Embarking on the journey of electronic music production can be incredibly exciting. If you’re just starting out and feeling a bit lost, you’re in the right place. This Guide To Electronic Music is designed to save you time and streamline your learning process, helping you go from beginner to creating tracks you’re proud of. Let’s dive into the essential steps.
1. Choosing Your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
The first crucial step in electronic music production is selecting a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Think of a DAW as your studio in a box – the software where you’ll record, edit, and arrange your music. There are many DAWs available, each with its own strengths and workflows.
While personal preference plays a big role, Renoise is an excellent, and perhaps slightly unconventional, choice we highly recommend. Renoise uses a tracker-based system, which might seem different at first but offers a very efficient and unique way to create electronic music. Its powerful features and stability make it a favorite among many electronic music producers.
Image: Renoise’s tracker interface, showcasing its unique approach to music production.
However, the best DAW is the one that clicks with you. If you find another DAW more intuitive for specific tasks, Renoise can be seamlessly integrated with other software using Rewire. This allows you to leverage the strengths of different DAWs within a single workflow. Explore options like Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro X (for Mac users), or Cubase to see what resonates with your style.
2. Discovering Virtual Studio Technology (VST) Plugins
VST plugins are the backbone of modern electronic music production. These “Virtual Studio Technology” instruments and effects expand your sonic palette and production capabilities immensely. There are three primary types of VSTs:
- Instrument VSTs: These are software synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, and more, generating the sounds you use in your music.
- Effect VSTs: These plugins process and manipulate audio, adding effects like reverb, delay, distortion, and compression to shape your sounds.
- MIDI VSTs: These are less common and typically used for MIDI processing and utility functions.
It’s tempting to amass a vast collection of VSTs, but resist this urge, especially when starting out. Spending too much time collecting plugins can detract from actual music creation. Instead, focus on mastering a smaller, well-chosen set of VSTs. Many fantastic free VSTs are available, providing professional-quality sounds without any cost. Here are a few recommended free VST instrument plugins to get you started:
VST Instrument 1: T-Force Alpha Plus
The T-Force Alpha Plus is a versatile and powerful synthesizer. Its simplicity is its strength, making it easy to learn while still offering a wide range of sounds suitable for various electronic music genres.
Download T-Force Alpha Plus – For Windows
VST Instrument 2: Trance Drive
Trance Drive is another excellent all-around synth known for its strong sound and straightforward interface. It’s particularly well-suited for creating driving trance leads and basses, but it’s flexible enough for other electronic styles as well.
Download Trance Drive – For Windows
Image: The interface of Trance Drive VST, a powerful and versatile synthesizer plugin.
VST Instrument 3: Phutura
Phutura is a synth inspired by the classic Roland Alpha Juno. It’s a “beast” for creating big, impactful lead sounds that cut through the mix. If you’re looking for bold and powerful lead synths, Phutura is a great option.
Download Phutura – For Windows
Image: Phutura VST plugin interface, known for its powerful lead sounds inspired by the Alpha Juno.
VST Instrument 4: MauSynth
MauSynth is known for its rich and complex sound textures. It excels at creating lush pads and detailed lead sounds, adding depth and character to your electronic music productions.
Download MauSynth – For Windows
Image: MauSynth VST plugin with a steel skin, showcasing its interface and sound design capabilities.
VST Instrument 5: Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a highly versatile and feature-rich synthesizer. Its complexity allows for deep sound design, and it’s also skinnable, letting you customize its appearance. Consider using the “Tron Legacy” skin for a visually inspiring interface.
Download Oatmeal – For Windows
Oatmeal VST with Tron Legacy Skin
VST Instrument 6: SQ8L
SQ8L is a software emulation of the Ensoniq SQ-80, a vintage synthesizer known for its unique and slightly gritty digital sound. While it may be a bit more complex to learn initially, SQ8L is worth the effort for achieving authentic vintage electronic sounds.
Download SQ8L – For Windows
Image: SQ8L VST plugin interface, emulating the classic Ensoniq SQ-80 synthesizer.
VST Instrument 7: Phenome
Phenome stands out as an excellent SF2 (SoundFont) player. SoundFonts are sample-based instruments, and Phenome provides a high-quality way to use them in your productions. It’s perfect for incorporating a wide range of sampled sounds into your electronic music.
Download Phenome – For Windows
Image: Phenome VST plugin interface, a top-tier SF2 player for sample-based sounds.
In addition to instrument VSTs, effect VSTs are equally crucial. Here are a couple of essential free effect plugins:
VST Effect 1: DBlue Glitch
DBlue Glitch is a highly acclaimed effect plugin, created by a developer from the Renoise team. It specializes in creating rhythmic glitches, stutters, and complex beat manipulations, adding unique textures to your music.
Download DBlue Glitch – For Windows
Image: DBlue Glitch VST plugin interface, renowned for its glitch and beat manipulation effects.
VST Effect 2: LePou Le456
LePou Le456 is considered one of the best free distortion effects plugins available. It’s ideal for adding warmth, grit, and aggressive distortion to guitars, synths, drums, or any sound that needs some extra edge.
Download LePou Le456 – For Windows
VST Effect 3: Renoise Built-in Effects
Don’t underestimate the power of your DAW’s built-in effects! Renoise, for example, comes with a fantastic suite of native effects. Learning to master these can be incredibly beneficial and efficient, as they are perfectly integrated into your workflow.
Image: Renoise’s built-in reverb effect, showcasing the quality and integration of DAW native effects.
VST Patches, Presets, and Banks
Most VST plugins come with factory presets, which are pre-designed sounds showcasing the plugin’s capabilities. Exploring these presets is a great way to learn how a VST works and can inspire your own sound design. Experiment with tweaking factory presets to understand their parameters and gradually create your own unique sounds.
If you’re looking for more sounds, numerous websites offer free and paid VST patches and banks. Here are a couple of resources for free patches:
For more instrument plugin recommendations, especially for free options, check out the Renoise forum:
- Recommended Freeware VST Plugins on Renoise Forum
3. Building Your Sample Library
Samples are pre-recorded audio snippets that you can use as building blocks in your electronic music. These can include drum hits, instrument loops, vocal phrases, and sound effects. Building a good sample library is essential, but it’s important to do it strategically.
A key tip is to avoid getting bogged down searching for samples in the middle of a creative session. Dedicate separate time to proactively build your sample library. Explore different sample packs and organize them so you can quickly find what you need when inspiration strikes.
Here are some excellent resources for finding samples:
Sample Site 1: Music Radar SampleRadar
Music Radar’s SampleRadar is a fantastic starting point for all-around samples. They offer a vast library covering various genres and sound types. Browse through their collection to find a wide range of sounds for your productions.
Sample Site 2: DSK Music High Quality Instruments
DSK Music offers a remarkable collection of high-quality instrument sounds in SoundFont format for a small donation. For a $25 donation, you gain access to over 400 instruments, which are compatible with the Phenome sampler VST mentioned earlier.
DSK Music High Quality Instruments
Sample Site 3: KB6 Samples Drum Kits
KB6 Samples hosts an extensive library of drum kits. While they offer many free drum kits, a small donation of 10 Euros unlocks their premium collection, featuring hundreds of drum sets and thousands of individual drum samples.
Sample Site 4: Renoise Resources at LoopProject
LoopProject is a community-driven platform focused on Renoise. You’ll find a growing collection of XRNI instruments and samples specifically designed for Renoise, making it a valuable resource for Renoise users.
Renoise Resources at LoopProject
Sample Site 5: Renoise Backstage
If you’re a Renoise user, don’t forget to access the exclusive samples available in the Renoise Backstage area. Upon purchasing Renoise, you gain access to sample packs like PureMagnetik Essentials and Beatslaughter XrniPack, offering high-quality sounds to kickstart your library.
For more sample site recommendations, explore the Renoise forum:
- Free Sample Sites on Renoise Forum
4. Utilizing Tutorials and Learning Resources
Tutorials are invaluable for learning electronic music production and mastering your chosen DAW and plugins. Renoise offers a comprehensive set of tutorials that are well-structured and easy to follow.
In addition to video tutorials, the Renoise help documentation is a fantastic resource. Keep it bookmarked and refer to it often to deepen your understanding of Renoise’s features and functionalities.
5. Engaging with the Music Production Community
Don’t isolate yourself in your music production journey! Actively participate in online communities and forums. If you need help, ask questions. If you discover something new, share it with others. The electronic music production community is generally very supportive and collaborative.
Share your music creations, even your first tracks, on platforms like the Renoise Song Forum. Feedback from other producers can be incredibly helpful for your growth and development.
6. Expanding Your Workflow with Tools and Scripts
As you become more experienced, you might find yourself wanting to extend your DAW’s capabilities or customize your workflow. Renoise’s powerful scripting language and API allow for extensive program expansion.
Explore the Renoise Tools page and forum to discover existing tools and scripts created by the community. You might find tools that perfectly address your specific needs or inspire new creative approaches.
- Renoise Tools – Official Site
- Renoise Tools – Forum Link
7. Staying Up-to-Date with Industry News and Resources
The world of electronic music production is constantly evolving. Stay informed about new plugins, techniques, and trends by regularly visiting industry websites and forums. Here are a few recommended resources:
- KVRAudio – A comprehensive resource for VST plugins and music software news.
- Plugin Boutique – A popular online store for plugins, with news, reviews, and deals.
- Create Digital Music – A blog covering music technology, software, and creative techniques.
- Renoise Forum – General Discussion – Stay connected with the Renoise community and discussions.
By following this guide to electronic music, you’ll build a solid foundation for your production journey. Remember that learning is continuous, so keep experimenting, creating, and connecting with the community. Happy music making!
