Beats making is the process of producing music beats. There are several software available for beats making. Beat making is a huge undertaking and it won’t be surprising if you get baffled about what to do. First of all, you need to decide on whether you want to create instrumental beats or rap beats.
Beats were first introduced by Dr. Dre, during the 50s. The Dr. Dre Beats were first made famous by Snoop Dogg and Eminem. If you are a hip-hop music fan, then you are aware of how important it is for you to have the right software so that you can produce awesome beats yourself. This article hopes to introduce you to some of the best beat-making software for Windows available on the market today so that you can use your PC or Mac more effectively at home or in a professional environment.
Making beats is an activity that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age, gender, or educational background. While there are naturally some people who are undeniably gifted, making music does not require an inherent musical talent to be good at it. Some of the richest rappers in the world started rapping as teenagers, therefore proving that making music can also be a lucrative career choice.
Beat Maker Software Choices – In Depth
Learn about each option to see which software is best for you.
1. Magix Music Maker
This is probably the best software to make beats for beginners or hobbyists that are just looking to dabble in the world of making music. It’s also likely the best program for DJs and others who don’t want to get too technical when they make beats. The company Magix has been in the game for years and also controls the “VEGAS” brand of media editing software. They do great work. And just because this is good beat-making software for beginners, does not mean it’s a bad option for anyone who’s not a total newcomer. But you can quickly and easily get right to the music with this option because of its ease of use. You won’t get caught up in the “technical process.”
Software Highlights:
- Free Version Available
- Compatible with PC Only
- Instantly Downloadable
- Easiest software option to start making music fast
- Tons of online tutorials to help guide you quickly
- Tons of professional sounds and features included
Program Features:
- Various included SoundPools (sound packs)
- 4-8 Virtual Instruments included (depending on version)
- Audio Recording Functionality
- Various Effects and Guitar Amp Emulations Included
- Modular Software (choose the features you want)
2. Image-Line FL Studio 20
FL Studio (formerly known as Fruity Loops) is one of the most popular pieces of music production software out there. It has been used by heavyweights from 9th Wonder to Metro Boomin and many others. It can do everything and has an extra streamlined workflow if you’re good with the mouse and keyboard as your beat-making tools. You’ve probably heard of it if you’re into making beats at any level and it’s a DOPE choice for any genre of music.
Software Highlights
- Cost: $99.99 – $899.00
- 4 Different Versions Available
- Both PC and Mac versions Available
- Limited Free Trial Available
Program Features
- Up to 125 Insert/Send Tracks
- Robust Piano Roll and Step Sequencer for MIDI Programming
- Fully Featured Mixer With 10 FX Slots per Channel
- VST Support + Included Plugins/Synths
- Export Beats/Songs to all Audio Formats
- Audio Recording Functionality (in certain versions)
- Automation Control, Compatible w/ Midi Controllers
- Up to 103 Audio Inputs/Outputs
- Load FL Studio as Standalone Software or a VST Plugin in Another DAW
3. Native Instruments Maschine 2 MK3
Maschine is the revolutionary beat production software from Native Instruments that combines the best of both worlds – hardware beat makers and software studio applications.
Just like FL Studio above, you’ve probably heard about this hardware + software combo. It was first created at a time when all software beat makers were mostly mouse + keyboard-based. There was a huge population of producers who loved the feel of hardware and the ease of software. Native Instruments was the first to offer a really seamless solution.
Software/Hardware Highlights
- Cost: $259.00 – $649.00 USD
- 3 Different Models Available
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Maschine 2.0 Software Available Standalone (No Hardware)
Program/Controller Features
- 16 Multi-Colored Drum Pads w/ Knobs
- Large Digital Display
- 25 GB of Sounds + 25 Pro Effects Bundled With Purchase
- Seamless Hands-On Control of Every Software Function via Hardware Controller
- Drag-And-Drop Export of Audio to WAV or Track Out Each Instrument Separately
- Full VST Instrument and FX Support
- Hands-On Automation Writing/Control
- Keyboard Mode, Arpeggiator Control and Note-Repeat
- Unlimited Number of Instrument Groups, Patterns/Tracks, Scenes
- Sampling + Audio/MIDI Import
- Flagship MK3 Edition Includes Audio Interface for Recording
4. Apple Logic Pro
Apple Logic Pro is a superb option for creating beats, topping our list, in spite of this being an Apple-only program. The relatively low price offers so much bang, or beat, for your buck. This takes the already impressive free GarageBand from Apple and brings it to the professional level.
A vast virtual instrument library allows you to create music from scratch. In fact, you can even build your virtual drums to make a custom set for the perfect beats to suit what you’re doing. Logic’s virtual drum plug-in uses an AI algorithm to adapt a virtual drummer to the style of music you produce, presuming you want to record a melody first.
Logic’s workspace window is arranged nicely, with the transport controls at the top of the window. You can create up to 255 audio and MIDI tracks, which are more than enough to let you build an intricate arrangement and continually add new ideas to a song. The flexible mix window lets you add up to 15 insert effects and eight sends per channel.
5. orDrumbox
orDrumbox is another free offering but this one is built for drum beats specifically. It’s also built by the people for the people. While that means it’s built to task and offers some great features as a result, it also results in it being a little rough around the edges with an interface that looks basic. But under the surface, this offers lots for both beginners and more advanced beat builders.
Automation helps with creativity while the drum naming allows for easy storage to help categorize new instruments without effort. MIDI import and export are supported and final export is available in lots of formats to make this a very user-friendly experience, the result of which is widely sharable.
6. MuseScore
Available: Windows, Mac
Price: Free
It’s time for one another but the best free beat-making software that makes you a professional music developer as soon as you roll your fingers over it. MuseScore is easy to use, powerful, and compiles music for guitar, orchestra, jazz, piano, choir, and much more.
- Perfectly suitable for beginners due to ease and compatibility.
- Download your recorded songs in any format and share it with your friends later.
- Talk about composition, editing, mixing, or a new sheet of creativity, MuseScore is one of the most popular beat making software for Mac and Windows.
7. GarageBand
Available: Mac
Price: Free
Devoted to Apple users, Garageband is a complete sound library with several instruments like guitar, drummers, voice, and percussionists. Moreover, modern design, intuitive interface, and easy learning features are the best features of this amazing beat-making software.
- You can get creative with 100+ EDM and hip hop synth sounds. Now you can choose to morph or tweak the sounds the way you like.
- Heaps of recording and editing features are present here that can be edited with a few clicks.
- One can easily share their new song with their friends or family via social networking websites. These tracks can also be exported to iTunes library along with the list of other music.
8. LMMS
Available: Windows, Mac, Linux
Price: Free
Music can be produced straight away with LMMS while you create melodies, beats, and enjoy mixing sounds. Playback instruments and plugins can be all done right with typing or MIDI keyboard in the user-friendly interface.
- Share your music through social media platforms or Soundcloud.
- It is an open-source and community-driven project to fine tunes, notes, chords, through piano roll editor.
- Mixing effects can be added using the in-built compressor, limiter, delay, reverb, etc. using this best free beat making software.
9. DrumFlow
Available: Windows
Price: Free
A powerful drum sequencer, DrumFlow is indeed the best beat-making software. It has an in-built Drum setup editor, which lets you create custom percussion parts.
- This beat making software can recieve MIDI sync messages from the sequencer and play step by step with it.
- One can find 10 adjustable drum setup parameters, 6 MIDI settings and export drum setup to MIDI file.
- Save the output music in a variety of formats to accomplish the whole task.
10. Ableton Live 11
Ableton Live 11 has a great selection of electronic drum and synth plugins, which are the most important instruments for EDM producers.
The user interface looks markedly different from the other programs we tested, but once you get the hang of it, the workflow becomes simple and efficient. The Drum Rack plugin helps you layer multiple samples in a 16-pad grid that looks familiar to those who use classic EDM hardware instruments.
Ableton is one of the best music production programs for producers that want to make their arrangements to the stage. Once you produce a track in the software, you can use hardware control devices to launch samples, adjust tempo, and record samples from other hardware instruments.
A new edition of this software dropped in April 2021, bringing with it the ability to ‘comp’. This means that you can now record multiple takes of a particular refrain, listen back and compare these attempts, and then select and insert the best-sounding sections from across these recordings. Ableton 11 has also added support for MIDI Polyphonic Expressions (MPE) so artists have more control over the sound and expressiveness of notes.
Conclusion
Beats making is the process of producing music. Using beats maker software, you can create any kind of music just like if you are using an instrument. Making beats is now popular among young people, but it was originally only used by music producers and sound engineers. By just hearing or listening to music, you will know that there’s a specific sound that makes a song catchy and pleasant to hear, that’s usually called a beat – your brain gradually gets accustomed to it and will “beat rhyme” with the beat after a certain time. Coincidentally, the term “beats” was first used as an instrument in a 1964 song named “How’s Your Bird?” written by jazz guitarist Sonny Landreth. The song contained a peculiar drum