Chances are that you have been searching for quite some time for the ideal software for your techno needs. You should ask yourself some of the following questions before you make a decision about which of the techno music programs to go with: Are you looking for something that is easy to use or has a long learning curve? How much money do you have to spend on the program? Do you plan on only fooling around with making music or do you want to make a career out of it? How much time do you have to spend learning the software or hardware you purchase? These and many other questions need to be answered before putting out any money.
There are quite literally dozens of options for making your own techno music creations. First of all you need to decide if you are going the software or hardware route. Unless you have a big budget for your music making dreams I highly suggest taking the software path. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on equipment such as the Roland TR-808 or TB-303, why not use software that either comes with virtual versions of that hardware or use sample kits to duplicate the sounds?
While having a fully decked out home studio with ten different pieces of equipment might seem glamorous it will definitely cost some money and take a lot of time to master. Instead, choose from the many quality software options for your techno music creation needs. You also want to be careful and avoid an online techno music maker, as that software tends to not always be reliable. If you are depending on a server for your beat making solution then you will be upset when the site crashes or freezes up. You also want to avoid depending on an Internet connection in order to make your techno tunes. Always go with a downloadable software option so that you can run the program directly off of your desktop or laptop.
Some of the better known and popular software options include FL Studio ($49 – $299), Reason ($349), Live 8 Ableton ($449), Reaktor ($399) and even Propellerhead ReBirth ($6.99 for your iPhone and iPad). Another lesser known but just as powerful piece of software is DUBturbo ($39.95). As you can see from the list, there are some very expensive options, that while extremely effective and chalk full of instruments and features, are on the higher end and have a much steeper learning curve. If you are brand new to making techno jams, then you should consider purchasing one of the less expensive and easier to use options.
Several key components of any techno music software are the drum machine, keyboard and sequencer. Just as important is ensuring that the option you choose comes with a healthy sample library to choose from. If you are looking to create original beats and songs with your digital workstation then you will need a healthy dose of samples. In addition, make sure that you are able to import fresh samples into your software because chances are good that you will be purchasing more samples in the future.
Also keep in mind that if you want to record and distribute your new tunes you should have several export options. All techno recording options come with the basic MP3 export function. However, many do not also allow you to export to WAV file format. If you plan on sending your beats or songs to professionals they will expect a raw file type, such as WAV. Avoid the situation of sending them an MP3 when they can only work with a high quality file type like a WAV file.
If you want to use a simple piece of software with the necessary tools already included in the package then give DUBturbo a try. The price is right for newcomers and you will be up and running within an hour, producing techno beats like a pro.
