Beat maker software programs are often thought of being very expensive and very difficult to use, but in this article I will show you how you can get your hands on professional quality software for less than $30.
I will also demonstrate how easy it is to create a killer beat.
The User-board or Interface:
Most of the programs available have a very simple interface that looks like a mixing desk. The best will also include a timeline. This is where you select your beats, drums, sounds and instruments then drop them onto the timeline in the appropriate place. Some of the best programs have a small visual piano keyboard where you can add chords or melodies of different instruments, like guitars, pianos, strings and bass guitar.
Make your beat.
Now is the simple task of selecting your sound, clicking on it and dragging it to the appropriate place on the timeline. So let’s imagine you want a kick or bass drum on beat one of each bar. Firstly click on your bass drum then drag it to where a number one is marked at the start of each bar. Now simply playback the beat and you will see a cursor move along the timeline and you should hear your bass drum on beat one of each bar.
Simply repeat this process with all of your different drum sounds or instrument sounds until you have built up the exact track you want.
Bonus features.
Always look for a program that has some very cool features or bonuses. One that I particularly like is the ‘live play in’ feature. This is great if you can hear it be in your head but you aren’t sure where each sound should go. The live play in feature allows you to tap your mouse in the rhythm of your beat as if you are playing a drum live in a studio.
A lot of the great beat maker software programs that are available online will have this feature amongst many, more and they will be very, very affordable.