The Beginner’s Guide To Creating Music On Your Computer
This guide gives you an introduction to what you’ll need for making music with software, as well as tips on arranging, mixing, effects, and more.
Audio Effects
Audio effects are designed to manipulate sound. They can be software (computer programs or plugins), or hardware (like guitar effects pedals or rack-mounted machines). The effect these devices have on sound can vary from a subtle colouration to all-out sonic terrorism!
There are a dizzying array of effects processors on the market but they fall into a small number of categories:
- Modulation effects (e.g. Chorus, Flangers, or Phasers) gradually sweep back and forth over time, creating various characteristic sounds
- Time-based effects (e.g. Delay and Reverb) create echoes and reverberations which can do anything from simulate the sound of a room to creating mesmerizing rhythmic patterns
- Pitch effects can create harmony from thin air or fix dodgy singing (like the infamous Autotune)
- Distortion effects (e.g. Overdrive, Fuzz) increase signal volume until smooth sound waves get ‘clipped’ into ugly squares, creating thick harmonics and endless sustain
- Dynamic effects (e.g. Compression, Limiters) make levels consistent and can make music thick and punchy
Audio effects are used by musicians to shape their tone into distinctive new forms, and by record producers and mastering engineers to make recordings sound more rich and full. Effects used to be the preserve of professional studios and millionaire rock stars, but the relentless march of technology means even beginners can now experience and use them to their heart’s desire.
Used carelessly, effects can rob an instrument of character and leave it lost in the mix… But in the hands of a master (such as U2’s The Edge) a musician can become a one-man soundscape.
Ear training can give you a deeper understanding of audio effects and help you:
- Recognise common audio effects by ear
- Creatively use effects to enhance your musical tone
- Make your demos sound punchier by mastering dynamic range compression
- Hear when vocalists have been auto-tuned (even tastefully!)
- Hear the difference between natural and artificial reverb
Series
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The Hearing Effects series on FX ear training teaches you to recognise all the most common types of audio effects by ear, including modulation, delay, echo, reverb, and distortion effects. You’ll also find out how to choose the right settings for each type of effect. |
Free articles about Audio Effects
An Introduction to Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
EDM is a fun and fascinating genre of music. Birthed at the end of the disco era, electronic dance music has made a huge impact on modern artists and culture.
Sampling Your Way to New Musical Sounds
Inexpensive digital sampling technology and the never-ending quest for new sounds has opened up the world of music to any and all sounds in our environment.
How to Recognize Different Types of Synthesis
Explore the different types of synthesis, how to generate them and include them in your musical creations. With demo samples and real tracks as examples.
What is audio effects ear training?
Audio effects transform sound. Sometimes in subtle, natural ways, and sometimes in wild and wacky ways. Audio effects crop up all over the place. For example: Almost every modern music recording will have some processing applied to improve or fix the sound recording,...What are modulation effects?
Modulation effects are a particular category of audio effect (FX). These are effects which modify the sound in a certain way: by adding a time-delayed version of the sound to itself, and then varying the size of that delay over time. Although this same process is...Sound FX Secrets, Free Whisper Sound Effects & DIY FX
Want to learn how to make free sound effects using the tools in your home studio? Look no further! Find out here and train your ears for sound effects.
Listen to Les, Part 3: Audio Effects
In this, the concluding part of our series on the genius Les Paul, we are going to be looking at his contribution to the world of effects. For a modern guitarist, effects pedals are an integral part of their sound. There are a dizzying array of boxes available to feed...
Bass Tone Podcast 6: Bass FX, Part 2
In episode 6 of the Bass Tone podcast, Bass FX Part 2, Nick Long explores some more unusual effects you can add to your bass tone. You’ll learn:
• What modulation effects are and how they work
• The Chorus and Flanger effects and how they impact your tone
• The sound of Wah-Wah effects, and why they combine well with distortion effects
• Pitch-shifter effects (including octaver effects)
Bass Tone: Bass Effects, Part 2
Learn all about audio effects for bass guitar, including modulation, octave, pitch shift, wah-wah, chorus and flanger/phaser. How to hear them and why to learn.
Bass Tone Podcast 5: Bass FX, Part 1
In episode 5 of the Bass Tone podcast, Bass FX Part 1, Nick Long covers the most frequently used audio effects for the bass guitar. You’ll learn all about:
• Equalization (EQ), the cornerstone of a good effects chain
• Compression and Limiting to even out playing dynamics
• Multiband Compression
• Distortion, Overdrive and Fuzz Effects
Hearing Effects: Modulation 2 (tremolo, vibrato, pitch shift, wah-wah)
Modulation audio effects are among the most popular, so train your ears for tremolo, vibrato, pitch shift, wah-wah. Learn how in this FX ear training tutorial.
