5 answers
tyler
Student
Garden City, New York
1
Question
Asked
287 views
How do I become successful in making music?
I would like to make music in the future and I want to know how some music software works
5 answers
John Morris
Instructional Designer / Musician / eLearning Creator
27
Answers
Updated
John’s Answer
There is a lot of great music software out there and it is all amazing.
I am most familiar with Reason and FL Studio.
I learned Reason many years ago but FL Studio I learned almost entirely in the last year using Youtube. There is a content creator on Youtube called "In The Mix" who is very good and explains almost every part of FL Studio extremely well.
One of the great things about FL Studio is that it has an interface that allows you start making beats right away; the "channel rack" workflow is quick to learn. That being said, FL Studio is also very capable and has features that skilled musicians work for years to fully leverage.
Most software companies offer academic discounts, so if you are in school you can get a discount, check their websites.
I do not have much experience with any of these, but there are some free Digital Audio Workstations out there if you are curious and on a budget. Additionally, I am sure that you can find tutorials for them online.
I have played around with the free Digital Audio Workstation Ardour, which is a pretty good program. I used it with the free synth Vital. You can do a lot for free with those two programs.
If you do a Google search for "Free DAW" you can find other free music software to experiment with.
Best of luck to you, making music with a computer is one of the most enjoyable things there is.
I am most familiar with Reason and FL Studio.
I learned Reason many years ago but FL Studio I learned almost entirely in the last year using Youtube. There is a content creator on Youtube called "In The Mix" who is very good and explains almost every part of FL Studio extremely well.
One of the great things about FL Studio is that it has an interface that allows you start making beats right away; the "channel rack" workflow is quick to learn. That being said, FL Studio is also very capable and has features that skilled musicians work for years to fully leverage.
Most software companies offer academic discounts, so if you are in school you can get a discount, check their websites.
I do not have much experience with any of these, but there are some free Digital Audio Workstations out there if you are curious and on a budget. Additionally, I am sure that you can find tutorials for them online.
I have played around with the free Digital Audio Workstation Ardour, which is a pretty good program. I used it with the free synth Vital. You can do a lot for free with those two programs.
If you do a Google search for "Free DAW" you can find other free music software to experiment with.
Best of luck to you, making music with a computer is one of the most enjoyable things there is.
Amit Mittal
Officer at Citibank
96
Answers
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Updated
Amit’s Answer
Hello Tyler,
This is Amit, and I'm thrilled to hear about your interest in music creation! 😊
Music is a fantastic outlet for creativity and self-expression, and the pathways to success in this field are numerous. However, remember that there's no magic formula or shortcut to reach your musical dreams. It's going to require dedication, the acquisition of new skills, and a never-give-up attitude.
To help you along this exciting journey, here are some broad guidelines on how to thrive in the world of music:
1. Master an instrument: Learning to play an instrument is a great way to hone your musical ear, rhythm sense, and your ability to compose and improvise. The choice of instrument is entirely up to you - be it the guitar, piano, drums, or even your own voice. You could even learn multiple instruments to broaden your musical horizons.
2. Get tech-savvy: Digital audio workstations (DAWs), or music production software, are crucial tools for today's music creators. They let you record, edit, mix, and arrange your music on your computer. Some well-known DAWs include Ableton Live, Cubase, Garageband, Logic Pro, and Pro Tools. Additional software like plugins, synthesizers, samplers, and effects can further enrich your sound.
3. Develop your musical ear: A keen ear for music involves the ability to identify and replicate musical elements like pitch, melody, harmony, chords, scales, modes, intervals, and chord progressions. You can sharpen your ear by practicing ear training exercises, listening to a variety of music genres and styles, transcribing songs by ear, and singing along with music.
4. Create without fear: The best way to learn music is by creating music. Don't hesitate to experiment, explore, and express yourself through your music. Try out various genres, techniques, and influences. Pen your own songs, lyrics, and melodies. Collaborate with other musicians and artists. Share your music with others and welcome their feedback. Learn from both your triumphs and missteps.
If you're looking for more guidance on music creation, here are some online music production courses that I've found for you: https://music.tutsplus.com/t/tutorials. You can also find some useful tutorials on how to use various music software on these websites: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-courses/music-production-courses/
Embarking on your musical journey is an exciting endeavor. Remember, creating music is a lifelong learning process that requires passion, commitment, and patience. So, have fun and let the music flow! 🎶
This is Amit, and I'm thrilled to hear about your interest in music creation! 😊
Music is a fantastic outlet for creativity and self-expression, and the pathways to success in this field are numerous. However, remember that there's no magic formula or shortcut to reach your musical dreams. It's going to require dedication, the acquisition of new skills, and a never-give-up attitude.
To help you along this exciting journey, here are some broad guidelines on how to thrive in the world of music:
1. Master an instrument: Learning to play an instrument is a great way to hone your musical ear, rhythm sense, and your ability to compose and improvise. The choice of instrument is entirely up to you - be it the guitar, piano, drums, or even your own voice. You could even learn multiple instruments to broaden your musical horizons.
2. Get tech-savvy: Digital audio workstations (DAWs), or music production software, are crucial tools for today's music creators. They let you record, edit, mix, and arrange your music on your computer. Some well-known DAWs include Ableton Live, Cubase, Garageband, Logic Pro, and Pro Tools. Additional software like plugins, synthesizers, samplers, and effects can further enrich your sound.
3. Develop your musical ear: A keen ear for music involves the ability to identify and replicate musical elements like pitch, melody, harmony, chords, scales, modes, intervals, and chord progressions. You can sharpen your ear by practicing ear training exercises, listening to a variety of music genres and styles, transcribing songs by ear, and singing along with music.
4. Create without fear: The best way to learn music is by creating music. Don't hesitate to experiment, explore, and express yourself through your music. Try out various genres, techniques, and influences. Pen your own songs, lyrics, and melodies. Collaborate with other musicians and artists. Share your music with others and welcome their feedback. Learn from both your triumphs and missteps.
If you're looking for more guidance on music creation, here are some online music production courses that I've found for you: https://music.tutsplus.com/t/tutorials. You can also find some useful tutorials on how to use various music software on these websites: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-courses/music-production-courses/
Embarking on your musical journey is an exciting endeavor. Remember, creating music is a lifelong learning process that requires passion, commitment, and patience. So, have fun and let the music flow! 🎶
Shondra Carter
Administrative Assistant
14
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Shondra’s Answer
I would suggest starting off by finding an internship in the music industry. That way you can see what that experience would be like and you can connects with others in that career path to ask questions, gain advice, etc.
Angel Quintas
Songwriter
3
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Angel’s Answer
Success in music can mean different things to different people. For some, it's all about getting their songs streamed by millions, while others dream of performing live in front of a cheering crowd. There are also those who aim to be recognized by a record label, or even receive prestigious awards. So, the first step is to define what success in music means to you. Once you've done that, you can create a plan and do your best to stick to it!
As for using music-making software, don't worry! The internet is full of helpful tutorials that you can easily find and use. So, take a deep breath, start exploring, and let your musical journey begin!
As for using music-making software, don't worry! The internet is full of helpful tutorials that you can easily find and use. So, take a deep breath, start exploring, and let your musical journey begin!
Shayne Soentpiet
2
Answers
Updated
Shayne’s Answer
First figure out why & who you are making music for. What is success to you?
Then you can gear your musical creations to that goal.
(Do you want to be an artist, producer, engineer, songwriter, etc. ).
There are many free or cheap software options for starting up. Pro Tools is the daw industry standard, but I prefer the Reaper daw.
You could always try BandLab which uses cakewalk software and is user friendly.l and has auto mastering.
Ampifymusic is another user friendly option!
Check out YouTube for free tutorials on the software of your choice
sign up for some master classes, many of some are offered free.
Join LinkedIn l, Reddit or other preferred social groups that have relevant topics
Network!
Then you can gear your musical creations to that goal.
(Do you want to be an artist, producer, engineer, songwriter, etc. ).
There are many free or cheap software options for starting up. Pro Tools is the daw industry standard, but I prefer the Reaper daw.
You could always try BandLab which uses cakewalk software and is user friendly.l and has auto mastering.
Ampifymusic is another user friendly option!
Shayne recommends the following next steps:
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