in the past, the settings and menu have all be integrated into the main interface.

Playlist Editing – for those that are using several different audio files at once, you can easily now drag and drop them into the mixer.

You can create playlists for a party, or you can edit on the fly, it’s up to you.

Interchangeable Step Sequences – if you’re using piano rolls, you can easily interchange them with step sequences. This is an upgrade to the latest edition of Fruity Loops.

Plugins – perhaps one of the best features that you will find here is in regards to the plugins that abound.

This software has a lot of plugins that you can focus on, and utilize.

Whether you want to get a unique sound, or you have a mod in mind, there’s a lot to explore in this regards.

The above features are just some of the new updates that have come through with FL Studio today.

If you download and use this overall, you will find that compared to the other releases, this is definitely the most intuitive overall.

Support and Questions

One of the issues that people have with music mixing, and learning how to work with digital means it hat there usually isn’t any support.

If you spend a great deal of money on a program, you’re often times left on your own.

You’ll need to take classes or purchase a manual and figure out how to move every piece of the proverbial puzzle.

That’s not the case here, as you will find that there is full support, and manuals that you can get to help you pull through the latest aspects of this DAW.

Trial and Demo

Don’t want to buy the software? Don’t worry, you can get the trial and demo version to allow you to see what the hype is all about.

In fact, you could very well create your biggest hit within a few minutes if you just test the waters with the trial solution.

You’re going to find that this is a simple, intuitive solution for produces, and it can rival some of the more expensive options that are out there.

If you go ahead and purchase this option, you will get lifetime updates and so much more.

Is FL Studio Worth The Price?

Discussing the cost of software is always tough, because people usually run at the sound of pricing that may be a bit much.

In the case of producing beats, and making sure that your audio sounds amazing, you’ll need to spend a bit.

In this case, you can get an entry level of this software for as little as $99.

That’s right, under $100 gets you FL Studio, and you can get started.

Now, if you’re serious about music, and you want to get the professional grade option with all the bells and whistles, you’ll find that the cost rises upwards to $737.

This includes plugins, audio recording features, FL, VST elements, and of course lifetime updates.

To answer the question of whether or not it’s worthwhile, the short answer is in fact yes.

It’s a stellar program that has a lot of tools that you can use right away.

Whether you’re recording a track, mixing, or you want to test the waters as a DJ, this is something that helps anyone get into the game.

Furthermore, it’s cost effective.

You’ll find that FL Studio is far less than other comparable options, and better yet, you don’t need to have an expensive computer to run it.

Simply put, this is a simple software to get you moving forward in creating the best beats possible.

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How To Make Your Own Beats

There are a lot of different tools that music producers use to make beats.

You will find that the traditional hardware equipment from the past are still used, but with all the latest  software programs available dedicated to making beats you won’t have to spend thousands anymore.

For instance, if you are a new producer who wants to make beats, you can go online and find great music making software for as little as $100, or even build a home recording studio without blowing your cash on one keyboard.

That’s why producers today utilize a mix of affordable software programs and hardware equipment to make top notch beats.

Mixing the two can be the best, but if you’re going to get to a point where you’re making amazing beats, you’ll need to look at having the right equipment.

That’s where this quick and dirty checklist is going to come into play.

This is a list of items you’ll need to start making beats, even if you don’t have a big budget to get it done.

9 Things You Might Need To Make Beats

 

Computer – Mac or PC (Ok, maybe Linux)

If you’re going to get serious about making beats, you will need a strong computer.

Today, there’s very few studios that don’t have a solid computer system in place.

You will need to work with either Mac or PC, with few exceptions.

If you want an honest opinion on the matter, go with a MacBook Pro, and beef up the RAM and Hard Drive, and then invest in a second hard drive to boot.

If you’re going with budget, then get a PC that has a lot of hard drive space, and RAM.

Don’t settle for anything less than 4 GB of RAM and even that’s a bit low.

 

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

DAW is an acronym that you will find all over the place, and it stands for digital audio workstation.

It’s a solution that lets you turn your computer into a full blown recording studio.

The more expensive options can run you tens of thousands of dollars. However, there are some really good producers out there who use software like Fruity Loops, aka FL Studio to make beats with.

For around $99 you can get started there.

 

Audio Interface

This is where things get a bit more complex.

You’ll want to invest in a USB audio interface.

Don’t worry, this is not going to break the bank as there are some options that are lower than $100 out there. This can help with audio compression and relay to your computer’s DAW.

MIDI Controller

MIDI keyboards aren’t expensive, and they can help you get the right tone, sound, and even play a few little riffs.

Not sure about this?

Consider Dr. Dre’s classic “Nothing But A G Thing”, and you’ll hear a MIDI sample thrown into the mix. MIDI keyboards are great, easy to set up, and aren’t full keyboards for a reason. Get one of these.

 

 

Condenser Microphones

You need to get a dynamic, condenser microphone. Do not skimp on this.

You want to have clear audio if you’re going to do any type of vocals, and you need to make sure that you invest in pop filters, as well.

Good mics are going to save your audio profiles, especially if you are working with an MC.

 

Headphones

Don’t just throw on a pair of earbuds, you’re going to need studio level, monitor headphones.

Get ready to spend upwards of $100 to $500 on these things, and make sure that they are noise cancelling, and isolating.

Remember, you’re making beats, not just listening to music. This means that you will need to hear every sound, every pop, hiss, and more.

 

Drum Sampler Machine

Unless you’re going to play live drums for your beats, you’re going to need to purchase a drum sampler.

These are simple to use, and can let you move forward with all sorts of drum sounds.

Don’t go with the most expensive one you find, focus on an inexpensive model, and look around.

You’ll be surprised with how many of these are floating around auction websites and pawn shops.

 

Studio Monitors

Go high end with this one, and don’t skimp on the costs. Studio monitors are going to help you get those mixes to the next level.

You will want to get a high quality option that isn’t going to break your budget. We recommend listening to music through the monitors before you make a decision to purchase.

There are great studio monitors that sound great and are extremely affordable like the KRK Rokit 5 or the M-Audio BX5.

There are also high priced studio monitors like Yamaha HS 8 and Tannoy Reveal 802.

 

Sounds and Audio Files

You need to have a collection of sounds and samples to make beats sound more professional. The more sounds you have, the more beats you can create, and the more inspiration you will have.

Don’t just listen to one type of music, dig deep into the chronicles of music history and listen to soul, jazz, punk, hardcore, metal, and so much more.

Any music type that uses drums, bass and trumpets can be your new hit record.

You just have to listen, and get inspired.

The more storage space you fill up with recorded sounds, the higher the chances are that you are going to end up with the next great beat in your head.

These items are just some of the basic things that you need to start making beats. If you absolutely don’t have any money to pick these up, it’s ok.

You can go with simple options such as Audacity (Free), and royalty free sounds.

Mixing those together, you could start to make beats for free, and then work your way to getting all the equipment you need to push out professional level beats.

Simply put, this is not as complex as it may seem, but as you learn, make sure that you invest in better equipment.

Just keep pushing your creativity, and you will make your own beats just like the top selling music producers do.

 

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