Generally, live samples will sound most natural. Human listeners crave imperfection in sound production, and live performers each have their own unique, imperfect style. [2] X Research source Sometimes you can convince musician friends of yours to take part in live sampling if you give them credit or acknowledge them.
Investing in a laptop if you plan on traveling or performing live. This will enable you perform live more easily, as your entire selection can be stored and transported on your laptop. Investing in a desktop if you plan on producing music on your own at home. These machines will faithfully run most audio production software. Using a Mac if you plan on using the digital audio workstations (DAWs) Pro Tools, Garageband, or Logic. These programs are either Mac-only releases or are designed to work best with Mac specifications. Prioritizing processor speed. A 3. 0 processor that’s a dual core or better will help your computer to run fluidly with little to no lag. Using 8 GB of RAM and 500 GB of hard drive space (minimum) to support an extensive sound library and the smooth-running of your computer. Saving money on your video card. Unless you also do video editing, a high-end video card won’t add much to your music production. [3] X Research source
Recordings of live players generally are warmer and require less finishing. Isolated soundbites can sound cold, which can be corrected in the finishing stage of the production process.
Image-Line FL Studio is the frontrunner among the Fruity Loops platform. This powerful DAW includes an Image-Line lifetime free update policy. Ableton Live is powerful as a recording program for composers and it works well as a performance instrument as well. This program is supported by interface hardware like the Push 2 controller, which allows for a physically reactive (push key sound production) kind of music production. Steinberg Cubase Pro offers unique interface options, like chromatic sampling and the Lower Zone project window to improve mixing and other fine-tuning tools panels/tabs. [4] X Research source
Identify pieces of equipment you’d likely use often in your production. For example, if you had musical training in piano, a quality keyboard would likely be a useful investment. This kind of equipment can be very expensive. Building up production and recording accessories generally takes time and continual investment. Even though this equipment can be useful, canned music production, like drum machines, oftentimes require extensive finishing before sounding natural. [6] X Research source
Use the steady beat of a kick drum to create a basic bassline. Count rhythms and add in offbeats, like a sixteenth note run on the second and fourth beats of your bassline. You never know what you’ll come up with when making your bassline. Let your instincts guide you. Don’t attempt for perfection; creating a starting point is the goal of this step. [8] X Research source
These percussion riffs generally occur at regular intervals or as part of loops throughout a track. The frequency of these will depend on your style and preference.
A bridge is a connecting musical interlude to the main through line of a song, usually occurring in the middle of the song. Experiment with changes in rhythm, melody, and more when including bridges in your tracks. [9] X Research source Be careful not to add too many parts to your bassline. Too much instrumental variety can result in a muddy sound. Two to three instruments here would be most suitable to start with. Use simple, repeatable patterns. [10] X Research source
Choose a main instrument for your melody. Popular choices include the guitar, keyboard, horns (like trumpets or trombones), organs, synth tones, wind instruments (flutes, clarinets), and more. Have your melody travel a range of tones to give it contour. Break up tones to skip up and down to higher and lower tones. Make chords by playing tones together. Don’t be afraid to use silence. Adding a slight pause (often referred to in music as a “rest”) to your melody can build tension. Your melody should consist of a single instrument. In some cases, a pair of instruments can also be used. When starting out, using more than one instrument might cause muddiness or oversaturation in the end result of your track. [12] X Research source
Popular instruments used supplemental to the melody include: keyboard (sparse notes), trumpets, trombones, flutes, clarinets, marimbas, accordions, bagpipes, and others.
A few accent notes at low, downtempo spots in your song can add depth and an edgy sense to its overall tone. Unusual sounds, like DJ Premier’s iconic use of birds chirping to highlight the potent drumline, can have a profound effect on your track. Remember to keep things simple when you’re adding instruments to your melody and bassline. It’s easy to get carried away, but this can negatively impact the instrumental balance in your song. [15] X Research source
Write lyrics for your song that mean something to you or that are in line with the feeling you want to convey with your song. When starting out, one set of main vocals might be best. Secondary vocals, like that of a guest vocalist or a duet, can be effective in your track, but might be hard to balance while learning the basics of production.
Adding too many harmonic vocals, much like adding too many instruments, can bog down your sound, making it muddy. Use supporting harmonic vocals sparingly. [17] X Research source Your placement of these vocals is ultimately a matter of preference and taste. Experiment by harmonizing at various points in the song and seeing what you like. [18] X Research source
You can modify the tones of the overdubs to create harmony with a single voice. The chord created by these tones will be naturally pleasing since they are produced by the same voice. [19] X Research source
Start by having friends and family listen to your track. However, these people will often care about your feelings and may not give you the most honest evaluation. After building your confidence a little bit, have someone who isn’t as close to you, like an acquaintance or colleague with similar music tastes, listen to your track.
Compression tools can help you maintain consistent volume throughout your track. Digital versions of these are available as part of DAWs or supplemental software packages. EQs (Equalizers) can help give instruments/sound their own space in the mix by boosting or cutting frequencies, thus avoiding clashes that can make elements in the mix difficult to hear. A common color scheme to improve mixing efficiency uses purple for bass, blue for drums, red for vocals, and orange for instruments. [20] X Research source
Include genre specific tags, like one for hip hop or pop, and subgenres where applicable, like Electro Pop. Keep an eye on tracks you post. Tracks with many likes, thumbs ups, or positive responses can guide your production of future tracks.
Developing a following on social media can be a lot of work. In many cases, producers use a publicist or agent to manage their social media accounts. Sponsor social media contests, like one-on-one question and answer sessions or merchandise giveaways. [24] X Research source
Developing a following on social media can be a lot of work. In many cases, producers use a publicist or agent to manage their social media accounts. Sponsor social media contests, like one-on-one question and answer sessions or merchandise giveaways. [24] X Research source
If you receive the contact information from someone involved in the music scene, send them a friendly message or an invitation to collaborate. [26] X Research source
