What's the first step?
Assuming that you have either a laptop, desktop computer or a Mac, the first step is to download a free trial of a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software.
This is the starting point and it's essentially the software that you'll use to make all of your music. It's completely up to you which software package you decide to use, however the most popular choices currently available are FL Studio and Ableton. Both of these will allow you to create professional tracks - it literally comes down to personal preference as to which one you'd like to choose. You can download a free trial of both and give each one a try to see which feels more natural if you wish.
Although you will now be using a free trial of the music production software, you'll still be able to make music within both software packages. The restriction of the trial basically stops you from saving the projects you make. Sometimes they also include a 'vocal watermark' on the exported music that you make within the software. However, this is a good starting point to learn how to produce music and see whether you like the music creation process. It also lets you figure out which software you prefer.
This is the starting point and it's essentially the software that you'll use to make all of your music. It's completely up to you which software package you decide to use, however the most popular choices currently available are FL Studio and Ableton. Both of these will allow you to create professional tracks - it literally comes down to personal preference as to which one you'd like to choose. You can download a free trial of both and give each one a try to see which feels more natural if you wish.
Although you will now be using a free trial of the music production software, you'll still be able to make music within both software packages. The restriction of the trial basically stops you from saving the projects you make. Sometimes they also include a 'vocal watermark' on the exported music that you make within the software. However, this is a good starting point to learn how to produce music and see whether you like the music creation process. It also lets you figure out which software you prefer.
Ableton and FL Studio user interfaces can be seen below:
Ryan Miles, Master The Kick instructor plays a DJ set
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Get synthesizers
The image above shows a very popular synthesizer called Massive. If you're completely new to music production - don't worry! A synthesizer is a program (or plugin) which can be installed onto your computer and is used within your Digital Audio Workstation (could be FL Studio or Ableton).
This then allows you to create sounds and melodies using the synthesizer. You have a variety of knobs and buttons on every synthesizer which allows you alter the sound and texture of the noise that comes from it.
With every synthesizer comes presets. These are read-made sounds that can be selected within the synthesizer software that somebody else (commonly other producers or sound engineers) have made which can be used straight away by yourself.
Once you've selected one of these presents, it means you don't have to make your own from scratch. You can edit and alter these sounds as you wish and you can even save an altered version for yourself to use again in the future. A good place to find these presents is an online library of samples and tools for producers called Splice. You pay a small monthly fee (around £7 - £8/month) to gain access to a wide variety of different samples and presets which can be used within your own music productions.
This then allows you to create sounds and melodies using the synthesizer. You have a variety of knobs and buttons on every synthesizer which allows you alter the sound and texture of the noise that comes from it.
With every synthesizer comes presets. These are read-made sounds that can be selected within the synthesizer software that somebody else (commonly other producers or sound engineers) have made which can be used straight away by yourself.
Once you've selected one of these presents, it means you don't have to make your own from scratch. You can edit and alter these sounds as you wish and you can even save an altered version for yourself to use again in the future. A good place to find these presents is an online library of samples and tools for producers called Splice. You pay a small monthly fee (around £7 - £8/month) to gain access to a wide variety of different samples and presets which can be used within your own music productions.
Get music production lessons
Music Production Lessons
By this point, you will have downloaded a free trial of FL Studio or Ableton (or whichever software package you prefer). These software packages already come with their own synthesizers but you may have downloaded additional ones too. You might have also downloaded a range of samples and presets from Splice.
The next stage, is to learn how to actually use these tools and samples to create your first track in whichever genre you choose. Realistically any type of music can be made within a Digital Audio Workstation so you have complete freedom over that. One option to progress from here is to get music production lessons to keep learning and pushing yourself forward with your creativity.
By having lessons, you can get regular help and feedback from a professional instructor who can guide you and give you recommendations on how to reach whichever goals you have. Getting feedback early on in your music journey can be motivating and hearing constructive criticism on your projects can boost your rate of progression massively - meaning that you spend less time trying to figure of what to do within the software and more time following professional guidance from your instructor.
Here at Master The Kick, you can learn how to produce music via live courses where you can see your instructors screen and cursor, as well as hearing the sounds played from their computer within the music production software. Every lesson is one hour which is plenty of time to listen to your instructor, ask any questions you like while they're teaching and also share your own screen (if you wish) to ask the instructor for feedback on your own projects.
All of our instructors are professional producers and DJs themselves and have played alongside artists including Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Joel Corry to name a few - so you're in safe hands!
The next stage, is to learn how to actually use these tools and samples to create your first track in whichever genre you choose. Realistically any type of music can be made within a Digital Audio Workstation so you have complete freedom over that. One option to progress from here is to get music production lessons to keep learning and pushing yourself forward with your creativity.
By having lessons, you can get regular help and feedback from a professional instructor who can guide you and give you recommendations on how to reach whichever goals you have. Getting feedback early on in your music journey can be motivating and hearing constructive criticism on your projects can boost your rate of progression massively - meaning that you spend less time trying to figure of what to do within the software and more time following professional guidance from your instructor.
Here at Master The Kick, you can learn how to produce music via live courses where you can see your instructors screen and cursor, as well as hearing the sounds played from their computer within the music production software. Every lesson is one hour which is plenty of time to listen to your instructor, ask any questions you like while they're teaching and also share your own screen (if you wish) to ask the instructor for feedback on your own projects.
All of our instructors are professional producers and DJs themselves and have played alongside artists including Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Joel Corry to name a few - so you're in safe hands!
