This is the first post in a series that will explore the technical aspects of how to make electronic music. If you’re interested in learning how to make music with computers, it’s important to learn about the gear that you’ll need to do it.
We’ll be starting out with a brief introduction to electronic music history, and then diving into each individual topic (DAW software, synthesizers, samplers, MIDI controllers, and audio interfaces).
In my experience, most people have no idea how affordable it is to experiment with electronic music production these days. Most people think they need an expensive computer, lots of expensive software and hardware equipment and years of training to get started. While there are certainly advantages to having all of these things (and more), if you have just a couple hundred dollars or less set aside for this purpose, you can get started right now.
In fact, I would encourage people who are just getting started to avoid spending too much money at first (this advice is especially applicable for young students), until you’re sure that this hobby is something that you want to invest in over the long term.
In future posts we’ll go over each piece of equipment in detail and discuss what kinds of things you can do with them. For now though
There is a lot of information about how to make electronic music out there, but much of it is theoretical or aimed at people with big budgets. This site aims to show that you can make music on a budget and without any previous experience.
I started making electronic music in 2012 and I have been exploring the world of music ever since. The aim of this blog is to provide an honest guide to making electronic music that doesn’t cost a fortune. I hope that it will be useful for anyone who wants to get started making their own beats and melodies.
I’ve been asked by a lot of people how to get started with electronic music production. I thought I’d write up some thoughts about how to do it on a budget, and what kind of things you can expect out of hardware in your price range.
I’m going to assume that you’re interested in making electronic music and that you have at least some musical experience, even if it’s just playing guitar or singing in the shower. If you’re reading this, then you probably already know what kind of music you want to make. This means that answering questions about equipment is difficult without knowing what your goals are. But for the sake of this article we’re going to assume that you want to make dance music – electronica with lots of synthesizers and drums machines, like Daft Punk or Aphex Twin.
Electronic music is everywhere these days. I hear it when I go to the grocery store, on TV shows, and every time I go out to a bar or club. It’s become so popular that electronic music festivals have been popping up all over the country. Although it’s not really new, it seems that electronic music is just beginning to take off in the mainstream.
It’s no surprise that electronic music has become so popular with people of all ages and from all walks of life. Not only does it have a wide variety of sounds, but it also has a fun, energetic vibe that makes it easy for everyone to enjoy. Electronic music can be anything from upbeat dance tracks to slow ambient soundscapes; there’s truly something for everyone!
Electronic Music is a broad term used to describe any type of music created with the use of electronics or computers. This can include synthesizers, drum machines, samplers and live instrumentation such as electric guitars or basses (with effects pedals). However, there are many other sources of sound besides these instruments that can be used in an electronic music production: recordings of natural sounds like birds chirping or water flowing, field recordings taken by artists themselves while traveling around the world with portable recording devices like Zoom H
Computer music is still a young field, and there has been a lot of experimentation with different ways people can control these new machines to make electronic music. And some of the experiments have been pretty strange.
For example, early electronic music used things like telephone dials to alter sounds. Because at the time, that was what you had available. You couldn’t just go out and buy a MIDI keyboard or a synthesizer or an audio interface or some other specialized device that allowed you to control your computer. So you had to use the devices that were available, which were basically dials and buttons.
The same thing happened with controlling tempo in early electronic music. There weren’t any “tempo” controls back then, because computers didn’t run at a constant speed like they do today (it was common for them to be controlled by something like an old clockwork motor). So if you wanted to change the tempo of your song, you had to physically alter it yourself by slowing down or speeding up the motor that was running your computer – which is why it’s called “tempo” in the first place (to alter tempo means “to change speed”).
This makes for some very strange-looking equipment in early electronic music studios!
My friend is a musician and composer who, like many other musicians, has been hurt by the decline in music sales. He was just starting to get noticed when Napster came out.
The good news for people like him is that it’s never been easier or cheaper to make electronic music. I have a friend who makes electronic music at home, and he sent me these tips on how to do it cheaply:
1. Buy a cheap MIDI keyboard- Find one used on eBay for under $100. Get one with at least 49 keys (4 octaves).
2. Download free software- I recommend Ableton Live Lite, which you can get free with the purchase of any M-Audio hardware (like the MIDI keyboard). There are also some other free options out there that aren’t as full-featured but still very usable, including Audacity and Reaper. If you’re looking for something with more features, check out FL Studio or Propellerheads Reason (both are $200+) or Ableton Live 8 ($450).
3. Learn about synthesis- You can read about this online for free; just search for “synthesis.” Synthesis is the process of using waveshapes to create sounds. The simplest way to start is by using
Electronic music has a long, rich history. From the earliest days of electronic music with tape-splicing to today’s high-tech, digital synthesizers and software, electronic music has come a long way.
Electronic music is the creation of music by manipulating sounds electronically. The use of electronics to produce and modify sounds in conjunction with other musical instruments started in the early 20th century. Some of the most famous early electronic instruments were the Ondes Martenot, used by Maurice Martenot in his compositions from 1924, and the Theremin, invented in 1919. In 1940s and 50s it was still very expensive to produce electronic instruments and equipment but as technology advanced and became more accessible so did the creative possibilities presented by this new medium