It turned out better than expected

Digital recording is more affordable than ever, and with free music production software and readily available resources, it’s very easy to create a musical masterpiece at home. Here are my steps to writing an original track using only free audio samples.

My completed track

Before I discuss how I created my track, here is the finished product. The whole process from start to finish took me about an hour, using my existing sample library.

Preparing my project

We have plenty to choose from, with many digital audio workstations (DAWs) available for Windows, Mac and Linux. As a Mac user, I’m a die-hard fan of Apple’s Logic Pro 11 ($200 in the App Store). However, you don’t need to spend any money on software, as there are plenty of excellent free music production solutions available to help you create your musical pieces.

To start with, I opened a new project and saved it (it can always be renamed later). At this point you will usually be asked to confirm details such as your track type, audio inputs/outputs, your audio interface and the number of tracks you want to create. I usually have a default of ten audio tracks (you can add more later if needed). Your new project layout page will appear in front of you.

For my project, I decided to use the extensive library of free audio samples included with Logic Pro. Alternatively, there are many sources for loops and samples online, such as Freesound, where you can download thousands of sound samples for free. Once your samples are saved to your computer, importing is a simple drag-and-drop onto an audio track on your DAW’s layout page.

Import samples

This is where the fun begins! I build my tracks from the ground up, starting with the beat, because that’s the foundation of the song that defines its entire aesthetic. I went through several different samples until I found inspiration. My beat of choice is an 80’s style groove called “Mysterious Funk Beat” with layered percussion and a nice electric snare and kick.

I dragged my samples directly onto the layout page from the loop library on the right. You can also drag them directly from your hard drive. I started the beat and clicked on the various samples to preview them before dragging them onto the muted audio track on my arrangement page to arrange them later.

Arrangement of samples

Once I had enough samples to build the foundations of my track, I set about organizing them. I duplicated the four-bar rhythm pattern by holding alt/option and dragging with the pointer tool. A sixteen-bar sequence is usually long enough to begin with.

After the beat came a bassline I built from a set of three samples called “Bumping Disco Bass”. I then combined them to create a four-bar section by repeating the first phrase twice. I added a sample of three electric piano chords that became an almost constant motif throughout the song. I embellished the song with sweeping synthesizer pads, percussive elements and alternating guitar and piano riffs.

My track was taking shape! Once I was satisfied that I had enough musical elements, I dragged my samples, duplicated entire sections, and inserted alternate drum samples to make the track less repetitive. This is my favorite part of the process and I made sure there were a few breakdowns and dynamic boosts to compensate for the lack of vocal elements.

Adding effects to tracks

Effects add character to your samples and can help make a song unique. However, it can be tempting to overdo it, so I try to use restraint when adding effects to my individual tracks. My selected beat was already quite drenched in reverb, so I left it alone and focused on the lead instruments instead.

Reverb adds space to individual instruments within the mix and is probably the most used effect. I used the SilverVerb plugin within Logic to add reverb to my guitar track, but every DAW comes with at least one reverb option. Other options can include delays for echo, dynamic tools such as compressors (great for vocals and bass) and modulation tools such as flangers, phasers and choruses to add a synthesized effect to your samples.

Mixing my project

Mixing a project is very satisfying as your track comes to life. It’s simply a case of pulling out the mixer on your DAW and switching the faders until each track sits exactly where you want it in the mix. Mixing a song always involves an element of trial and error, and there are some basic mixing rules to follow to ensure it sounds its best.

When mixing my project, I kept it relatively simple, limiting the process to balancing the faders, making sure my effects sounded good in the mix, and most importantly, none of my tracks “cut” or distorted. I started by making sure the beat was as loud as possible without the faders going into the red and used that as a reference point for the remaining fader levels.

Export my project

Exporting, or “bouncing” the audio, will combine all of your song files into a single stereo audio file. Before exporting my project, I added automation to make the volume levels disappear at the very end. With multiple listens, you often begin to hear projects differently. I decided it was limping slightly and increased the tempo by two beats per minute. That seemed to be enough and my music was ready to export.

When exporting a track, you have options for the file format you want to choose, such as MP3, AIFF, or WAV, and your preferred bit depth and sample rate. At this point I selected the option to normalize my track to optimize its output levels.

Overall, I was happy with my track, even if it sounded a little empty without the lead instruments and vocals. Still, it could be suitable as a backing track or soundtrack to a YouTube production or video game, and the creative process was enjoyable.

Even if you’re just a music fan who never wanted to be a musician, it’s worth trying to create a song using free samples. It helped me understand the building blocks that make up a song and better appreciate instrumentation and the songwriting process.