Beats Class

by Ted Curran

Thanks for checking out BEATS CLASS! We are going to learn how to make some simple electronic and hip hop beats using Renoise, a digital audio workstation. Then we’ll learn how to sample sounds from our favorite songs and use them in our own creations.

Before we start

1. You can Download Renoise Here.

Renoise is a Digital Audio Workstation for Mac, Windows, & Linux. It has an unlimited free trial period, allowing you to take as much time as you need to master its unusual “tracker” style interface.

Why Renoise? It’s cheap, it’s fun, and (with a little help) you’ll see right away how to build a beat in a few minutes! What’s more, you can GO DEEP with this tool as you grow as a musician and producer.

2. Download the TrueSchool Renoise Starter Pack!

This is a folder I created with a few useful tools to help you getting started in Renoise. Drum tracks, loops, instruments, and useful extensions to help you get the best out of Renoise on your first try.

3. Getting Started!

Go through my quick “Getting Started” tutorial to make sure Renoise is set up properly for our class.

Beat Making Exercises

Make a basic hip hop beat

This tutorial will teach you the basics of Renoise’s built in drum machine.

Add samples from your favorite songs

This tutorial will show you how to slice up your favorite songs into samples to play in your music.

From a Beat to a Song: Building Up from Beats

Take it Further: Next Steps

Watch the “Getting Started” Videos

RTFM

Read the Manual: Getting Started with Renoise to deep-dive into the features and how they work.

Get inspired

Join the Renoise group in SoundCloud to hear what people create with Renoise.

Learn to DJ with Mixxx

If you like making music on your computer, make sure to check out Mixxx, a free and open source digital DJ deck for Mac, WIndows, and Linux.