Everyone does it, you got the music production software and you’re dreaming of becoming the next top beat maker in the game. This happens a lot in the world of hip hop.
Many up coming online beat makers think it’s easy to be a top notch music producer, and while not everyone wants to rap, many think that they can produce tracks just as good as some of the best in the world.
Something as simple as a 2 second bass line or note could very well be the next big hit, right?
Well that’s what people think and it’s fascinating to see people try, and fail.
If you have tested the waters, and weren’t that good, then it’s time to change things up and look at some steps that can help you become the next big beat maker.
These steps are tried and tested, and could very well see you making serious beats for some of your favorite rappers, and more.
Beat Maker, Don’t Follow The Latest Trends
Here is the thing about the beat maker of 2016, they love to follow the latest trends.
The thing about creating beats is that they don’t always come from the familiar resources.
You cannot just sample James Brown all the time. You need to dig deep into the archives of music, and find out the root elements that make up the best songs.
The best beat makers today aren’t just organically making sounds.
That can help, but if you’re going to make it big, you need to learn how to create your own style.
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Learn To Create Your Own Sounds
One of the major things that you will get wrong when trying to make beats, is relying only on samples.
It’s a dichotomy that you have to learn to live with.
You should know how to sample and use sounds that way, but you should also know how to produce your own sounds too.
That means guitar, keyboards, or bass guitar.
Learn how to play at least one instrument.
You don’t have to be the next Mozart, but you should have an understanding of rhythm, and timing, so that you can read music or at least create elements that allow others to float over with rhyme or singing.
If you don’t know this, then you will have a hard time going organic when the time comes.
A Good Computer
The next thing that you should look into is getting a good computer.
You may know how to play instruments, you may have a huge record collection or files on many hard drives, but you will need to store them and use software to manipulate tracks.
That’s where a good computer comes into play.
Many musicians swear by the MacBook Pro, but if you don’t have the money to get one of those, get a PC that is equivalent at a lower cost.
Software and a Maschine
You will need to pick up a Maschine, which is a device that lets you build beats, loop sounds and more.
You will also need to have software that can help you make, record, and manipulate audio.
The main software choices that you will find includes Reason, Pro Tools, Logic, Fruity Loops and even Audacity. Spend some time learning how to use these platforms, and do NOT think that you can get away without these things.
You need to have software, and hardware in order to master beat making for any purpose.
In the rare case that you can’t get any of these things, then you will need to save some money and start building your home recording studio slowly.
Good Headphones
No, this is not a call to get “Beats by Dre”. You need studio headphones that have high fidelity, and isolate noise, as well as reduce static and more.
You may have to pay upwards of $200 for a good pair.
Some people swear by $1,000 studio gear.
You don’t have to spend that much, but you will need a good pair of headphones that are NOT necessarily sponsored by your favorite rapper, just saying.
Turntable or Record Player With Audio Outputs (In Case You Sample)
If you’re going to go the way of sampling to make beats, you will need a good turntable.
You will need a professional grade solution that ties into your computer’s software. You’re going to want to pull sounds, rip audio, mix, and more.
There’s a reason why DJ’s end up becoming great beat makers, and it’s because they are isolating noise and sounds with their computers and record players.
Now, on the low cost end, you can get away with a record player that has an audio out, but you’ll want to spend a little more to get a turntable that is of a professional grade.
The more you spend here, the better the quality of your audio.
A Microphone
The next thing that you are going to need is microphone. This will help you out not only to record vocals, but also to create unique sounds by the way of the microphone.
Good microphones are not cheap, but you don’t have to break the bank on this purchase. Start with the beat making then purchase a microphone later on.
Time and Time and Time
At the end of the day, the best way to become a beat maker is simple, take your time.
You can go through a checklist of equipment, but at the end of the day, time is the biggest issue that you will need to deal with.
You cannot rush the creative or learning process.
Spend time getting to know your equipment, how the pros do it, and focus on sound design.
Listen for loops, and samples from your favorite records.
Track down the original artists, and make sure that you spend as much time as you can listening, and getting to know how the masters slice, dice, and create organic sounds from existing elements and new sounds.
The more you spend time learning, the better you will understand the composition of hip hop and other types of beats.