Music

Beginner Tips for Making Your Own Music

Making your own music means creating, producing and publishing your own musical compositions. Here are some simple getting started tips to help you get started in the world of music.

Preface: Make Your Own Music

Whether it’s electronica, beat or classical, the possibilities for making music or creating musical compositions are virtually endless in today’s music programming. The following blog posts contain personal experiences gleaned from my music career.

Choose the Right Equipment

What is the right hardware for home recording? As a home musician, music production requires a powerful computer. Owning an Apple product or a PC is irrelevant. A large hard drive and enough RAM are important. It also requires a powerful processor, as plug-ins, effects, and exporting require a lot of computing power.

Are you using an external sound card or the one that came with the computer?

If you’re choosing a laptop when choosing hardware, keep in mind that they have weaker sound chips and most components are not interchangeable. I also recommend connecting an external sound card, ie USB, to improve the performance of your laptop or MacBook. For tower PCs, consider installing a powerful sound card before purchasing. Many tower owners also use a USB port.

Microphone Selection

When it comes to microphones, you can choose between dynamic and large-diaphragm condenser mics. Thanks to the large membrane, the latter is a good choice for vocal and vocal studio recordings. Most of today’s products can also magically connect to a USB audio interface and feed directly into the computer.

fast internet connection

In the digital age, a fast internet connection is essential. Many music software providers only offer their products online, not on physical media. In addition to this, these manufacturers regularly provide new updates, some of which cover several gigabytes. Therefore, a fast internet connection is very beneficial.

  • a lot of memory
  • big hard drive
  • fast internet

Choose speakers or headphones?

Opinions differ on this question: Which is better for mixing music, speakers or headphones? I recommend both. Headphones are great for listening to any instrument. At best, headphones should be closed so that no sound can penetrate in or out. More on headphones.

Speaker cabinets can revolutionize the sound experience, if ever made with headphones. Therefore, I recommend alternating between headphones and speakers when mixing. Ultimately, the song must be easy to hear on all playback devices (system, laptop, smartphone). For this reason, test finished songs with a tablet or old box and listen to them “as a test” on as many playback devices as possible. This allows you to simulate how a “normal listener” would perceive a song.

Mastering Mixing Techniques

Song mixing is the highest discipline in the implementation of music production technology. All tracks of the recording were remastered and put together. The penultimate step in the recording studio is mixing before mastering.

The final step in music production is the mastering process.

When choosing your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), make sure it supports mixing and mastering tools. This makes it easier for you to edit and mix music yourself. You can find out more about choosing the right music program for you in the next section.

  • Speaker/Display
  • earphone
  • Multiple devices to test

Selection of music processing software

Which music production software do you recommend? During my time as a musician, I have worked with many music programs. Start with Music Maker, through Music 2000 to Reason. In the end, I got stuck with Frutiy Loops (also FL-Studio*). For me, choosing a music program is a matter of personal preference, with no clear recommendations.

Which software is best for making music and mixing is individual and depends on your needs.

Appropriate music software

What is the right music software for me? It depends on what you want to achieve. Basically, the free audio recording program Audacity is good enough for recordings or guitar tracks. If you want to get into music production completely then I recommend a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

Music Program Overview

You can use many music programs to create your own musical ideas.

Classic notation programs, such as Octava or Musecore, where you enter your own notes and add instruments to them.

A recording program like Audacity, which you can use to record, edit, and cut guitar tracks or recordings.

A production program (DAW) that combines recording and editing, such as Cubase or FL-Studio.

application

You no longer need a PC or Mac to make music. Great musical ideas can also come true from your smartphone or iPad. Very handy when you have an idea sitting on the train. Here are some of my top suggestions:

  • FL-Studio Mobile: The perfect DAW for mobile and my favorite mobile composition software.
  • Native Instruments iMachine: An app with a large library of sounds for making beats.
  • Yamaha MG Rec & Play: This allows you to make high-quality audio recordings.

Magix Music Maker Free Edition

The free version of Magix Music Maker is a great introduction to music making. It contains a large selection of sounds, loops and effects. There are also instruments and synthesizers that can be programmed note by note. definitely worth a try

Find musical inspiration

Where do you get the inspiration for a song? Here are some of my tips:

music is a craft

Music is art on the one hand, but hard work on the other. The best way to gain basic knowledge is to “recreate” famous songs, which will give you a feel for how the song works. Sometimes they even generate ideas of their own.

Proficiency in musical instruments is another advantage

It is recommended to master an instrument for composing. The beauty of this is that you can improvise and let your emotions run free. Plus, melodies conceived with midi keyboards can be realized and transferred to the DAW much faster. But guitarists can also use the interface to input their melodies directly into music software.

Find an audience to test your work

When you’re ready to finish a song, play it to a close confidant as a test. This could be acquaintances, friends, or family. Always remember that criticism is more valuable than hymns for your development. Soak up any constructive criticism like a sponge, and try to use it to improve your music production. Sometimes it can be helpful to let a song you just made sit for a few days and listen to it later. This might give you new ideas.

  • refer to other songs
  • master a musical instrument
  • allow constructive criticism

FAQ

Which program can make music?

There are many high-quality music programs and DAWs out there. The most famous music production software applications are: Ableton, FL-Studio, Cubase, PreSonus Studio One, Pro-Tools, Logic and Reaper.

What are the best music shows?

Which music program is best for you is entirely personal. It must support your workflow so that you can implement your ideas as accurately as possible. The most commonly used programs are Cubase, Logic and FL-Studio.

What does a good recording need?

To get a good quality recording, you need a powerful PC, an interface, good headphones, and of course, a suitable microphone.

 

11 Tips for Making Money with Your Music

Are you a passionate musician? Everything you create comes from your heart and deepest beliefs? So why not make money from your music? I’ll show you how to do this in the blog post below.

Performances as a band or solo artist

A tried and tested way to make money from music is to play solo at events like weddings or local gigs/festivals. In addition to fees, this opportunity also provides opportunities for self-promotion to increase visibility. In addition, it is also possible to contact and sell some sound carriers at the same time.

Create a website and showcase your strengths

It sounds corny, but the first step to getting noticed on the internet is creating a website. Not all potential listeners are mobile on Facebook, Soundcloud, Instagram or other well-known social networks. With a website, you have a unique internet address that every audience around the world can access and contact.

sell music licenses

You don’t have to belong to a record label or label to sell your music. Digitization has created many opportunities for you to independently make money from your music on the Internet. For example, you could make your music available on iTunes, Spotify, or your own website and sell licenses based on the type of usage. At this point I suggest reading my article “What is Royalty Free Music?” to read through.

Songwriting and composition for others

Maybe you find writing lyrics or composing music easy? Then offer your services for sale. You can support other musicians or give them advice. By participating in the creation, you have the potential to benefit from royalties as a co-author of the work.

movies and commercials

There are all kinds of filmmakers looking for independent music. Especially in the Internet and advertising industries, there are many people who are looking for personalized music for their projects, and are often willing to pay for good music production.

produce for others

Some bands are very talented, have great ideas and are very dynamic. Most of the time, however, they lack equipment or recording skills. As a producer, you can step in and support the recording of the album. You can mix songs and get paid for it.

donate button on website

You can generate extra income by having a donate button on your website. Fans who enjoy your music will most likely pay a few euros. For example, you can use Paypal and embed it on your website. You can also create a profile on Patreon or Steady, which generates regular income.

sell goods

It sounds weird, but selling merchandise is all the rage right now. It’s easy to generate high income and fill a band’s coffers. Perfect for t-shirts, stickers, bags, mugs or badges. You can also sell limited editions of different designs. Providers will include Spreadshirt or Spreadshop.

music class

As a musician, you have likely amassed a vast intellectual wealth. Why not pass it on? If you are a guitarist, you can offer guitar lessons. You can also produce and sell teaching materials for schools. More information on Delivering Music Lessons Online.

live

Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, many musicians have had to leave live performances. Live streaming has established itself as an alternative. This can be done on various platforms like YouTube or Twitch. Additionally, you can incentivize viewers to donate or subscribe during your live broadcast, securing additional income and possibly even gaining a new fan or another.

Create a YouTube channel

Don’t forget, YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world (after Google). That said, a lot of people are looking for music-related information on the platform. So how do you demonstrate insight into what you know or how you work here? With a large audience, you can earn money through advertising revenue. Plus, you can better market your music with a large reach.

Conclusion “Make money with music”

As you can see, there are many ways to make money from music. It’s important that you take advantage of the nearly endless possibilities of the Internet and stay on top of developments as they emerge in order to build your brand and get your music known. The most important points are summarized below:

  • show money
  • Extra income from own homepage (ads/donate buttons)
  • Earn money by producing and composing music for others (remixes, film projects, participation)
  • Generate income through knowledge transfer (YouTube channel, teaching)

The Effects of Music on Body, Mind and Soul

Music is power; people have had this awareness since ancient times. Even though the prevailing view at the time was that music affected people so much that it had to be reined in politically, there was still a recognition that music was powerful because, as a universal language, it evoked emotions and could therefore used in a targeted manner. Society today uses this phenomenon as a remedy in many fields: for example, in the field of education, or in various fields of therapeutic medicine.

The effect of music on the body

Music has an effect on many physical processes in the body: it changes the heartbeat, affects breathing rate and blood pressure, affects muscle tension and hormonal balance. Music can inspire, make you happy, calm, relax, recall, and even relieve pain. The reason for this lies in the natural response to the sound of music, which works with the right harmony on the limbic system – precisely where emotions arise. This is also where the perception of pain develops, suppressed by the release of pain-controlling beta-endorphins; such as soft, calm or happy sounds. These promote the release of norepinephrine, which in turn counteracts the stress hormone cortisol.

Music as a therapy: music in medicine

Therefore, music is now used exclusively in medicine. Especially in therapeutic measures in psychiatry or pain treatment, but also in the rehabilitation of stroke or Alzheimer’s patients. Especially in the treatment of psychosomatic symptoms, considerable success can be achieved with the help of the emotional effects of music. The effect of music on the ability to communicate can be helpful in this regard because music allows us to express our thoughts and feelings without words. For this reason, some universities now offer music therapy as part of a master’s degree. It examines, among other things, the extent to which music helps connect with patients who face particularly difficult challenges. This is the case, for example, in autism,

Music memory: music and making music promote synaptic networks

It has been shown that new networks of nerve cells in the brain are formed through music, especially by making music yourself. These stay with people for life. For professional musicians, playing music intensively has an effect on the structure of their brains: the horizontal bar, the so-called corpus callosum, which connects the two halves of the brain and causes coordination and interaction, is more stable in their bodies. Scientific studies have shown that in our memories, the areas that store music remain intact longer than those responsible for autobiographical memories, for example. It is this ability that music therapists use, for example, to treat Alzheimer’s patients,

Does music increase intelligence?

Despite the proven positive effects of music on mental state, mood, and health, the effect of music on human intelligence remains controversial. An experiment in the 1990s by American psychologist Frances Rauscher known as the “Mozart Effect” showed that students who listened to Mozart’s sonatas for two pianos for ten minutes performed significantly better on subsequent intelligence tests than those who Students who have not heard this piece before. However, this effect has been refuted or led to different results in other studies. Because not only the type of music has a decisive influence on our mood and performance; Mozart’s symphonies, in which sequences of players’ voices alternate in orchestral harmonies, are quite different from, for example, heavy metal songs with strong rhythms and electric guitar rock Effect. Furthermore, as experience in therapeutic medicine has shown, not all people are equally open and receptive to music. Cognitive scientist Stephen Pinker once described music as “acoustic cheesecake,” not a necessity but a deeply enjoyable add-on. However, it turns out that a lot can be achieved with the right music used in the right way. So let’s continue to enjoy the beautiful side of music – letting its different genres affect us, whether it’s pop, hard rock or classical. As experience in therapeutic medicine shows. Cognitive scientist Stephen Pinker once described music as “acoustic cheesecake,” not a necessity but a deeply enjoyable add-on. However, it turns out that a lot can be achieved with the right music used in the right way. So let’s continue to enjoy the beautiful side of music – letting its different genres affect us, whether it’s pop, hard rock or classical. As experience in therapeutic medicine shows. Cognitive scientist Stephen Pinker once described music as “acoustic cheesecake,” not a necessity but a deeply enjoyable add-on. However, it turns out that a lot can be achieved with the right music used in the right way. So let’s continue to enjoy the beautiful side of music – letting its different genres affect us, whether it’s pop, hard rock or classical.