| Anyone who has access to a computer with | | | | process, with full walk through instructions provided by |
| speakers can make hip hop beats. Most people who | | | | the software. |
| are just starting to get into it do not know where to | | | | Next, install your MIDI controller drivers. Again, there |
| begin. These 5 steps will help to get you setup and | | | | should be an installation CD which comes with your |
| you will be able to make hip hop beats in no time. | | | | keyboard that will easily install your keyboard software. |
| 1. Access to a computer with USB or Firewire ports. | | | | Once both are installed, open your music production |
| Every computer these days comes with USB or | | | | software program. Look for the program's Options, |
| Firewire ports. These are necessary to make hip hop | | | | Preferences, or Setup section, and locate the MIDI |
| beats because they will enable you to connect your | | | | Controller or Keyboard Setup. Locate your installed |
| MIDI controller (piano/keyboard) to your computer. | | | | keyboard and select it for use with the program. |
| 2. Buy a MIDI keyboard or controller | | | | Your software and keyboard should now work with |
| Purchase a MIDI controller or full MIDI keyboard online | | | | one another. |
| or from a local music store. These days, you can get | | | | 5. Load sounds. play sounds, record sounds. |
| a full-featured keyboard for as little as $100-$150 | | | | Now that everything is set up, you can begin to make |
| which will do all that you need it to do to make hip hop | | | | hip hop beats on your computer. Depending on your |
| beats. | | | | software, there are different ways to load sounds into |
| 3. Buy music production software. | | | | it. Please check your manual to determine this, as |
| Purchase music productions software such as Fruity | | | | every program is different. |
| Loops, Reason, Cubase, Logic, etc. This software will | | | | Once loaded, you will be able to play the selected |
| enable you to: | | | | sounds with your MIDI controller. |
| - Load sounds which can be played through your MIDI | | | | When you click the "Record" button, everything that |
| controller or keyboard | | | | you play on your keyboard will be recorded as MIDI |
| - Record these sounds into the program so they can | | | | data into the software program. You can then edit it, |
| be edited and arranged | | | | change it, move it, arrange it, etc. |
| - Program sounds into sequencers with the click of a | | | | Once you become good at the recording process, you |
| mouse | | | | can begin to make hip hop beats and full songs right in |
| - Import downloaded sound expansions to keep your | | | | your software program! Add drums, piano, guitar, or |
| hip hop beats up to date | | | | anything else you wish. A lot of these kinds of sounds |
| 4. Installation and Setup | | | | can be loaded into your keyboard from your software |
| Now that you have what you need to get started | | | | program. |
| making hip hop beats, it is time to set it up. | | | | I hope this article has helped you to begin your journey |
| First, install your production software onto your | | | | to make hip hop beats! |
| computer. This should be a relatively straightforward | | | | |