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Best Website Builder for Musicians in 2020

Music is one of those careers that now requires an online presence for its artists to be successful.

Not only have a ton of artists been discovered on the internet, but being present and active there is crucial to establishing a marketing network, a social media presence, and a loyal following.

Building a website could be useful for any career that involves these things, but there are specific options for musicians that should be considered by anyone that wants a page tailor-made to their career’s needs.

Read on to discover the 5 best website builders for musicians in 2020, including a series of reviews and a buying guide to help you compare the main features you should be shopping for when comparing major website builders.

Top 5 Website Builders for Musicians

Wix

A few of the best website builders out there are specific for musicians, but many, including our pick for the best of the best, are programs with so many options that musicians can use them just as well as anyone.

Wix is one of those.

Known by many as the best all-around website builder on the internet, Wix is easy to use, has a free version, and should let you do anything you can imagine to get your website running with the templates and applications you want.

The ease of use comes from its drag-and-drop design, which is intuitive for anyone, even those who have never built a website before.

Wix has a tone of style designs too, including the ability to add galleries, assemble a mailing list, and choose from a ton of musician-specific templates to make your website unique.

Wix has cheap plans, starting with a free version that escalates to $20 per month if you plan on selling albums or songs from your site.

You can manage gigs, track sales, create a network of contacts, and more with Wix’s business features, which include many musician-specific options for the template that you choose.

For the wealth of features and ease of use, Wix tops our list of website builders for anyone, musicians included.

Pros

  • Easy to use with an intuitive design
  • Tons of template and style options
  • Free account options as well as paid business profiles
  • Musician-specific features for sales, mailing lists, and styles

Cons

  • The inability to switch templates once the site has become active means that musicians need to spend more time building the site before it goes live

Squarespace

Squarespace is another of the best website builders out there and as far as the visual design of their templates, it might be the best.

It doesn’t top this list despite its high-quality style because of fewer options for musician-specific needs and the premium price.

Those who are creative, though, can make better use of Squarespace’s design options than other website builders out there.

This includes tons of well-known artists and musicians – they love the depth of customization options and the beautiful templates that make Squarespace websites stand out.

From minimalist record sales companies to complex storefronts, Squarespace templates are ideal for budding and establishing careers in music.

Squarespace has drop-down menus and selectable options, rather than a drag-and-drop interface, making it a little more difficult to use than some other sites.

Thankfully, Squarespace has 24/7 support and offers a 2-week free trial so people can try it out before committing.

Having said that, Squarespace plans are not as cheap as some others. Their cheapest is $12 per month and that goes up to $26 or even $40 per month for a plan that includes eCommerce options.

Pros

  • Squarespace’s template designs are second to none
  • 24/7 customer service
  • Options for a 14-day free trial

Cons

  • Above-average prices
  • Less intuitive design than Wix

Bandzoogle

Bandzoogle, if you can get past the cheesy title, is a great website builder specific for those that want to showcase their band, sell records, and network with the online music community.

You should know what you’re getting into with Bandzoogle – a smaller, less well-established site than some of the more refined alternatives, but one with music-specific options and a few features that should make any budding band excited.

The first is that eCommerce accounts on Bandzoogle are all free of commission, which means you can sell your band’s albums and merch without worrying about paying out to the service.

Their music-specific analytics are useful for bands that want to track their sales and fanbase activity.

In addition, Bandzoogle features over 100 music-specific templates optimized for both desktop and mobile devices.

Since the site is fully integrated with social media platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube, you can allow fans to stream songs from your site and access your merch from the same place.

At $8.29 per month, Bandzoogle is one of the cheaper plans out there, especially for eCommerce-enabled pages.

They don’t have a free option, but they offer 30-day free trials so you can try out both cheap and expensive plans to see if you like them before you financially commit to them.

Pros

  • Music-specific features such as templates
  • Social media integration gives customers easy access to your music and material
  • Cheap plans and generous trials periods

Cons

  • The interface isn’t as refined as those on some of the bigger sites

BandVista

This is another musician-specific website builder for those that want an easy and cheap way to get their band albums or their merch out there for fans to see.

It’s a great budget pick for those that are looking to set up a site quickly and easily and don’t mind sacrificing some premium features to get it done.

BandVista is an easy application to use and set up so it’s ideal for those that want to set up a website quickly.

It’s also cheaper than many of the more well-known alternatives, though it comes with options that are easier to navigate than the main sites.

The low price, ease of use, and quick application setup are its main positives, however.

BandVista is as known for its simplicity as for its easy setup, but for some artists, especially those that tend towards more creative design, their template options may not be enough.

BandVista’s style is a little outdated, with template options that tend towards simpler designs and not a lot of unique features.

However, it’s cheap and easy to set up for those that want a simple platform to make a quick site.

Pros

  • Ease of use
  • Simple templates make it easy to choose one
  • Band-centric styles and templates

Cons

  • Outdated interface and appearance

Weebly

For musicians deep into SEO features and looking for a wide selection of applications on their music site, Weebly is the best platform available.

While it’s not musician-specific, it can be optimized for bands and used to network with its ideal categorization features that emphasize strategies that help you be found in a Google search.

This means that Weebly’s use of SEO represents more people finding your music and booking your events just by virtue of their keyword, sorting, and optimization strategies.

They provide a ton of flexible, stylish apps to use to spruce up your site and increase your traffic.

Best of all, Weebly offers a free plan designed to get you attracted to their specialty features before considering a paid plan. You could always just keep things free, however.

They offer options for free domains, shipping discounts, and other eCommerce features, with some plans as low as $6 per month.

Their performance, professional, and free plans all offer more applications than most other website builders.

For musicians, the eCommerce options are particularly valuable for those that want to use their websites to advertise a record label or sell merch.

This is all without the aggressive compensation fees of some of the other website builders.

Pros

  • State of the art SEO features
  • eCommerce applications for free domains, shipping discounts, and more
  • A variety of affordable plans

Cons

  • Not the most intuitive interface on the market

Best Website Builders for Musicians: Buying Guide

Not all website builders are made equally – their templates, usability, monetization options, cost, and design make a huge difference.

These differences are accentuated when you’re a musician that wants to build a site with a specific purpose, such as selling your band’s records or establishing a network to increase your fan-base and fill your booking schedule.

Read on to compare the main features of these site builders to compare the ones on this list or any that you may be considering.

Templates

The first thing that may attract you to a site builder is their template options.

For those that are creative and want to be able to customize their applications and have a ton of premium options to give their site a unique identity, you may want to use Wix or Squarespace and customize it for a music site rather than rely on the relatively few options of niche sites like BandVista.

Some of these platforms have over 100 music-specific website templates to give you the tools you need to make the site in your head a reality.

Usability

Some of the sites with hundreds of templates are tougher to use. Some have textbox constructions rather than drag-and-drop applications and others can be overwhelming with the choices you have.

This may be a reason to opt for the simpler sites, which often come with a cheaper price tag.

Some users may prioritize usability in order to set up their site quickly, rather than deal with a million options and templates. Particularly for those that have never made a website before or don’t know what they want, simplicity could be a huge selling point.

Monetization

As a musician or a band member, you may be creating this site to monetize your band label, records, or merchandise.

Not every website builder can be monetized, however, and not all of those that can are monetizable for free.

If this is your main goal, you need a site builder with networking options to increase your fanbase and options for storefronts and monetized applications.

Most don’t have eCommerce options as a default so in that case, you need to compare the premium prices of each site builder when choosing between them.

Cost

The cost has a huge impact on profitability when you consider that these sites are paid for with per month subscriptions and have a wide range of prices.

Some cost $25+ per month and others have account options that are completely free.

Free accounts are often more limited, but many (such as Wix) have some diverse free accounts.

Many offer free trials of different lengths as well, which is something to watch for when you aren’t sure which site builder you want to use and prefer to try them out first.

Interface

Some site builders have a simple interface that lets you drag and drop design options, while others have more conventional website builder applications.

Depending on your experience, you may want to find options that are simpler to use so you can build your band’s site quickly.

The age of the site builder also matters here, as some may have outdated templates that aren’t as eye-catching.

The type of music you play matters here as well since the interface can communicate a lot about intentions and style.

The Takeaway

Site builders for musicians range from niche sites that have specific features for the industry and general sites tailor-made for creative thinkers to make the site they want.

Our top choice is Wix for the breadth of features it has, as well as its customization options, usability, and free account options.

However, by using this review series and buying guide, you can choose between any other site builders you find as well by comparing their main features.

By figuring out your specific needs in terms of usability and monetization, you can customize any site builder for your needs as a musician looking to expand your fan-base or sell your music.

Best Headphones for Audio Production in 2020

Headphones for audio production need a few major qualities to improve their functions, features, their ability to cancel noise, and their modern technology conveniences such as voice activation and control.

Comparing these features can be difficult when you’re dealing with not only the major brands but the diverse models they offer.

This review series and buying guide are designed to give you the inside track on the best headphones to buy for audio production in 2020.

We’ll go over the key features of the 5 major models we like and then compare them by criteria in a buying guide to help you determine which will best suit your needs.

Even if you don’t want the models we list, you can still use the guide to work through your own choices and compare their aptitudes against your needs in audio production.

Reviews of the Best Headphones for Audio Production

These reviews of the 5 best headphones for audio production include their major features as well as any possible drawbacks they may have.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

Audio-Technica is one of the most critically acclaimed names in studio monitor headphones and the ATH-M50x tops our list for the same reasons that people have been buying them professionally for years.

Audio engineers and pro reviewers agree that these professional studio monitor headphones are some of the best that money can buy.

The extended frequency range of the ATH-M50x headphones gives them industry-leading clarity in both accurate bass response and the higher registers.

Audio-Technica has circumaural design earcups that completely cover your ears and provide professional sound isolation for mixing and design even in a noisy environment. This makes them perfect tools for a busy engineer or a club DJ.

These premium headphones though have something the cheaper models don’t, which is a 90-degree swiveling mechanism on the earcups that provide efficient ear monitoring. The earpads and headband were also ambitiously comfortable compared to the price.

The detachable 45-millimeter proprietary cable fits into a large aperture driver for optimal sound delivery. Rare earth magnets and copper-aluminum wire voice coils promote professional sound quality and clarity.

Though the price is premium, there are more expensive models on the market with lesser quality.

Audio-Technica’s ATH-M50x studio monitor headphones are recommended by audio professionals everywhere and we see no reason to dispute them.

Pros

  • Superior sound quality and clarity, as well as an extended frequency bass range
  • Proprietary aperture drivers, 45-millimeter
  • 90-degree swiveling earcups for maximum sound isolation
  • Comfortable pads and headband

Cons

  • These headphones are built for audio monitoring and production; some users have noted that they can become uncomfortable when used for casual purposes like gaming

Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Monitor Headphones

Status Audio’s CB-1 headphones have a ton of industry-leading features that make them a favored budget option for some top musicians and audio producers, both for quality and comfort.

They show up on top technology review compendiums for a reason – we simply had to include them on our list of the best audio production headphones for 2020.

The 50-millimeter drivers on the CB-1 headphones set them apart, giving the sound quality a more expansive range.

Two 9-foot cables and an adaptor give you the ability to take them throughout a larger workspace and a custom locking mechanism prevents them from popping out.

CB-1 headphones are compatible with any audio cables, ensuring that any professional sound producer can use them with the equipment they already have.

The design and aesthetics also really impressed us. The Status Audio headphones have a slim look that doesn’t show off any branding. They’re built small enough to fold and store easily for travel.

Speaking of design, the CB-1 headphones are also designed with comfort in mind, with a padded headband and stuffed earcups that stay comfortable for hours of wear.

The cup fully covers your ears, making it unnecessary to create a noise-canceling effect using a tight headband – the earcups do it automatically.

For comfort and style on a lower budget, the Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Monitor Headphones are another top choice.

Pros

  • 50-millimeter drivers
  • Studio-quality audio production
  • Minimalistic, unbranded design
  • Slim construction promotes storability
  • Padded earcups for complete ear enclosure

Cons

  • Not the best bass range response on the market

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones

Audio-Technica tops our list as the best studio headphones in general, and they’re coming back for a top budget pick.

For their winning designs in both engineering and features, offering premium sound cancelation, ideal aesthetic construction, and the perfect physical technology to maximize the quality and efficiency of your sound production in 2020 without breaking the bank.

Audio-Technica designs their headphones specifically for audio engineering, both tracking and mixing.

If you know anything about sound design headphones, you know that they usually aren’t wireless – the 40-millimeter drivers on the ATH-M20x studio monitor headphones are copper class aluminum wire voice coils for the best possible sound quality. They’re tuned to enhance low-frequency performance for more accurate mixing.

The aesthetic design is also top-notch, with contoured earcups that provide perfect isolation and cancelation in even noisy environments, ideal for both sound production and being a DJ.

Those who are into tracking, mixing, or design know the conveniences of a single-side cable exit, which the Audio-Technica has in a magnet neodymium slot.

For audio production headphones on a budget, look no further than Audio-Technica.

Pros

  • Sturdy construction
  • Rare earth magnet drivers with copper-aluminum wire voice coils
  • Contoured earcup design (circumaural) for premium sound isolation/cancelation
  • Single-side cable exit with 40-millimeter drivers

Cons

  • The 3-meter cord may be too long for some, depending on the workstation setup

Sennheiser HD280PRO Headphones

The Sennheiser HD280PRO Headphones are for people who know their technical specs and want quality audio production headphones on a smaller budget.

For those with painful necks, these headphones also have a weight advantage, weighing a comfortable 285 grams in total to take the strain off.

Circumaural ear coupling improves sound isolation for professional mixing and production.

The natural sounds on the Sennheiser headphones are responsive and warm, with a nominal impedance of 64 ohms and a sound pressure level of 133 dB.

Those who are technically minded and know what they want out of their specs will be happy to know they have a frequency response of 25000 Hz

The Sennheiser HD280PRO headphones are also refined for comfort, with earpads and headband padding that help you stay comfortable while wearing them for long periods.

Pros

  • Lightweight construction makes the Sennheiser headphones easy to wear for long production sessions
  • Ear coupling provides unique sound isolation properties that encourage working in noisy environments
  • Replaceable pads, headband padding, and audio cord

Cons

  • Some users complain that the pins on the internal jack get bent when the stiff cable on these headphones pull on them over extended periods

Status Audio BT One Wireless On-Ear Headphones

While most audio engineers opt for the higher quality metals and surer quality of corded headphones, some prefer to be modern, perhaps because of the constraints of their workspace.

For that, they may want a Bluetooth option. While not as lauded as corded headphones, there are some great wireless headphones for audio production out there.

Our top pick in that category is the Status Audio BT One Wireless model.

These headphones have a 40-millimeter driver that promotes clarity, giving a full bass range competitive with the corded models in its class.

The metal frame gives it a sleek, modern design, with modern conveniences like button controls on the headphones themselves to promote ease of use.

These include playback and volume controls, as well as a microphone that lets you make calls from your headset without taking them off to use your phone. It easily folds for travel.

Of course, with the Status Audio BT One Wireless On-Ear Headphones, you’re wondering about the Bluetooth.

The Bluetooth 5.0 of the Status Audio BT headphones supports two phones, tablets, or computers. Compatible devices include those made by Mac, PC, Android, and Personal Media Players Pixel.

Being wireless, you also need to consider the battery life on these headphones.

Thankfully, the Status Audio BT headphones last 30 hours on one charge, making these headphones the ideal companion for sound producers traveling long distances.

They charge by USB in just over an hour. These features make the Status Audio wireless headphones our pick for the best Bluetooth-enabled headphones for audio production available in 2020.

Pros

  • Convenient Bluetooth technology compatible with most smartphones and tablets
  • Modern, minimalist design aesthetic
  • 30-hour battery life on a 1-hour charge
  • Quality bass range
  • Built-in buttons

Cons

  • The plastic frame and headband aren’t as durable as some of the more expensive models

Buying Guide

Here are the main categories of features that should be compared between these headphone models.

By shopping with this list in mind, you can make sure to buy exactly what you need.

Sound quality

The sound quality is stellar on the headphones we listed, but not everything on the market is made equally.

When you’re shopping, look for things like the decibel limit, bass range quality, and other technical-specific features and compare the models for their specs.

Construction

Construction will set some of these models apart, with price factoring heavily into the material quality of the headband and frame, as well as the cord.

Some have stiffer cords made of rarer metals and others have budget plastic constructions that might save you money but may cost you durability.

Earcups are another significant aspect of construction, with some of the models listed providing professional-level sound isolation by covering your whole ear, which is what you want from audio production headphones.

Construction also factors into the aesthetic design of the headphones, with some favoring flashy branded designs and others being sleeker and more minimalistic.

This can affect practical use as well as preference, however, since some models are slimmer and more foldable for use in travel.

Cost

Cost is a measurable response to your preferences depending on your needs. From our top premium pick, down to our budget pick, both by Audio-Technica, you should be able to find audio production headphones that work with your budget.

Special features

Some of these headphones have special features, which could make or break them in terms of your preferences.

Some are easier to take on the go, including the completely wireless Bluetooth versions that can connect with smartphones and tablets and are ideal for mixing music on a plane ride.

Other more expensive models have swiveling earcups such as our top Audio-Technica pick, and others have built-in buttons.

The length of the cord also factors in here, with some providing too much or too little compared to the needs of your workspace.

Since these features can’t be compared to each other numerically, you need to know what special features are a priority for you before you start looking so you can match the audio production headphones to your specific needs.

The Takeaway

Audio production requires subtle and effective tools. Comparing headphone brands and models can be complicated if you don’t know the standard of comparison.

This review series and buying guide are designed to help you sort it out by comparing the main features of the different models available, including their construction, aesthetics, and cost.

Our top pick for headphones for audio producers and mixers is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones.

They have superior material construction, including the earcups, headband, and lead wires, and industry-leading professional sound quality. The earpieces have leading sound isolation tech, giving you the ability to mix and design sound on a professional level for a consumer-grade price.

Though you might buy different models depending on whether your needs involve travel, wireless functions, or a specific millimeter driver, the models listed in this review guide should serve you well so long as you know enough to compare their construction and functions to your needs as an audio producer in 2020.

The 8 Best Online DJ Courses: Compared and Reviewed

Wellcome to our round-up of the best Online Dj Courses money can buy in 2023. DJing is a dying art form. There, we said it! Long gone are the days where manual beat matching, scratching, and DJing with vinyl were normal DJ skillsets. With the advent of DAWs with automatic syncing and beat matching, the DJ has become more of a curator and personality than a musician.

However, these same DAWs have opened the doors to a whole universe of possibilities.

Ableton Live, for example, has enabled DJs to basically become whole bands and produce new sounds on the spot. With that in mind, we set out to find what is the best Online DJ course out there in 2023.

We purchased close to 10 online DJ courses, here are the ones that made the TOP 3 Best Online DJ Course (+1 great mention if you’re into Hip Hop):

Course Name Teacher What’s Included? Musical Genre Focus Price / Our Rating
Overall Staff Pick
DJ Courses Online Bundle
DJ TLM
Isaac Cotec
Nick Trikakis
14 video based dj courses on DJing techniques, Serato, Traktor, Ableton Live, and more.
– 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
– Close to 100 hours of content
All Genres
The Credible Choice
Point Blank- DJ Skills Online Course
Dozens of lecturers, including:
  • Mr Dex (DJ for Wu Tang, Estelle, and more)

  • Ben Bristow

  • DJ Davine

  • Rockwell
  • Diploma from a world class instituion,
    – Weekly online masterclasses,
    Personal, 1-on-1 tutorials every 2 weeks,
    -Recordings of all classes available on demand,
    – Student forum and alumni network, which includes leading DJs and Producers
    All Genres
    Armin Van Buuren
    – About 3 hours of video content
    – Downloadable class workbook
    – Access to other masterclasses, such as Deadmau5’s.
    EDM / Trance
    8.3/10
    DJ Symphony
    – About 7 hours of video content
    Certificate Upon Completion
    Hip Hop
    9.1/10

    TOP 3 Best Online DJ Courses

    #1- DJ Courses Online Review: Overall Staff Pick

    It was a tough decision, but due to its laser-sharp focus on DJing only, this one wins as one of the best ways to learn to DJ online. It’s the quality of the content, as well as the price, the DJ Courses Online program takes the number 1 spot.

    DJ Courses Online Bundle- Key Facts

    Duration: Unlimited / On Demand
    Instructors:
    DJ TLM– DJ and producer with 25 years of experience
    Isaac Cotec– Certified Ableton teacher
    Nick Trikakis– Former employee at Native Instruments and AKAI, producer, and DJ.
    What’s Included?:
    – Over a hundred of hours of videos
    – 14 full courses for all skill levels
    – 30 day money back guarantee + email support
    Price:
    Starts at 19$
    CHECK CURRENT PRICE

    All in all, there are over 10 online dj courses included for a monthly fee of only 19$. It covers all major DAWs as well going in-depth into some really interesting and complex DJ theory. Of all the dj courses we tested, this was by far the most in-depth one we found.

    Unlike some of the other DJ courses in this list, the instructors don’t have big names in the industry, however, they more than make up for this with their knowledge of DJ techniques.

    Some of the techniques included are:

    • Beat counting
    • Beat matching
    • Syncing
    • Song Structure
    • Song selection
    • DJ equipment
    • EQing
    • Effects
    • Cue Points
    • Looping
    • Transitions
    • Sampling
    • Backspinning 
    • Organising your library
    • Scratching- in-depth techniques
    • Recording mixes
    • Branding
    • Serato
    • Ableton Live
    • Tracktor
    • Career DJ Tips

    And much more. And this is where the course shines.

    For 19.99$/month (the price of a cheap lunch), you’ll have access to all information you could ever want on the topic of DJing.

    Anything that you could possibly think of has been covered by these guys, including DJ tips for anything from career to branding and organising your library- loads of gems to be found. And what’s more, the course is delivered in a straightforward and easy manner. The platform works great on both mobile and desktop and the classes are to the point and effective.

    If you end up not using the online dj course, you can always ask for a refund, as they have a great 30 days money back guarantee.

    CLASS PREVIEW

    #2- Point Blank DJ Skills Review: The Credible Choice

    This school shouldn’t need an introduction. It’s been chosen as the ‘Best Music Production School’ by the readers of DJ Mag. If you are wondering ‘are DJ courses onilne worth it?’ this is the course that will give you a YES.

    Point Blank DJ Skills – Key Facts

    Duration: 3 months live course (Not on demand)
    Instructors:
    Ben Bristow aka Mr Bristow– DJ, producer, beatboxer. Has played in Space (Ibiza), as well as ministry of sound, scala, and cargo.
    Darren Henry aka Quest– Dubstep pioneer DJ
    Nigel Hosten aka Mr. Dex– DJ for the Wu-Tang Clan, Sway, Scratch Perverts and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
    David Clarke aka DJ Davine– Has played Ministry of Sound, The Garage and the Mother Live 333.
    What’s Included?:
    – Weekly online classes, bi-weekly 1-on-1 online classes
    – Access to student forum
    – Diploma upon completion
    Price:
    Starts at around 450$
    CHECK CURRENT PRICE

    It’s the school that Goldie turned to when he wanted to learn Ableton Live, it’s where Patrick Topping honed his skills as a producer, and it’s where countless many other leading artists went to hone their skills before making it big.

    And that’s where Point Blank really shines – Its student network is simply unrivaled.

    And this extends to their online DJ courses too. By enrolling in the DJ Skills course, for example, you’ll have access to the student forum, WhatsApp groups, and weekly masterclasses with your peers, many of whom will undoubtedly make a name for themselves in their craft.Even if you’re not looking to network, Point Blank is well worth its price. It’s one of the most practical online DJ courses in this list, teaching you not only the skills needed but the whole logistics and operations behind managing your music library and gigs.

    Here’s a quick look at the topics covered:

    • Equipment Overview
    • Cueing
    • Drop Mixing
    • Beat Matching
    • Equalisation
    • Transforming
    • Rekordbox (Export Mode)
    • Programming Mixes
    • Recording a Mix

    Here’s a sample of a class:

    COURSE INFO PAGE

    #3- Review: The Production Value Choice, Plus the BEST Way to Learn to DJ from the Pros.

    For those of you who don’t know, Armin Van Buuren is an iconic DJ and producer from the Netherlands. He’s the 4 time consecutive best DJ in the world according to DJ Mag and one of the four “trance” artists nominated for a Grammy.

    Armin Van Buuren Masterclass – Key Facts

    Duration: On demand
    Instructors:
    Armin Van Buuren– Legendary house/trance producer and DJ
    What’s Included?:
    – 3+ hours of video
    – PDF workbooks
    – Student support forum
    Price:
    Starts at around 50$

    Now masterclasses tend to have the reputation of being sometimes light on the technical side, though we didn’t find that to be the case for this program. There is one caveat though: The course focuses a lot on the production side of things with Logic.

    However, there is still a solid amount of content regarding playing live sets, including the following lessons:

    • Approaching Your DJ Set
    • Building a Set: Edits and Mashups
    • Using the Decks: Basics
    • Using the Decks: Armin’s Techniques
    • Performance DJ Tips

    The good thing about masterclass is that you can pay monthly, starting at about 20$, so once you get done with the DJing classes, you can cancel your subscription without doing the rest of the course. Though we do recommend the rest of the course if you’re interested in trance / EDM music production.

    This also allows you to stream hundreds of other high-quality courses, including courses by deadmau5, Hans Zimmer, Timbaland, and more.

    If you want to learn to DJ from the one of the best, look no further.

    #4- Review: The Hip Hop Choice

    This course we simply couldn’t ignore. Not only is this the best specialist choice, it is potentially one of the ones that is most worth the money. After all, most things are temporary but the Wu is forever. In this course, the legendary hip-hop DJ Symphony goes through some classic hip-hop DJing techniques as well as some overall DJ theory. It includes over 7 hours of video and entitles you to a certificate upon completion.

    Udemy, for those not in the know, is a general place to learn things online, as opposed to a specific online DJ school. However, this course is a fantastic hidden gem. The main highlight of the course for us was its production value. The camera is mostly set up from a bird’s eye view of the mixing table and decks, allowing you to follow along with your deck- It’s by far the most hands-on course we tested.

    All the content was high quality, with the video streaming seamlessly with great definition. This makes it super easy to follow.

    In addition, the teacher is a master at his craft. If you’re looking for a hip-hop specific online DJ course, is a no brainer.

    #5- Skillshare: (w/ Young Guru) Review

    In the same vein as #4, Young Guru’s DJ course on Skillshare is a must have for any hip hop DJ. Like Udemy, it is not a specialist online DJ School but a place anyone with a skill can upload a course. This does not make it any worse quality although it focuses more on skills for beginner and intermediate DJs. It covers how to setup your gear for a live performance, but we rank it after DJ Symphony’s course as we found that it wasn’t as in-depth and hands-on.

    It’s still a great course, coming from a legendary engineer and hip hop producer responsible for many hits from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

    It’s important to note that this course focuses solely on setting up your gear and software. No major techniques are discussed, though there are a couple of nuggets of information that are really interesting.

    DAW Specific Online DJ Courses:

    #6- ProducerTech: Ableton Live DJ’s Guide Review

    Producertech is one of the leading online music course providers. You could call them a completely online dedicated DJ school. 

    They stand out from the crowd by producing really specific dj courses focused on one particular piece of software. 

    Generally, the quality of content is very high, and their Ableton Live course is no different.

    Ableton Live is a whole other ball game when it comes to live DJing as it comes with a huge pad that allows you to program your live performance.

    Guys like Daedelus have taken the definition of being a DJ to a different dimension, with sets featuring live production and sampling with Ableton Live:

    We can’t promise that this course will make you an overnight Daedelus, but if you’re interested in that world, it’s certainly a good introduction.

    Here a sample of a class:

    COURSE INFO PAGE

    #7- Point Blank Online School- Traktor Pro DJ Review

    As we previously mentioned, Point Blank is a leading school in the music industry. And as you would expect, their Traktor Pro DJ course does not disappoint, thus, we have to include another course by them here, as they are one of the most worthwhile online DJ schools on the internet

    If you’re looking to learn to DJ in under 3 months, itwill take you about 2 months to complete it. It also requires  an investment of about 400£ or 500$, depending on deals and promotions, but this is a course that is very much worth it for a very specific topic

    Topics covered:

    • Traktor Inferface: Importing Tracks
    • Skills: Beat Matching, Looping, Cueing, Quantizing, Beat Jumping.
    • Basic FX
    • Harmonic Mixing: Analysing keys, mixing acapellas.
    • Crate Digging, Idents, Broadcast
    • Hardware: Digital Vinyl, Midi Controllers

    Here’s a sneak peek of what a class looks like:

    As is the norm with Point Blank, you’ll get online masterclass with your colleagues, and also 1-on-1’s with the lecturers.

    COURSE INFO PAGE

    #8 Review

    Hosted by Mister Gray, this skillshare is, like most skillshare courses, short and sweet.

    It will take you about an hour to complete, and in the end, you’ll have increased significantly your knowledge of how Serato DJ works and how to make the most of it. Particularly if you’re a beginner in the ways of Serato.

    The teacher is a somewhat successful DJ and producer from the United States who focuses on hip-hop and EDM / dubstep.

    The production value of this course is insane, as is the case with most Skillshare courses.

    The major downfall, however, is its lack of depth. This really is a course for beginners, but it’s good value if you already have a Skillshare subscription

    Final Thoughts

    Well, that’s all – it’s definitely a very mixed bag in terms of quality and style, but this is our compilation of the very best online DJ course for your needs, updated for 2023. If you’re looking for general music courses, or music production-related courses, we’ve got more fantastic breakdowns on this site, so please check out our guide on that subject.

    And as always, if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comment box below!

    Best Studio Monitors in the Market Right Now [2020]

    Whether you are a music production professional or a beginner starting a Home Studio, choosing the right quality monitors is one of the most difficult decisions.

    Which are the best studio monitors?

    This recurring question has many answers, as many as audio monitors are in the market, and the best way we can take to decide is to check which ones satisfy better our needs.

    When choosing studio monitors we must ask ourselves certain questions that will help us select the right ones.

    The first question is about the size of our study, will they be used in a home study or in a professional study?

    The next thing is to define our budget, and taking into account these 2 factors, we will analyze among the three fundamental quality parameters: Build quality, sound quality and connectivity.

     Let’s  start with some of the best professional studio monitors :

    Adam Audio A7X

    The Adam Audio A7X monitor has a great reputation among professional audio production studios; even, many affirm that “everything that happens through the A7X sounds good”.

    It is the creation of a German company, which has positioned this monitor as the bestseller in its catalog.

    It is a versatile, highly balanced, near-field monitoring speaker.

    The Adam Audio A7X has a price of around $750 per unit, a slightly high price for those who start, but they will ensure the highest clarity and quality when mixing.

    It features a very high frequency response from 42Hz to 50kHz.

    It has a built-in amplifier with a power of 150W, which helps power the 7 “carbon fiber woofer and a 2” tweeter called X-ART, properly used by the brand, producing surprising audio clarity as it does not dominate the room and makes the sounds highly decipherable.

    Construction quality is high, designed in high-density wood. In terms of connectivity it has 2 audio connectors, RCA non-balanced and XLR balanced.

    Neumann KH 120 A

    The Neumann KH 120A active audio monitor competes in quality / price ratio with the Adam Audio A7X, it is created by the German company Neumann, a leading manufacturer of studio microphones that has been working in the sound industry for more than 90 years.

    This studio monitoring speaker demonstrates all the experience of this legendary company, focused on its new line of monitors.

    KH120A is a monitor d compact, two – way study has so far proven an excellent quality for the approximately $700.

    It’s especially outstanding for its incredibly detailed mid-range sounds.

    The Neumann KH 120A features a minimalist and compact design, a height of around 11″ and of just over 7″ of  width.

    The build quality is excellent, it consists of a two-piece cast aluminum case, it has curvatures in its casing that substantially improve the sound and also giving it a sophisticated look.

    In the sound quality apart, it has 100W of power 50 W Woofer and 50 W Tweeter, and a frequency range from 52Hz to 21KHz.

    Its connectivity is a bit limited since it only has one XLR input.

    The Neumann KH 120A is highly recommended for its accurate reproduction, balanced tone and uniform sound dispersion.

    Yamaha HS8

    Let’s start with midrange audio monitors, where prices below $500.

    HS line Yamaha monitors are one of the most used and traditional on the market.

    Characteristics of the HS5, HS7 and even the legendary NS10 remain in Yamaha HS8: room control High Trim, and regulation of low and high.

    This monitor has higher overall performance than its predecessors, thanks to a unique mount that reduces vibration and the phase switch, which allows you to configure a subwoofer system with simple connections, without the need for additional equipment.

     The price of each monitor varies around $340. As because build quality of the Yamaha HS8, we can say that it has a simple but elegant appearance.

    They are made of dense MDF, and they have good acoustic damping. However, it has very few settings available.

    The HS8 has an 8” cone woofer shows minimal distortion and good sound, even at the low end, which is very important for producers working with heavier bass.

    1” tweeter is highly clear in terms of highs and the frequency range is from 38Hz to 30KHz. Its power is 120W, and has XLR and TRS balanced and unbalanced inputs.

     PreSonus Eris E5 XT

    For a price close to $150, you can get a special studio monitor for small spaces.

    The PreSonus Eris E5 XT audio monitor are the revamped version of the Eris E5, and it is considered one of the best in terms of price range and its amazing features.

    It has a 5.25″ woofer that comes with its own 45W power amplifier, comes with low-frequency Kevlar transducers, and the 1″ silk dome tweeter.

    This active studio monitor can output up to 102 dB of maximum sound pressure.

    They are equipped with an EBM (Elliptical Boundary Modeled) waveguide designed by Hugh Sarvis of WorxAudio, which gives you a privileged response before the frequencies.

    This feature is ideal for group work, as it creates a 100 degree horizontal dispersion, creating a larger optimum point.

    On the back it brings a simple tone control for the range of bass, mid and treble sounds.

    It has unbalanced RCA inputs, ¼” balanced TRS and balanced XLR or Jack inputs. It has no tone control.

    JBL 305P MkII

    Finally, if you have a low budget to start, the JBL 305P MkII audio monitors are the ones for you, at $100, you will get the scope and clarity of a good audio studio.

    This monitoring speaker is made of MDF and some parts in black PVC. Its mold is made of structural ABS, which gives it a robust and construction and quality.

    The 305PMKII features a 1″ tweeter, 5″ woofer, 82W total power, and a frequency range of 43Hz to 24KHz.

    Low frequencies are surprising, especially if compared with other monitors in this same range.

    Other features that set it apart from the rest, is the audio quality at high volumes, as it remains accurate and clean, with no added roughness or distortion.

    On the back they have volume control, bass and treble controls and XLR and TRS connections. A peculiarity is the implementation of what JBL calls “image control waveguide”.

    This technology allows that, to the placed anywhere in a room, an accurate representation of the sound will be heard.

    Best GSnap Alternatives for Mac

    Finding the perfect combination of plugins for your needs might not be that easy.

    While the first thing that comes to mind is that you can just take as many as you want seems viable, there are a few problems you’ll come across along the way.

    First, you’ll just have a mess of random plugins that you don’t even use. And secondly, your system might not support some of the plugins that you thought you’ll use.

    The constant struggle of Windows computers versus Macs has been present in almost every field. Of course, the same discussion found its way into the world of music production. And you’ll see many producers or musicians (both professionals and amateurs) fighting over what’s a better solution – a PC or a Mac.

    This is often due to the choice of proper software and how it works on a given system. But in this case, we’re interested in pitch correction plugins. Particularly, the one we’re looking at is GSnap.

    Now, although it’s free of charge, it’s only available for Windows users. And knowing that it’s a great and useful plugin, it comes as a real bummer for Mac users.

    But don’t worry, as we’ve decided to look into this matter and bring you the list of the best GSnap alternatives for Mac.

    It took a while to narrow things down, but this is the final list that we came up with. We found plugins that are either free of charge or the regular commercial kind.

    Auto-Tune

    And what a better place to start than the legendary Auto-Tune?

    This is a professional level plugin that will help you achieve any type of pitch correction for virtually every musical style that you need.

    Yes, it’s not the cheapest one, but it’s still pretty much the industry standard.

    Whether it’s the real-time correction or editing during a live show or additional correction in the studio, you’ll be able to achieve anything with it.

    Over the years, the plugin developed to the point where you have an abundance of additional features. These do not only make your work easier but also make all corrections sound as if there was no editing done.

    Not even the most trained ears will be able to notice some corrections.

    Celemony Melodyne

    Melodyne has become one of the world’s most famous pitch correcting plugins today.

    In some way, we can say that it became as big as Auto-Tune. Now, what’s rather exciting about it is that there are special algorithms that make it a very versatile piece of software. This means that Melodyne doesn’t work the same way for any audio source.

    For instance, any vocal recording won’t be processed the same way as instruments. What’s more, you can also use it for percussive instruments, noises, and even entire mixes of songs.

    Now, aside from the basic pitch editing features, we also have a few other interesting additions.

    Firstly, Melodyne comes with its extensive collection of scales. This means that you can take one melody that’s, let’s say, performed in Aeolian mode, and then change it into the Phrygian mode. Of course you can just use this to correct the pitch automatically if there are any slightly out-of-tune notes.

    Secondly, we have the option to edit timing, shorten notes, reverse them, quantize everything – you name it. Then we also have the tempo editing, amplitude editing, and an abundance of many other functions and features.

    NewTone

    In case you’re an avid FL Studio user, then you might want to check out NewTone by Image-Line that works both for Windows and macOS versions of this famous DAW.

    It might not be as versatile and high-end as Melodyne or Auto-Tune, but it’s still significantly cheaper. If you need some basic pitch correction, this one will be easier to use.

    And aside from this basic pitch correction, it’s also capable of track slicing, time correction, tempo correction, and many other things.

    For instance, you can slice the track into “blocks” and then put arrange them any way you like, while managing to create one reinvented yet coherent instrument or vocal track. It’s simple to use, but it’s very potent.

    Autotalent

    Was there ever a more suitable name for a plugin than “Autotalent”? But all the jokes aside, Autotalent is an open-source plugin that comes as a great alternative to any standard commercial (and, dare we say, expensive) pitch correction plugins out there.

    Made by Oli Larkin back in the late 2000s, it’s developed into a very versatile software that can help you with any kind of pitch correction.

    Aside from regular studio work, it can also handle real-time pitch correction.

    Although it’s theoretically possible to use it in real-time, it doesn’t show the best results in these settings. Nonetheless, this plugin is pretty useful for pitch correction. It might be tricky to use for some, but it’s worth checking out by all means.

    Revoice Pro

    Now, Revoice is a pretty advanced pitch correction software.

    Needless to say, it’s also an expensive one. However, this plugin is aimed at professionals who are looking for some of the best ways to correct the pitch and completely “reinvent” their tracks.

    Made by Synchro Arts, the plugin comes with a few important features.

    Revoice Pro 4 has three main sections – APT, Warp, and Doubler.

    APT deals with the essential stuff any professional pitch correction software does, including pitch, vibrato, timing, and levels. It’s pretty realistic in what it does.

    Warp works with the timing and pitch while it also retains all the essential qualities of an audio recording. And Doubler simply helps you create realistic-sounding doubled tracks both in stereo and mono.

    Graillon

    Lastly, we would also mention Auburn Sounds’ Graillon.

    This plugin is free of charge but still does some pretty amazing stuff.

    If you’re looking for a free substitute for GSnap, this is probably the best option you can get.

    It has a pretty great-looking interface, making it quite easy to use. It’s focused on vocals and it has low latency, which also makes it a good option for real-time pitch correction.

    How to EQ Vocals

    Most of the music out there is vocal-centric. This means that all the vocals all the time should sound absolutely perfect.

    Whether it’s a live performance or a studio recording, everyone will be paying attention to vocals the most. However, tweaking the voice to sound just about right is not exactly the easiest task.

    In fact, many of the amateurs and semi-professionals will always have a hard time setting up vocals the right way. But the last thing you want is to have a quality singer sounding awful in the mix.

    With this in mind, we’ll try and explain a thing or two on how to properly EQ the vocals.

    Choice of a microphone is essential

    Before we get fully into it, we need to point out that the quality of the input is of essential importance of any type of recording or a live show.

    There’s no amount of editing and mixing that can help you if the original recording sounds awful.

    So before even getting anywhere near the mixing console or your EQ plugins, make sure to have a suitable microphone for what you need.

    Look into different polar patterns and think whether you need a dynamic or a condenser mic.

    Each microphone picks up audio differently and will focus more on specific sets of frequencies. This is the reason why you really need to take this into consideration before recording or tweaking the EQ knobs.

    It’s all about the vocalists

    If you’re recording entire bands, or setting up the EQ and levels for live shows, there’s an order of operations you’ll need to respect.

    Start with the lower-end spectrum and go from drum sets, then move to bass guitars, guitars, keyboards, and then the vocals.

    The idea is to make them all work together and not have them go into each other sonic “territories.”

    And before setting your hands on lows, mids, and highs on the mixer’s EQ, you’ll first need to be setting the gain knobs for each of the instruments.

    But while setting the EQs of all the individual instruments, bear in mind that you’re giving enough “room” for the vocals. If you do everything step by step and tweak the way you should, laying the vocals on top will be like a breeze.

    Cutting

    The way you should be looking at the EQ is that you not only boost but also cut specific frequencies. This is especially made easy with parametric EQs.

    Depending on the type of the microphone, the singer’s voice and technique, the room you’re recording in, and the rest of the band, you’ll need to be cutting some frequencies in the vocals.

    And these unwanted frequencies can be all over the spectrum. In addition, the vocals can have a lower end boost to them if the singer is too close to the microphone. This is also known as the proximity effect.

    The microphone will also pick up the other instruments, and that’s also something you’ll need to be thinking about while setting up the EQ.

    Tweaking over the spectrum

    So when doing the vocals, you should first start with high pass filters and cutting off everything below a particular frequency.

    Some may suggest that you cut off everything below 100 or 150 Hz, but this depends on various factors and the given situation.

    After dealing with the lower end of the spectrum, focus on the lower mids or the higher low-end range – somewhere around 330 to 360 Hz.

    This is a bit of a “muddy” area, and if we’re talking about male vocals, you might get a really muffled sound if these frequencies are pronounced.

    Start cutting a few dB at a time and listen to what happens. The point here is to allow the vocals to stand out in the mix by cutting frequencies in this area.

    Go up the spectrum and try and find potential issues if there are any. For instance, the higher mids or the 2.5 to 4 kHz area might add some unwanted harsher “grinding” vibe to the tone.

    However, if you cut this area too hard, you might lose some clarity. So be very patient and focused when tweaking these parts.

    Then we have the higher-end spectrum where all the sibilance is and where all the harsh consonants might pop out.

    This is usually between 5 and 7 kHz, and you’ll need to find the exact spot to filter out in this area, depending on the singer. Again, cutting too much here will reduce overall clarity.

    Everything above 8 kHz can help you add that cutting edge to the lead vocals.

    However, this is also where all the cymbals and high-end noises are. If you overdo on these frequencies, you might pick up too much of the unwanted stuff in the vocal mic.

    Of course, cutting is a bit more complicated if you have an analog mixer. You’ll need to be looking at the “Q” control, or the bandwidth, as well as the frequency range knob for lows, mids, or highs.

    Of course, everything these days is more accessible with digital mixers or plugins.

    Listen to the whole picture

    After setting it all up, you’ll need to take time and listen to the whole picture.

    If something sounds like it’s lacking, try and boost these frequencies a little bit, without bringing too much of the unwanted noise.

    For instance, if you think there needs to be more lower-end in the vocals, boost narrowly somewhere around the 200 Hz area. If you need more clarity, try narrow boosts around the 6 to 8 kHz territory.

    In case you’re doing a live show indoors, it would be a good idea to walk around the venue and hear if every part where the audience should be doesn’t have any unwanted noises.

    At the end of the day, setting up vocal EQs is not only about the vocals. It’s about the whole picture and helping singers stand out in the mix without making everyone’s ears bleed.

    Best Affordable Studio Desks

    Whatever it is that you do, having a work-friendly environment is a must.

    Just imagine how much time and energy you’d spend dealing with uncomfortable working space and all the inconveniences that come with it.

    If you’re dedicated to studio work, production and mixing, what you really want is to fully concentrate and focus on the music instead of constantly getting distracted and irritated by all the flaws of your surroundings.

    Of course, one of the most important decisions you have to make while setting up a studio is finding a proper work desk.

    However, no matter how crucial they are, these specialized desks sometimes might get a bit expensive. Especially if you’re looking for some kind of custom measures for your work space.

    Luckily enough, there are some affordable studio desks that you can find out there. We figured that we could do some digging and we came up with a brief list of these cheaper solutions.

    You don’t need to worry anymore – you can still have an ergonomic desk and a work-friendly environment without unnecessarily draining all of your savings.

    Pyle Height Adjustable Sit & Stand Desk

    Something for those who’d like to have an adjustable height desk without busting a bank. It might not be suitable for those who plan to have a bit of a larger setup, but it definitely comes in handy for every solid home studio.

    This desk, made by Pyle, ensures easy setup and adjustment and is designed with ergonomics in mind.

    There’s enough room on the main surface for a monitor and anything else you need, in addition to the keyboard tray. Definitely worth checking out for its price.

    HomCom 61 in. Modern L-Shaped Computer Desk

    But if you want space, and have enough room for such a piece of furniture, you should definitely check out HomCom 61 in.

    Modern L-Shaped Computer Desk. Aside from its great looks and a sturdy steel frame, this one allows a few different practical features. It would probably take some time setting up, but you get a very practical elevated rack, keyboard trail, and even a computer stand in the corner.

    Of course, being “L” shaped, it takes up some space and is probably a better option if you have a larger studio.

    Overall, the HomCom 61 is designed as a classic work desk with a bit of workspace to spare.

    If you do have some room to use, and if you plan on having larger studio speakers without using separate floor stands, then you should definitely consider one of these.

    Z-Line Designs Cyrus Workstation

    Maybe not as spacious as HomCom, but Z-Line Designs Cyrus Workstation  gives enough room in addition to its great design. After all, do you often see such an affordable desk with tempered glass as the main work surface?

    In addition, it features a keyboard tray, a lower surface for the computer, and a monitor rack that’s as wide as the entire work surface.

    It can come in handy if you have a setup with two computer monitors in mind. This way, however, you’d probably need separate floor stands for your speakers. Since the rack is wide enough, you can also use it for one monitor and two speakers.

    Ultimate Support Nucleus-Z Explorer Studio Desk

    Although this one is right on the edge between affordable and expensive, the Ultimate Support Nucleus-Z Explorer is probably one of the best options for its price. Yeah, it’s about $900 or so, but it’s a well-built and sturdy desk with two 4-space rack modules.

    Made of powder-coated fiberboard, it has around 24 inches surface depth and the secondary upper surface with about 12 inches of depth.

    Whatever kind of setup you have in mind, the Nucleus-Z Explorer will be a very useful workstation for your needs. If you want to go professional, this is the more affordable solution for a solid studio.

    Studio RTA Work Station

    It might be a relatively higher price, at least compared to some other products on the list. But, after all, the Studio RTA Work Station is not exactly a computer desk either. Although pretty straightforward, it is designed for studio works.

    A very wide desk with specialized rack spaces for different outboard gear, a separate monitor tray, and the lower surface for your computer or anything else that you might have had in mind.

    Being in the $450-500 territory, the Studio RTA Work Station is on the line between amateur and professional workspaces. It’s simple, it has enough room, it’s very well-built, and it’s not really that expensive for such a piece.

    Studio RTA Producer Station Maple

    Another one by Studio RTA, the Producer Station Maple is a bit of a behemoth among these desks that we included in the list.

    Just like the product described above, it’s on the territory between amateur and professional-tier desks. However, this one allows more room for different rack-mounted units.

    In fact, it has dual 20-space racks, monitor surface, one smaller rack below the monitor surface, keyboard tray, an extra slide-out tray, and the lower surface for computers.

    The main surface is over 70-inches wide, while the upper monitor surface has about 60 inches of width. Pretty impressive if you’re planning on having many rack-mounted units.

    Omnirax Presto Studio Desk

    Now, Omnirax Presto 4 Studio Desk is also one of those lower-end professional work stations like the Nucleus-Z Explorer.

    It can be found for a bit less than $900, but it’s more than worth it for a desk of such quality that has ergonomics and spaciousness in mind.

    The upper shelf for computer monitors and near-field monitors, the very spacious main surface, keyboard shelf, and two rack spaces – is there anything else you need?

    It’s also very well-built and comes in a few different color options. It might be a bit heavier, but it provides so many features for professional or semi-professional-level

    Best Online Beat Maker- Reviewed and Compared

    It’s really mindblowing when you think of all the things that we have at disposal today.

    Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or a full-blown pro, there are so many resources and different tools that you can use in creating your own original music.

    In fact, we kind of take it for granted in some way, not always realising how great we have it now compared to musicians from a few decades ago.

    👉 CHECK OUT THE LATEST DEALS AND DISCOUNTS ON VST PLUGINS AND DAWS

    Whether you want to record your instruments and vocals, or whether you want to make electronic music – it’s all possible even with a decent home studio setting.

    But the topic of todays article is online beat makers.

    It turns out that you don’t even need to bother too much with combining a bunch of random plugins in your DAW in order to do stuff.

    You can just use one of the online beat makers and create anything for electronic music, hip-hop, or anything that your heart desires.

    So let’s get into it – what are the best online beatmakers?

    We’ve done some digging and have come up with this list. Any of these beat makers work well for most of the electronic or hip-hop music settings you need.

    #1- LoopLabs

    While it’s mostly hip-hop oriented, LoopLabs provides a great platform for basically any type of music.

    But the best part about it is that it’s beginner-friendly, while also retaining some of the really important and very complex features which make it useful for full-blown professionals.

    This online music studio has an abundance of different royalty-free sounds. There’s anything for electronic, hip-hop, and music, and even genres like jazz, funk, and many others.

    It features tens of thousands of samples, and the sound library is constantly growing.

    In case you’re a vocalist, this is pretty much like a dream come true.

    You can easily record your voice over any beat in an instant.

    It’s also possible to remix already added tracks, or even record any of your parts over them. LoopLabs is a very useful online music-making collaborative tool.

    #2- Splice Beat Maker

    Splice is essentially like a large GitHub for musicians.

    It’s based on collaborative projects and a vast library of DAWs and different plugins.

    However, one of its greatest features is the Splice Beat Maker.

    The great thing about this one is that it’s really easy to use. The interface is very intuitive and really easy to figure out.

    Once again, we have collaborative projects and a whole bunch of different options for any music genre you need.

    Just add your tracks, instruments, and start laying out beats.

    Note: you can check out our review of splice sounds here.

    When you’re done, you can download your track either as MIDI or Toraiz SP-16 files.

    #3- Mixxx

    Although it can come in handy for various different settings, Mixxx is mostly intended for DJs.

    In fact, it’s pretty much a collection of tools that a DJ would need for their live sets.

    Once again, like with many of the great online beat-making software, it’s easy to use and can come in handy for both pros and beginners.

    It features the classic key and BPM detection with the possibility to sync different tracks when they’re played together.

    There’s also an integrated DJ control support with already mapped out controls.

    Aside from these and an abundance of effects, there’s also integrated vinyl record control.

    The whole thing is rounded up with their community and great support that you can get for any problems that might occur along the way.

    #4- Dumb.com

    According to their own words, Dumb.com is a “source for dumb stuff.” Anything from fun harmless activities and jokes, up to a few different types of beatmakers.

    It’s pretty obvious that with a website like this one you won’t really get a professional beatmaker.

    But this is still a fun little addition to their website and there are seven different types that you can use on your computer, as well as an additional one for iPhone.

    It’s available through a browser and works as a flash plugin.

    #5- Drumbot

    Drumbot is a service with multiple tools for musicians.

    You can find some great effects, sequencers, a tuner, and, of course, a virtual drummer.

    This beatmaker is also a flash plugin that you can use to create drum beats for any type of music you need. It comes as a perfect solution for those who want to jam out without a drummer.

    It’s really straightforward, making it very simple to use. The controls for it are also laid out on the keyboard.

    But you can’t expect much of it. Similar to the one on Dumb.com, it’s more of a helpful addition for any jam session rather than a serious software.

    #6- Soundtrap

    While not that flashy or designed for pros, Soundtrap provides a very simple interface for multi-track projects.

    It’s designed for a wide variety of genres and even features guitar amp simulations and AutoTune.

    Among these features, we can also find their Patterns Beatmaker.

    It also comes with a great deal of pre-made beats and presets that you can use or further edit.

    #7- CreateRaps

    Here we have a very useful piece of software that you can use without any downloading.

    As the name CreateRaps suggests, it’s mostly intended for rap music and rap beats.

    How it works is that you choose any of the royalty-free premade beats, record your rapping over it, and download the file. That’s basically it!

    Obviously, this is not something a professional would use, but it’s rather a beginner’s tool for making any rap and hip-hop tracks on the go. It’s fairly simple and all you need is a simple microphone and near-zero latency operation.

    Imprint by W.A Productions Review

    In this day and age, there are plenty of ways that you can enhance the sound of basically any type of recording.

    Yes, you first need to have quality input, so getting quality mics, instruments, cables, and mixers is a must.

    This basic foundational factor just cannot be enhanced in any meaningful way. However, with an abundance of great products, including great DAWs and very useful plugins, a lot of them free, with detailed parameter controls, the bar is set quite high.

    You not only have to use so many different tools, but you need to know how to implement them in practice.

    For instance, aside from compression, EQs, saturation, and other effects that come in handy for mixing, it wouldn’t be bad to use tools like transient shapers- This technique is now essential in modern music production.

    This is exactly why we decided to look more into one of these transient shaper plugins. The one we’ll be discussing here is made by W.A. Production and it’s called Imprint.

    There are a few interesting key features about it that could potentially make it a great choice for any modern producer.

    What’s more, the plugin is relatively cheap, which is one of the main reasons it caught our attention in the first place.

    Here’s a quick glance at this plugin:

    Imprint by W.A Production- At a glance

    Maker: W.A Production
    Plugin Type: Transient Shaper
    Main Features: 3 band transient shaper, 20+ presets, width / smooth / attack / releas controls, output level and master gain control
    Our Rating: 4.8/5
    CHECK CURRENT PRICE

    Transient shaping

    Before we get into it, let’s first clear things out for those who are not familiar with transient shaping.

    After all, you don’t hear about it that often.

    This concept has to do with the beginning of the sound sample and its attack.

    In some cases, we need a stronger and more pronounced attack, like with kick drums. In some other cases, we want something smoother and softer.

    Transient shaping plugins come in handy for creating better tones for samples where you need a stronger and more defined attack.

    Things are not that simple though, as you can’t just add a strong attack to a certain sample and thing that everything is going to be alright.

    With transient shaping, you bring all the much-needed nuances of these tones. Essentially, with these plugins, you’re able to bring life to tones that need more attack, especially components like bass drums.

    Features

    Imprint brings a few features that allow detailed transient design.

    First off, it allows you to work with three frequency ranges, along with the adjustable crossover points.

    Of course, these three frequency ranges are flexible and customizable. Thanks to the very clear graphic interface, setting up these ranges is made easy.

    What you do here is add equalization while also tweaking the attack curve.

    Each of the three frequency bands is adjusted with a simple control below it.

    The amount is determined by percentage and you’re essentially creating a ratio of these three custom set ranges.

    On the side, there’s also the gain control, which boosts the overall output of the plugin. You can also completely bypass any of these three frequency ranges individually.

    The more functionality comes with the option to open advanced settings for each of these three bands.

    Just click on the arrow below, and you’ll get settings for attack, release, width, and smoothness. With width control, you can set the width of the peaks that you want to target and alter, while the smooth control can smoothen out the peak shapes.

    Right above the gain control, you can see the overall output with dB meters. This way, you’ll also be in total control if there’s any potential clipping involved.

    The main part of the display, and its largest portion, shows the realtime output waveform. This comes as a useful feature where you can see any odd shapes that need correction.

    For a quick look at this plugin, check out the video below:

    Performance

    The most important thing to note is that the interface is fairly easy to use. It features a pretty straightforward and intuitive design that makes it so simple.

    The most common use is with samples with a strong attack that needs more definition, mostly drum components and certain synth basses.

    However, it works fairly well with various types of synths or pads with at least a somewhat pronounced attack.

    But the interesting part comes when you try to apply it to an entire drum track, even if it’s one separate audio file. It manages to “sharpen up” the overall tone as if you processed each component individually.

    Like we already mentioned in the features section, the graphic interface makes it fairly easy to use. It’s turned on and off by clicking on the Imprint logo at the bottom left.

    The frequency bands are extremely easy to control. All you need to do is just drag their edges left and right to set the width and to drag them up and down to set the output volume of each frequency, according to your preferences.

    Also, the waveform can help you in determining the amount and whether each frequency range is causing any clipping.

    The option to bypass these individual frequencies is pretty useful.

    You can customize it to pronounce only the highs, mids, or lows for the selected track that you’re processing. Those additional controls for each band that we mentioned are where it gets really interesting. These features allow some serious tone shaping and very detailed controls for controlling attack and release.

    Those additional controls for each band that we mentioned are where it gets really interesting. These features allow some serious tone shaping and very detailed controls for controlling attack and release.

    Basically, anything from subtle and smooth up to sharp and intense tweaking is possible through the very simplified graphic interface.

    Conclusion

    W.A. Production refers to this plugin as very “advanced” control of one track’s attack. What’s rather interesting is that the plugin itself is not exactly advanced but rather simple. Nonetheless, with some patience and experience, you’ll be able to do very detailed tweaking of each custom set frequency range.

    In the end, the price of the plugin is pretty affordable. Which is not a surprise as the Imprint is fairly simple to use. However, we would argue that it’s worth every penny and wouldn’t complain if it was 50% more expensive. It’s safe to say that this is a good purchase for any home or professional studio.

    How to Make FL Studio Run Faster

    FL Studio is, without any doubt, one of the best digital audio workstations that you can use for the recording of pretty much any genre of music.

    Of course, it’s especially known for its compatibility with various plugins for different synths and effects, making it one of the best options for electronic music.

    Developed by the Belgian company Image-Line Software and released originally as Fruity Loops back in 1997, it has now become a go-to DAW for countless creative music makers.

    However, just like with any great piece of software you find in 2021, you might have some performance issues due to certain compatibilities or just inadequate hardware components of your computer.

    If this is the case with you and FL Studio don’t worry, you’re not alone in this.

    👉 CHECK OUT THE LATEST DEALS AND DISCOUNTS ON VST PLUGINS AND DAWS

    If something is running slow, or just not as fast as it is supposed to, there’s always a solution.

    With this being said, let us look at the different ways on how to make FL Studio run faster.

    And if you still can’t make FL run smoothly, maybe it’s time to buy a new laptop. We have a very good comparison and review set on the best music production laptops on the market today.

    Monitoring your CPU

    The first thing you need to do is to check out the CPU load directly in the FL Studio.

    In the top screen of the FL Studio, you’ll see a small window tracking down CPU usage and RAM memory usage.

    In case any of these values are getting too high, it means something’s not right.

    Symptoms might include unwanted clicks and glitches in the audio. If you’re experiencing poor performance or any other issues, keep your eyes on the memory and CPU usage window.

    Configuring audio settings for FL Studio

    Poor performance sometimes might be due to the inadequate settings for the hardware you have.

    For instance, if you set the buffer size to the minimum, or somewhere close to it, but your computer can’t handle it, you should consider raising it to the spot where it stops being an issue.

    The bigger the buffer size, the easier your computer will respond to all the things going on in the program.

    However, a larger buffer size increases latency, which can be an issue with the real-time instrument or vocal recording.

    In case you’re not doing any kind of recording but just mixing, there’s no need to keep buffers at a lower level. But if you’re recording, try and find that sweet spot that doesn’t make it impossible for you to perform and that still allows normal operation.

    For this, you’ll need to go to Options, Audio Setting, and then select the “Asio4ALL” or “FL Studio Asio” in the “Device” menu.

    You can increase the buffer length to where it works best for you. Try and set the sample rate to 44100 Hz and the “Priority” to “highest.”

    There are a few other switchable options in the audio settings, including the “Triple buffer” and “Mix in buffer switch”. Try stitching them on and off and see if there’s any change in the overall performance. If nothing happens, set them back the way they were.

    Enable the “Smart Disable” feature in FL Studio

    Another option you’ll find in the Audio Settings is the “Smart Disable” feature.

    You can then enable it and go to Tools Menus, Macros, and then select the “Switch smart disable for all plugins.”

    This way, all the instruments and effects plugins will be turned off when they’re not making any sounds. Depending on the type of project, this feature can significantly decrease your CPU usage.

    You should also know that the Smart Disable feature is only active during playback. It will be disabled during any rendering.

    Look at how many channels are you rooting in the FL Studio mixer

    What you also need to be paying attention to is the number of channels you’re routing to in the FL Studio mixer. The larger the number of channels, the higher the chances that CPU load will rise faster than usual. In order to prevent this issue, you might want to plan everything out in advance before starting a project.

    Look whether your plugins are 32 or 64 bit

    Whenever you’re using any kind of plugins in the FL Studio, it is important to see whether they are the correct VST version.

    For instance, if you have a 64 bit FL Studio version, then you should use only 64-bit versions of VST plugins.

    Using the 32-bit plugin versions on the 64 bit FL Studio, there’s a high chance your CPU usage will skyrocket. This is because your computer will need to adjust to the same version. This whole process is referred to as “bridging.”

    Check whether your CPU is running at full speed

    There are also things you need to check outside of the FL Studio itself.

    For instance, you might have a certain power saving setting on that is preventing your CPU from running at its full speed.

    If you’re using Windows, then open up the settings (can be accessed via Start menu), go to the Control Panel, System and Maintenance, and then select Power Options. You should then select your power management to the “High Performance Mode.” If you’re using a laptop, always make sure that you’re plugged in and not running solely on the battery.

    As for macOS, go to System Preferences, then Energy Saver, and then find the “Computer Sleep” slider and select it to “Never” mode.

    Or, instead, you can check the box labeled as “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.”

    There are a few other power-related features in the settings that might help you use your computer’s full CPU potential.

    Final Thoughts

    We hope this guide has helped you in making FL Studio run great. If you still encounter issues with your studio, maybe your laptop is too old and needs an upgrade. In this direction, we would like to point you in the right direction, to our article on the best music production laptops on the market in 2021.