Nowadays, many people with hidden talent are interested in producing their own music, but choose not to do so simply for assuming this is a complex process, that will never develop into something professional. If you love music and you wish to produce your own music, whether as a professional career or as a hobby, you should not allow negative thoughts to deter you from following this.
If this is something you want to do but you are just not sure how to get started, in this article we will discuss a few useful tips and tricks that you can use in order to start producing your own music successfully.
Get a Sample Pack
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned producer with some experience, sample packs are a great way to support music production. A sample pack is an assortment of sounds consisting of loops and one-shots that are particularly developed for music producers to use as a foundation in their productions.
When you first begin exploring the concept of sample packs you may find yourself becoming easily overwhelmed. However, sample packs are considered basic to understand once you have some knowledge about them.
There are many companies available out there where you can get your pack samples from. If you are looking to invest in quality samples, https://samplified.us/ creates royalty-free sounds, drum kits, loops, one-shots and serum presets. Their main focus is to bring music producers no-fill sample packs and music tutorials to help up producers’ production game.
Although some people may suggest that sample packs are basically cheating, sampling has positively influenced and shaped popular music, from the roots of Hip-Hop to popular EDM artists, and can be a great way for beginner producers to start getting involved in the industry.
Invest in Equipment
One of the first things you must consider when financially investing in making your own music is what equipment you will require in order to make this happen. Unless you are able to access a studio, you will need to recreate this type of environment from your own home.
The basic equipment you will require to start producing your own music is:
- You will need speakers, a laptop/computer, midi keyboard, a microphone and an audio interface.
- A platform to record/create with. There are many Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) you can use to start making music such as Logic Pro, ProTools, Reason, Cubase, and Ableton Live.
- If you wish to record live instruments something like ProTools or Cubase may be more appropriate.
- If your main form of creating music will be via MIDI input, programs like Logic Pro and Reason may be best to your needs.
Composing
After you have acquired the required equipment and have created the studio environment, the next step is to start getting creative!
Most producers suggest that starting a song is the most difficult part because people will often just wait for inspiration and everyone has a different instrument method to start with. You should attempt to make music, even if you do not feel a wave of inspiration, as this may never come.
There is no right or wrong way to produce your own music, it is your and it should be unique to you. If you aim to write a bit of music every day you are more likely to quickly build up your portfolio.
Test Your Music When Ready
A good advice to follow when you start producing your own music is to take regular breaks as listening to the same thing repeatedly may impair your ability to hear things as clear as you would want. After you have produced a song, take time off from it and return and listen to it with ‘fresh ears.’
When concluding your mix, listen to your song and compare it to another song, produced in the same genre. This will increase your ability to recognise if your song is loud enough and what components are not standing out in the mix as much as they should be.
Once you have exported the track, you should also listen to it on different platforms such as in the car, on in-ear headphones and through a phone speaker Your song may sound different when using different monitors and speakers to ensure your audience will be able to listen to your song in the best quality.
If you love music and want the opportunity to make your own, do not be discouraged by the seemingly difficult process. Making your own music does not have to be complicated and by following the tips and tricks above, you are ready to start.