Recreation

Making your own music

Easy digital creations

From thirty-second ditty to hour long masterpiece, making your own music is increasingly easy to do even if you have no formal musical training.

Advances in music software and technology mean many home computers have the ability to run music creation programs or internet-based tools for working with sound.

The BBC, for example, have created One Music, a website where you can play with an online mixer and download samples to use in your own music. The site also offers advice on how to make your own cds, and a songwriting game. No special software is needed, but broadband is recommended.

A few years ago, no one would have dreamed that such tools would be available for everyday use now there are huge range of sites available, for beginner and serious musician alike.

Software packages

Other than online, one of the easiest ways to start making you own computer-based music is with software-based tools there are plenty available on a free or trial basis for a range of computer platforms.

SharewareMusicMachine has a great range of demo and shareware computer-based audio programs. Computer music is a magazine that can introduce a range of tools available for people working with sound.

There are several well-known software packages such as Apple’s Garageband, ProTools, Steinberg’s Sequel or Cubase commercially available for creating music. If you have some musical training, you may enjoy Finale Notepad - a free music notation program. Sibelius is another well-known music creation tool.

Going low fi

Making music needn’t necessarily be computer based. Artists all over the world create sound sculptures, and others create their own instruments and have done since the dawn of time. You can easily make a shaker and other percussion instruments xylophones and drums - or get ambitious and build yourself a stringed instrument such as a harp… there are plenty of books to show you how.

Cassette recorders are low cost and widely available, and it can be great fun to play with sound or record your efforts.

Hi tech funk or low fi folk, the choice is yours if you’re inclined to make a noise, there’s no excuse not to.

Making music resources

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