How To Make A Beat On Soundtrap

So, you want to make a beat? On Soundtrap, no less? Prepare yourself. It's about to get... interesting.

First Things First: Embrace the Chaos

Log in. See that blank project staring back at you? That's your canvas (of organized digital noise!). Don't be intimidated.

Pick a loop. Any loop! Seriously, just grab something. It's like choosing a starting Pokemon. You might regret it later.

The Loop De Loop

Okay, now you have a loop. Maybe it's a wobbly synth line. Or a drum beat that sounds suspiciously like a washing machine. Excellent.

Duplicate it. Again. And again. Until it fills the timeline. Congratulations, you have a song (sort of). A very repetitive song.

Finding Your Inner Drummer (Even If You Have No Rhythm)

Time for drums! This is where things get truly chaotic. Soundtrap has tons of drum kits. Some sound professional. Others… not so much.

My unpopular opinion? The cheesier the drum kit, the better. Embrace the 80s synth drums. They're making a comeback, I swear!

Now, lay down a beat. Kick drum on the 1 and 3? Snare on the 2 and 4? Or just smash the keys randomly. I won't judge.

Melody Mayhem: When Notes Attack

Time for melody! This is where most people give up. But fear not! We're not aiming for Mozart here.

Use the piano roll. It looks intimidating. But it's just a grid of notes. Click some boxes. See what happens.

Pro-tip: Stick to one key. Preferably C Major. It's the easiest. Everything sounds vaguely "right".

Another unpopular opinion? Auto-tune is your friend. Use it. Abuse it. Let it correct your every musical misstep.

Bass-ically Awesome

Don't forget the bass! A good bassline holds everything together. Even if "everything" is a sonic train wreck.

A simple bassline can go a long way. Just follow the root notes of your chords. Or, again, just mash some buttons. Experiment!

The Secret Ingredient: Randomness

Add some effects. Reverb. Delay. Distortion. Anything to make it sound... less like you made it in your bedroom.

Don't be afraid to experiment. Turn knobs randomly. See what sounds cool. You might stumble upon something amazing. Or a sound that hurts your ears. Either way, it's an experience.

Arrangement Antics: From Chaos to... Slightly Less Chaos

Your song is probably a mess at this point. That's okay! Time to arrange it.

Copy and paste sections. Remove sections. Add builds and drops (whatever those are). Just make it sound slightly less repetitive.

My final unpopular opinion? The more unexpected the arrangement, the better. Surprise your listeners! (And yourself.)

The Grand Finale: Export and Brag

Okay, you're done! (Probably.) Export your masterpiece. Unleash it upon the world!

Don't expect Grammy nominations. But do expect a sense of accomplishment. You made a beat! On Soundtrap! You are now a musical genius (sort of).

Now go forth and create more sonic chaos. The world needs it. Especially if you're using those 80s synth drums.