Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Types of Electronic Musical Instruments
• Part 2 of 4: Equipment for Electronic Music Production
• Part 3 of 4: Before You Begin
• Part 4 of 4: Making Electronic Music
• Tips
• A warning
• What do you need

Although the history of electronic musical instruments dates back to the mid-19th century, the first musical instruments that were used to record music were the etherophone and rhythmikon, created by Lev Termin. With the advancement of technology, synthesizers, originally created for recording in studios, are now widely used by hobbyists for recording music both at home and in creative groups. The processes of arranging and recording electronic music have also been greatly simplified, they can be done not only in a professional studio, but also in a domestic environment.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Types of Electronic Musical Instruments

1. 1 Creation of electronic music using a synthesizer. The word "synthesizer" is used synonymously with the phrase "electronic musical instrument". In fact, a synthesizer is a part of an electronic instrument that actually produces the music: drums, rhythm, and tonality.
   • Early monophonic synthesizer models such as the Moog Minimoog were only capable of reproducing one key. Such models did not reproduce the middle key that is available to ordinary musical instruments, although some models were able to reproduce notes from two different octaves when two keys were pressed simultaneously. In the mid-1970s, polyphonic synthesizers appeared that could play both single notes and chords.
   • The earliest synthesizers did not include sound control systems.Currently, most electronic musical instruments, including those intended for home use, have a built-in control panel.
2. 2 Controlling the synthesizer using the control panel. Early models of synthesizers were controlled by stick switches, rotary buttons, or solely by the movements of the performer's hands, as, for example, playing the terminvox (renamed etherophone). Modern control panels are more user-friendly. They allow you to control your synthesizer in accordance with the MIDI (Musical Instrumental Digital Interface) standard. Below is a description of some types of control panels:
   • Keys are the most common type of synthesizer control panel. The size of the keyboard can range from a full-octave 88-key electronic piano keyboard to a small 25-key (2 octave) keyboard on children's toys. Keyboards in home synthesizers usually consist of 49, 61 or 76 keys (respectively 4, 5 or 6 octaves). In some models, the keys are weighted to simulate playing on a real piano, in others, on the contrary, they are spring-loaded, and in others they are weighted, but less weight than simulators. Many models also simulate the sensitivity to keyboard impact - the harder the impact, the louder sound.
   • Wind controller. This type of controller is used in wind synthesizers - electronic instruments that are similar in design to saxophone, clarinet, flute, or trumpet devices. In order to extract sound from such an instrument, you need to blow into it. Depending on the combination of the keys pressed and the movements of the performer's jaw, these instruments produce different sounds.
   • MIDI Guitar is software that lets you use your acoustic guitar and pickup to control your synthesizer. MIDI guitar works by converting string vibrations into a digital signal. Sometimes there is a delay between input and output of data due to the need to analyze a large volume of acoustic samples before they are converted to digital audio.
   • SynthAxe is discontinued. This instrument resembles a guitar, the neck of which is divided into 6 diagonal zones, the basis of its work is the use of strings as sensors. Depending on the force of striking the strings, the reproduced sound also changed.
   • Keyboard guitar. This controller looks like a guitar, but instead of strings, it has a 3-octave keyboard and a sound control panel on the neck. The creators of this tool were inspired by the design of Orphic, popular in the 18th century. Such an instrument allows you to use the capabilities of keyboard instruments without restricting the performer's movements.
   • Electronic drums were invented in 1971. Electronic drums are usually produced in kits, just like acoustic drum kits, including cymbals. Early models produced unrecordable sounds, while modern models are digital. If you plug in headphones, only the performer will hear the sound being played.
   • Radio drums. The original purpose of the radio drums is to use them as a three-dimensional mouse that reads the position of the sticks in space using radio sensors. The sound of the drum changed depending on which part of the drum the sticks were hitting.
   • Body synthesizer. This controller is attached to parts of the performer's body, whose movements and muscle tension control the reproduced sound and light effects. Originally intended for use by actors and dancers, it was often too difficult to control. Less sophisticated models of such synchronizers offer controllers in the form of gloves and shoes.

Part 2 of 4: Equipment for Electronic Music Production

1. 1 Choose a computer system with sufficient power that you are familiar with. You can create music using only electronic musical instruments.However, if you plan to create electronic music compositions, you will need a computer.
   • Both a laptop and a desktop computer are suitable for creating music. If you plan to work in one place, the stationary model is suitable for you. If you are going to be creative in different places, for example, at the rehearsals of your group, you will need a laptop.
   • You can use any operating system of your choice, Windows or MacOS. However, it is advisable that you install the latest version available.
   • Your computer must have a powerful enough processor and enough memory to handle the creation of musical compositions. If you do not know what parameters you need to pay attention to when choosing a computer, you can focus on the customized requirements for computers for audio and video games.
2. 2 Install good audio equipment. By using a built-in sound card and an inexpensive microphone, you can create reasonably good electronic music. However, if you can, try to get the following accessories:
   • Sound card. If you are going to record a lot, it is recommended to use a dedicated sound card.
   • Studio monitors. These are not ordinary computer monitors, but rather speakers designed for studio recording. In this case, the term "monitor" means that the speakers reproduce sound with minimal or no noise. ) Inexpensive speakers are made by firms such as M-Audio or KRK Systems, while more expensive models can be found at Focal, Genelec and Mackie.
   • Studio headphones. Listening to recordings through headphones rather than speakers will allow you to better concentrate on certain parts of the piece, and help you better monitor the rhythm and sound level. The main manufacturers of studio headphones are Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser.
3. 3 Install a reliable music recording software application. You may need the following programs:
   • The Digital audio workstation (DAW) is a music production software that coordinates the work of all other recording applications. The interface of such programs often resembles a control panel in analog recording studios and includes control of tracks and mixes, and also shows waveform graphs of the recorded sound. Digital audio panels are very diverse, including Ableton Live, Cakewalk Sonar, Cubase, FL Studio, Logic Pro (macOS only), Pro Tools, Reaper, and Reason. There are also free programs like Ardor or Zynewave Podium.
   • The audio editor provides more options for editing music than the built-in audio panel tool. In particular, such an application allows you to edit music templates, as well as convert your songs to MP3 format. Sound Forge Audio Studio is a low-cost editor option and Audacity is one of the free apps.
   • Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is a software addition to the synthesizer of electronic musical instruments described in the previous section, the so-called plug-in to your audio panel. Many of these plugins can be downloaded for free from the Internet by searching for “free software synthesizers” or “free vsti” (free vst), or you can purchase the program from developers such as Artvera, H.G. Fortune, IK Multimedia, Native Instruments, or reFX.
   • VST effect plug-ins allow you to record sound effects such as reverb, chorus, slow motion. Paid and free, they can be found from the same developers as VST plugins.
   • Music templates are sketches of musical sounds, drums, or rhythms that you can use to enrich your musical composition. They are usually grouped by genres of music such as blues, jazz, country, rap, or rock, and can consist of a single sound or a series of sounds. As a rule, there is no rent for using templates: you buy a license for the right to include certain templates in your own records at the time of their purchase. Some record companies put templates online for free download, and there are third-party developers that offer free and paid options.
4. 4 Consider buying a MIDI controller. You can, of course, compose music with your computer using your keyboard and mouse as a virtual piano. However, it would be more natural to use a MIDI controller. As with conventional musical instruments, keyboards are the most common type of controller. However, you can select any other type described in the Types of Electronic Musical Instruments section that is supported by your software.

Part 3 of 4: Before You Begin

1. 1 Check out the history of music. You can play electronic music using electronic musical instruments and a computer without understanding sheet music. However, knowledge of the structure of music will help you make better arrangements, as well as spot mistakes in compositions.
   • On the Internet you will find many articles describing the basics of music theory, in particular, the wikiHow article "How to Make Music" may be useful.
2. 2 Explore the capabilities of your tool and software. Even if you've tried playing your instrument before purchasing it, spend some time experimenting with your equipment before embarking on a serious project - you will have a better understanding of the capabilities of your instrument, and, for sure, you will have new ideas for the project.
3. 3 Become familiar with the specifics of the music genre in which you intend to work. Each genre of music has certain elements. The easiest way to understand these elements is to listen to several songs recorded in the genre in which you intend to work:
   • Drums and rhythm. Rap and hip-hop are characterized by heavy, groovy drums and rhythm, while the sound of a jazz band will have a cheerful sound and frequent rhythm changes, and in country music you can often hear mixed drums.
   • Tools. Jazz often uses brass musical instruments such as trumpet or trombone, as well as wind instruments such as clarinet and saxophone. At the same time, hard rock is usually performed with sonorous electric guitars, Hawaiian songs are performed on steel guitars, folklore on acoustic guitars, mariachi on trumpets and guitars, and polka on tuba and accordion. However, many performers have successfully used instruments from other genres in their works. For example, Bob Dylan performed folklore on electric guitar at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, Johnny Cash used Mariachi trumpets in Ring of Fire, and Ian Anderson used the flute as the main instrument for the rock band Jethro Tull.
   • Song structure. Most songs played on the radio have the following structure: intro, verse, chorus, next verse, chorus repeat, chorus (usually part of a chorus), chorus, and ending. Instrumental music performed in dance clubs begins with an introduction, followed by an opening in which all the elements of the work are performed, and the performance ends with a gradually fading ending.

Part 4 of 4: Making Electronic Music

1. 1 Record the drums first. The drums are the skeleton that will hold the entire song. Use the drum sounds from the template set for recording.
2. 2 Add bass. Following the drums, add bass beats played either on a bass guitar or any other low-pitched musical instrument. Make sure your drums and bass work well with each other before you start recording your instruments.
3. 3 Add more rhythm if desired. Not all songs use singular beats, and some have complex beats, especially where you need to draw the listener's attention, and also at key points in the song. Make sure the secondary beats match the main beat and produce exactly the effect you want.
4. 4 Record the melody. This is a job for your VST instruments. You can use sound presets, or experiment and record your own sounds.
5. 5 Mix recordings. It is very important that the drums, rhythm and melody go together. To achieve this, choose one of the components as a base and tune the others to match the base you choose. Usually drums are chosen as the basis.
   • In some cases, you will want to record a richer sound rather than a louder one. To achieve this, you can use multiple instruments in a selected section of a piece, or record the same instrument multiple times. The latter option is often used when recording voice, both the main performer and backing vocals. This is how the singer Enya makes her recordings.
   • You may want to add variety to the sound by using different instruments in different choruses of a song, especially if you want to evoke different emotions in the listeners in different parts of the song. To liven up your song, you can also use different registers and change the key as you record.
   • You don't have to fill every moment of the song with tricks from your arsenal. Sometimes, especially in verses, it's okay to take out the underlying harmony and let the drums, melody, and vocals guide your song. In other cases, for example, at the beginning and at the end of a song, you can leave only the vocals.
6. 6 Meet the expectations of your audience. If you are writing music for more than just yourself, consider the expectations of your future audience. So, when recording the intro, try to captivate the listener so that he listens to your song to the end. However, do not indulge in all the whims: if recording a long chorus does not seem appropriate to you, you should not do it.

Tips

• Before purchasing a digital audio panel or other recording software, check out the demo to find the app that's right for you.
• When you record a song, try playing it using different players, for example, at home, in the car, on an MP3 player, on a smartphone, on a tablet, try listening to it on headphones or through the speaker of the device. If the sound suits you on most devices, you've made a good recording.

A warning

• Do not hurry. After some time spent recording electronic music, your hearing may get tired of listening to the same song over and over again. Also, how easy it is to overlook mistakes in the lyrics if you look at it continuously for a long time, you may not notice those moments in the song in which the sound of the instruments is not perfect or the sound is not balanced correctly.

What do you need

• Electronic musical instrument (synthesizer and controller - for performances);
• Personal computer, preferably with a suitable sound card (for composing and recording);
• Professional monitors, microphones and headphones (for composing and recording);
• Digital audio panel and editor software (for composing and recording);
• Plugins for virtual electronic instruments (for composing and recording);
• Music effects plugins and music templates (for composing and recording);
• MIDI controller (part of the instrument, recommended for composing and recording).