| In the world of making beats, one question is often | | | | The functions and features are more abundant and |
| asked of which hip-hop beat maker is the best. I find | | | | are usually closer to industry standards with the results |
| this question similar to asking which car is best. | | | | achievable. They also tend to feel more solid and |
| Everything comes down to budget first, then how you | | | | stable, and the sound quality tends to be a cut above |
| work, how the application feels to you and which | | | | in terms of overall fidelity. Also, if you intend to expand |
| features are more important to you in terms of the | | | | your audio production skills around making beats by |
| types of audio editing and manipulation you intend to | | | | delving deeper into analogue recording techniques, |
| implement in your audio production. | | | | track automation, audio editing and processing along |
| There is no end to the choices of DAW (digital audio | | | | with mixing and mastering of your material, then you |
| workstation) applications on the market, most of which | | | | must consider the higher end applications to ensure |
| these days will feature some form of sample library | | | | you will have everything you need when the time |
| and/or virtual instrument dedicated to making beats. | | | | comes. |
| Many of these programs are designed for much wider | | | | Within any hip-hop beat maker application there will be |
| audio production needs such as multi track audio | | | | functionality to work with external audio hardware |
| recording, in depth editing and audio processing, mixing, | | | | such as keyboard synthesizers, drum pads and |
| mastering and so on. | | | | sample/sound triggers. The hardware is connected to |
| So when it comes to deciding on a hip-hop beat | | | | your DAW through a system called midi (Musical |
| maker, one of the first things to consider is what other | | | | Instrument Digital Interface). This allows you to work in |
| features and functionality would you be looking for in | | | | more of a performance structure when creating beats |
| regards to how you intend to make beats. Some | | | | as apposed to tapping your computer keypad or |
| programs will allow you to record your own audio into | | | | putting notes in place using your mouse. Having the |
| them making it possible for you to create your own | | | | ability to play your beats by hand on an external midi |
| samples, while other programs will not have this | | | | trigger keyboard or pad tends to result in more |
| feature, but will allow you to import pre-recorded | | | | favourable leads and rhythms with natural swing, |
| samples into them. These audio production applications | | | | groove and movement. |
| can range from low-end introductory programs from | | | | My personal choice in regard to a hip-hop beat maker |
| less then $50 on up to high-end DAW platforms of | | | | is to work within the virtual world of computer DAW |
| $500 and up, and all of which will include the basics of | | | | applications as apposed to workstation keyboards. For |
| audio production. | | | | me the wider range of tools, updates, third party |
| However, when considering which hip-hop beat maker | | | | support, unlimited installations of supporting software |
| to go for, there is much to say about higher end DAW | | | | and so on makes working within my computer far |
| application such as Logic, Reason or Ableton to name | | | | more expansive, powerful and supportive to the way I |
| a few. The engines behind these programs are relative | | | | work. But that's just me. |
| powerhouses when compared to cheaper applications. | | | | |