Music Maker Software
If you love music, want to be a musician, but can't play a musical instrument, music making software is the alternative most people turn to. Music making software is not a magic bullet, however. Good music comes from talent, not equipment (although good equipment certainly helps). If you can't play an instrument, your challenges are doubled. There are ways around this limitation, however, and this article will tell you what they are.
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Rephrase the introduction above!
Equipment
You'll need three things to start making music from scratch.
First, you'll need music making software. The internet is full of such programs. Unfortunately, while some are solid gold, others are garbage. To select good music making software, make sure it has the following elements.
- A 16-track music sequencer, with separate volume controls for each track
- Adjustable BPM (beats per minute) for tempo control
- An integrated virtual keyboard
- Compatible with VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plug-ins
Next, you'll need to acquire a large, high-quality sample & sound library. Most music making software comes equipped with its own sample & sound library; unfortunately, such libraries are neither very large nor very high quality. A quick search of the internet should turn out larger, better quality sample & sound libraries available for download, some of a fee, and some for free.
Finally, get a collection of VST plug-ins. Virtual Studio Technology plug-ins digitally simulate the effects of advanced audio hardware, essentially allowing you to have all the benefits of a well-equipped professional sound studio on your laptop. In particular, look for VSTi (VST-instrumental) plug-ins. When dropped into the virtual keyboard in your music making software, the keyboard will be able to emulate the notes of that particular instrument.
Making Music
The first step is to lay down the beat line. You don't necessarily need to create the beat from scratch. You can find a beat line from your sample library that you like and use that. If you don't like the idea of using "canned" beats, then use the beat as a framework to build from. Adjust the beat line and change it any way you want until you get a semi-original beat that you like.
The next step is to create an instrumental hook. If you have no idea how to compose an instrumental melody, don't worry. You can always use an instrumental sample from your sound library. Once again, if you don't want a canned sound (or can't find one you like), you can always use an instrumental sample as a staring point to develop your own using the virtual keyboard in your music making software. With the right VSTi plug-in, for example, you can recreate a melody sample using a different instrument. When your done creating your instrumental, lay it over your beat line.
There you have it! You may not be able to write musical notation, may not be able to play a musical instrument, how to compose a melody or drop a beat, yet you've created your own customized, unique song! Music making software allows non-musicians to experience the thrill of creating their own music, quickly and easily. Although becoming a rock star still requires lots of talent and years of practice, the average person can still become the star of their living room.
