Beat Making Software - Which One Is Right For You?

Okay, so this particular beat making software program will probably be one of the most frequently heard programs that you'll come across. If you make beats, or are getting into making beats, you've probably had numerous hip hop producers tell you that they recommend FL Studio for making beats. I can't speak for everyone else in why they may say it, but I can speak for myself in saying that of what I have tried, I do love it the most. And though it has its negatives as well, what program or software doesn't? There isn't one beat making software out there that probably doesn't have cons at all. And if there was, it would easily be the most costly program on the market, simply because everyone would be rushing to get it. Thankfully that's not the case.

FL Studio for me is easy to use. That's a plus. Not because I can't learn programs, or because all other beat making software is difficult, but just the simplicity of it means that you can bang out some serious heat in good time, especially if you're trying to meet a deadline with a rap artist. It has a slight learning curve, but there ARE no one click push button systems that will make beats for you... the fun is making the beat, not just pushing a button and having some weak program randomly make a beat for you. But that's just my opinion... there are probably a lot of dudes out there that DO wish there was some such beat making software program out.

Another thing I love about FL Studio (one of the main reasons I'd recommending you buy it today if you're seriously considering making beats) is the lifetime updates! I own FL Studio 10 now... and I've owned it since FL Studio 4 if I remember correctly. That's a large set of beat making software upgrades that I got for the same price I paid for it! What hip hop producers wouldn't love this? Most of them require you to buy the new version once it's released. Yet here I am with the latest updates for the one price I paid for it. And I've since used it to make over 500 beats for rap that I have on my site as well (and more still to come using this bad boy!). I'd recommend that when you buy FL Studio, that you purchase the larger kit of the ones available... especially if you use my affiliate link to save 10% off of it (I'll get to that for you in a moment if you're really seriously copping it). That alone for me though has made it more than worth my while for making beats!

Another great thing about this beat making software, is the ability to connect external VST plugins (effects or instruments which are known as VSTi) and to go deep into making beats with all kinds of other effects than just the ones that come with it. You can find some free VSTs online if you just simply do a search for "Free VST plugins".

Another thing that I use personally that I enjoy about FL Studio and making beats with it, is the FL Studio Soundfont Player (make sure when you buy FL Studio, that you buy this piece as well... it can come in very handy, especially if you use a MIDI keyboard such as an Axiom 49). It amazes me that there are still a chunk of hip hop producers that have never heard of soundfonts! The soundfont files are simply files with multiple WAV samples built and saved in, that are already pre-mapped (most of them out there are) and from that, you can really get into making beats with some bangin' melodies with this soundfont player, that will sound more realistic than if you just load up one WAV file of a piano note, and try to make melodies with it. I use the soundfonts and hip hop samples that are in my beats from SoundsForBeats.com, which definitely a large assortment of soundfonts (and WAVs if you still prefer them) in lots of instrument sounds to use! They work with other beat making software too like Reason.

So yeah, all in all, for me personally, FL Studio is great and I would easily recommend it to hip hop producers everywhere, especially if you're getting into it or want to start. It may have it's minor little hangups on slower computers or soundcards with some clicking here and there, but I don't really experience it at all now with the soundcard and PC I own. But with an easy learning curve, lots of options both internally and externally with effects and instrument plugins, automation that will add nice touches of effect changes when making beats, and more, FL Studio is definitely a beat making software program I'd recommend for making beats with!

Oh yeah, before I cut this section short, if you were serious about FL Studio, you can take advantage of saving 10% off (I know, it's not much but something's better than nothing right?) by using my member link here to buy FL Studio today. It'll take you right to the shop page and if you've never bought from ImageLine before, you should see the discount already marked in your shop! If you're looking for other options, there are some other beat making software programs I'll get into a bit as well.

So where a chunk of hip hop producers flock to FL Studio as their beat making software of choice for making beats, others go towards a different direction towards Reason 6. It's funny because I always seem to see that while there are other programs out there, the battle always seems to be whether to buy FL Studio, or Reason. So is Reason perhaps the beat making software for you?

I haven't had a chance to play with Reason 6, but a friend of mine had Reason 5 I believe. I got to play around with it a little and see what the huff and puff was about regarding this beat maker program... okay, so it's more than that, but I'm gearing this article towards beat makers, not everyone else (you're all welcome to make what you will of this though if it helps you decide as well).

So I'll say this: Reason 5 packs a pretty good punch on the audio quality so I'm sure 6 does it better! I like it a bit better than FL Studio to some degree as the mixdown does sound a bit better or clearer right out the box than FL. So for that already, it is a beat making software program that will make a portion of hip hop producers happy. However, you're also going to be mixing down any track you create when making beats, so that you can get the clarity right. I can already hear some saying "How do I mix and master though?" For one, you need to get the hang of the program. However, beyond that, there are basics like EQ and the right amounts to use, filtering to reduce some of the unwanted sound from those instruments you filter, panning to balance out the spread of the sounds, and so on. You can find more great tips on how to mix and master with the Home Recording Studio Guide. If you know some or hardly anything about mixing and getting clarity to your beats, it'll be of great help to you. But yeah, Reason is pretty solid for making beats.

Another great thing with the Reason beat making software, is that it emulates the rack system of hardware studio setups, so it'll let you tweak and rewire outputs and inputs and so on. Some may not care for this feature, but other hip hop producers value this feature greatly! It can be the difference of what brings a dull sound, or some bangin' beats!

Rack tools... Reason has lots of them, and so this may please you when you're making beats as well... some of us get sounds happy. The assortment is great, from powerful synths, to samplers, to drum machines, and more! Very solid!

One thing this beat making software does not possess, is the ability to load up external VST effects and instrument plugins. I know quite a variety of hip hop producers that are not happy with this limitation... and it seems to be something the creators of Reason ARE happy with keeping. Maybe Reason 7 will allow you to load up your favorite Kontakt VST plugin to make some bangin' beats? Hard to say.

Another personal thing I'm not fond of in comparison to FL Studio, is the sequencer. This sequencer is not near as user friendly to me for making beats as FL Studio is. It can be very tedious and time consuming to edit a track on the sequencer in Reason... something that I don't care much for in any beat making software. I want to be able to sequence my patterns and layouts with ease. Good luck with that in Reason!

All in all, I'd have to say despite my hangups about it, that it is a real solid and powerful sounding program that hip hop producers enjoy using as well! It is a bit pricey though as well, especially for the fact that you don't get unlimited lifetime updates for free. Keep that in mind. If you're looking for something powerful for making beats, and don't mind the sequencing (it may be easier for you than it was for me) learning curve, this may be the beat making software for you instead!

Okay, so you've already seen from the two beat making software options above, that it can be a bit costly to make beats... usually at least above $120. Some hip hop producers won't think twice to get it. Others like myself (back in the day as I did eventually get FL Studio) sometimes debate it over more and more before settling with one... this of course is usually the price, not whether they're good at making beats. So if you're wanting to get your hands into making some fire, but still hesitate at the larger price tags, then perhaps you need punch with a little bit less punch to your wallet. If this sounds like you, you'll want to buy a beat making software program such as Mega Music Maker instead!

So while it's not as well known as the other big name beat making software programs such as FL Studio, Reason, or Cubase, it is pushing a name for itself and doing it rapidly. The program packs a punch of its own and delivers with an easy sequencer and drum machine to allow you to click and set up patterns to create some pretty hott beats. It also packs a variety of quality sounds so that you can make some high powered, certifiable hits! And with a 16 channel mixing board within, you'll be able to mix different instruments to different channels easily and pan them out, so that you create a larger, wider sound to your beats. All in all, a pretty solid beat making software package that you get for much less in price than you would spend on Reason for example. Oh, and like FL Studio, any newer versions are yours at no extra cost! That's a bonus as well!

I would say that if you are an upcoming hip hop producer and looking for a solid program but not wanting to spend a chunk of money on making beats yet until you know how much you want to invest in it, I would highly recommend to buy Mega Music Maker especially at the $37 price. You can make some high quality beats and sell them on Soundclick or Rocbattle along with other hip hop producers on there. Then, once you've made some cash from beat sales, and after you've gotten a better feel for making beats and feel that you want to get even more out of making beats, to go ahead and invest in FL Studio or Reason. Remember, if you're gonna buy FL Studio, don't spend full price when you can use my link above to get 10% off. Just reminding you... no point in spending the full amount like I had to when I bought mine!

Okay, so while I didn't go into every single one out there, the proof is that there are many beat making software programs out there, ranging from FL Studio and Reason in price, to high quality lower priced products as well such as Mega Music Maker and Dub Turbo 2 for making beats. Regardless of whether you've been a hip hop producer for some time now, or are wanting to become one and get into making beats, you can see that there is a growing variety of beat making software programs that you can use. I would highly recommend any of these as they are powerful to use, aren't extremely difficult at all to learn and get the hang of, you can get into making beats with any of these, and start marketing yourself among the rest of the hip hop producers online and sell your beats as well!

If after you've read this and sit there and tell me "I can't make beats, there's nothing out there for me to make beats with", then you're just making excuses and don't really want to succeed or try making beats. Do you think all the super star producers and other hip hop producers online started off bangin'? Nah! But we all got into it, enjoyed it, learned more and more, and put quality beats on the table for rap artists to get their hands on. I've been doing it for some years now and have made over 500 rap beats for sale that I have on my hip hop beats site... and that's not counting the free beats on the site as well. And so if I did it and others did it, you can too if you simply look into any of these four beat making software programs, or venture out and find one that suits you. I'll display the links again for you below this post.

No more excuses on why you can't learn how to make beats... are you wanting to learn? Are you wanting to get into making beats and eventually to selling beats online as well? If so, then don't wait, copp your beat making software of choice, and get into it! Only you are holding yourself back! Much respect... if you enjoyed reading this Lens, by all means, share it with your Twitter followers, your Facebook friends, or others you know that may want to get into making beats as well! Let 'em know that they also have options open to them! Much respect. Again, the links are displayed again for you below. Be easy, follow me on Twitter at @genycis, and keep on supporting and enjoying the hip hop movement! One.