| Everyday more and more people are beginning to | | | | There are many websites and startups that have |
| express themselves through digital music. Making your | | | | come with the web 2.0 and social media crazes which |
| own beats can be a great way to creatively use | | | | allow communities of like-minded people to make their |
| technology. I started making my own beats a few | | | | own beats with common software and then share |
| years ago and I haven't looked back since. You don't | | | | their beats and loops with each other. Most websites |
| need all that much to get started making your own | | | | are membership-based, with membership including |
| beats, just music production software and a computer. | | | | access to the beat maker software, and sometimes |
| You used to have to go to the studio to make your | | | | tips and videos on how to make your own beats. |
| own beats. | | | | When looking to sign up for membership to one of |
| This brings me to your first option: home desktop beat | | | | these websites, you should look for a number of things. |
| making software. Programs like FL Studio, Reason, | | | | First, make sure that the interface isn't overly technical. |
| Cubase, and CoolEditPro are popular desktop | | | | Most of these sites are known for ease of use, |
| programs. These programs are great for people who | | | | especially to beginners and people looking to make hip |
| have a little bit of music experience and understand | | | | hop beats online. They differ from offline software in |
| audio because the controls and features can get highly | | | | that they cut out the technical audio "fluff" and just |
| technical. Also, many beginners are turned away by | | | | leave the important features that make it quick and |
| digital music at first because of the high price of some | | | | easy to make your own beats. |
| of these programs. If you know what you're doing, | | | | Also, it is important to me to be able to save my beats |
| then they are the best way the maximize the user | | | | as mp3s. I know a few websites do this but some |
| experience and get the absolute most out of your | | | | don't have the feature and have lost many members |
| music- you get absolute pinpoint control over every | | | | because of it. I love burning a quick mix tape for a |
| tone, pitch, note, you name it. | | | | cruise with my friends, since a number of us make our |
| Some people, however, are looking for ways to start | | | | own beats. This punctuates the user-friendly aspect of |
| making your own beats without a lot of risk or | | | | the websites that incorporate it, as they make it quick |
| investment. My advice for these people is to either | | | | and easy for beginners to get up and going. |
| download a free trial or play a flash game to try it out. | | | | As you can see, you don't need much to get started |
| One of the popular demos is the FL Studio demo | | | | making your own beats. All you really need is either |
| which will give you a good idea of the basic layout of | | | | some desktop beat making software, or a |
| a lot of sequencers around. FL Studio is an excellent | | | | membership to an online beat making site. Wondering |
| program and I personally implement it when creating | | | | how to get started with either of these two things? |
| beats, loops, and samples. However the demo version | | | | For your convenience, I have included a link in the |
| does not let you save your projects, so it is only really | | | | resource box below to help you get started making |
| good to mess around with. | | | | your own beats right away. Keep bumpin! |
| You could also try making your own beats online. | | | | |