Make Music
Practical production guides: beats, mixing, sound design and the habits that get tracks finished.
More in Make Music
Audio crackles, dropouts and CPU spikes: fix them by symptom
A diagnostic guide for the problems that ruin sessions: pops at low buffer sizes, CPU meters jumping when you load a plugin, and delay that only appears on one track.
How to turn an 8-bar loop into a full song: an arrangement system for beginners
You have a loop you love and no idea what comes next. Use the subtraction method, an energy map and five transition tricks to finish a real track.
How to make better melodies without knowing music theory: 7 techniques
Seven practical techniques that turn random notes into a melody people remember, using only a scale, rhythm and repetition. Includes a free scale tool.
Why your mix sounds muddy, harsh or quiet, and how to fix it
A troubleshooting table for the six most common mix problems, with the first fix to try and the free tool that helps you see what you hear.
How to make an Afro house beat: a beginner's step-by-step guide
Build a full groove in any DAW using free or stock sounds: kick, percussion layers, bass, chords and a vocal hook.
How to fix audio latency when recording or playing virtual instruments
Hearing a delay between pressing a key and hearing the sound? Here are the causes, in the order worth checking.
Gain staging explained: set your levels once and your mixes get easier
Most muddy, harsh or clipping mixes start with levels set too hot. A simple system for recording and mixing at healthy levels.
Elsewhere on Boddominator
Best audio interfaces for beginners: four safe choices for a home studio
Which interface to buy for your first recordings, matched to what you actually record, from one voice to a streaming setup.
Best studio headphones for music production: closed-back and open-back picks
Four proven models, what each is good at, and why you might need a closed pair for recording and an open pair for mixing.
Where to get samples: free vs Splice vs Loopcloud vs buying packs outright
How the three ways to get samples really compare on cost, choice and licensing, plus free options and how to stop wasting money on sounds you never use.