Electronic music is incredibly popular in today’s world and it’s only growing each and every year. Whether you’re listening to it at a festival or on your headphones, this music brings about a lot of happiness, joy, and excitement.
While some people stick to being fans of the music, others want to create their own. One of the first things you’ll need when wanting to make electronic music is reliable software.
A good EDM program will allow you to create your own songs with a variety of different tools and instruments. There are various great options out there. This guide will review a few of the best.
1. LMMS
If you’re looking for a free cross-platform option, consider LMMS.
It’s simple to use, which makes it easy to produce music right on your computer. The impressive list of features includes note playback, the ability to fine-tune patterns, and even track-based automation.
This also has effect mixing and instrument support built-in. On top of that, there’s a ton of ready-to-use content to get you started right away. Everything is easy and intuitive. Whether you need to create your melodies or you need to mix sounds or arrange different samples, LMMS is a great option.
The interface is also modern, clear, and easy to work with for long periods of time. It’s a community-driven project that has several dedicated users who are ready and willing to help you with any issues.
2. Ableton Live
Since it was first released back in 2001, Ableton Live has been an incredibly popular music option.
It’s brilliant as both a recording program for your songs and an instrument in its own right. That’s why the program has been chosen by beginners and professionals alike.
This program effectively blends effects, instruments, sounds, and a sleek interface. In Session View, you can experiment with a ton of different features and options to find a sound that works for you. Organizing music along your timeline is easy, and the software is able to change the tempo and timing of any sound.
The workflow within the program is also incredibly quick and allows for a lot of creativity. It gives you everything you need to complete a song.
While it’s not free (past the trial), many would argue that it’s worth the cost.
3. FL Studio
Another incredibly popular option is FL Studio. This serves as a common choice for professional DJs, hip-hop producers, or those simply looking to experiment with electronic music.
Their mixer provides some desirable features like sidechain control, audio sends, plug delay compensation, and other aspects needed for complex production.
Building your track is easy and you can quickly move different elements around. The browser also makes organizing the data in your project a breeze. The Piano Roll feature is a fan favorite and features a number of native instruments. There is support for 3rd party plugins as well.
In addition to being full of professional features, FL Studio also offers a lot of bang for your buck. That’s largely in part due to the fact that the software provides lifetime free upgrades.
In addition to being compatible with both Mac and PC, FL Studio also offers a mobile experience that makes it easy to create music on the go.
4. Cubase
While Cubase has been around since 1989 (as a MIDI sequencer on the Atari ST computer), it’s still kicking as one of the most popular software options to make electronic music.
It’s packed full of different features, all aimed at helping you turn your ideas into music, and can handle essentially everything you need when it comes to making a song.
This helps you make beats, sequence, compose, record, edit, and mix. Some of the most popular features are audio alignments, the drum editor, the sampler track, and VariAudio. All in all, there are dozens of features worth checking out and experimenting with in the software.
While the design and interface are a little more traditional than other options, it’s a tried and true piece of software that has aged like fine wine.
Final Words
All of the above pieces of software will help you create or fine-tune outstanding electronic music. Whether you do it for fun or to play for other people, the features in the above programs will ensure you have full control over how your music sounds.
Do you use a different piece of software to make electronic music? If so, don’t hesitate to tell us about it in the comment section below.
