If you are looking to purchase a beat making machine then understand that all of them are not created equally. The on-line beat makers you can find that are free or almost free are good to play with but you shouldn't be making a career decision with them. They produce loops and/or samples and the output quality isn't high enough for most studios. This is why desktop beat making programs have been growing in popularity because they supply just about all of the functions you would expect to find by purchasing professional studio time. It just won't cost you almost k of studio time and beat making equipment to get good at it. You get good in this business by putting in the needed time with the right tools. Let's get to what your tool should have...
What To Look For In Beat Making Software
Since most people looking at beat making software are doing so with cost as a driver then let's put some assumptions to rest before we begin. Just because you will not be spending thousands of dollars to create your beats with software doesn't mean you are losing out on an order of magnitude of functionality. Far from it. In fact the same beat making skills you pick up from using the software will be directly transferable to the ultra professional equipment you would find in the studio. Another benefit of choosing desktop beat maker software is the fact that you can purchase and get started today and not waste time trying to save money and/or get a loan for studio time.
The three qualities your software should possess:
1) Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Capabilities. Your chosen software should be set up so that a new user can up and running in a short period of time. However, the same software should not limit you later on when you have gotten a lot better at using it. Remember the software's purpose is to take your music ideas and make them real for the world to enjoy.
2) Library Of Presets That Is Expandable. Your chosen software should come complete with a given set of professionally created presets that you can immediately use. Of course you should also be able to modify these as you see fit and to buy additional ones or add additional ones as you see fit.
3) Learning Ease. Your chosen software should provide at a minimum a set of videos for instruction. This allows a "hand-On" learning environment as you can just follow with a professional beat maker though different scenarios.
