Sonic Producer

Price: $29.95

Overview: This software is perfect for anyone who does not have the budget for high-priced production software. If you are interested in recreational hip hop beat making, then there is no reason to use any other software. The first thing I noticed when I tried the program is that it is incredibly easy to use. If you have no experience in beat making or production, you will still be able to learn this software VERY fast. The interface contains a 16 track sequencer, volume control on for each track, a piano and pads to record with and a few other options. There are thousands of preset sounds in the program that are all crystal clear quality. The production quality of the beats that you are able to create is amazing, considering the simplicity of the program. The program itself is not solely restricted to hip hop beat making as you can produce music in other styles as well.

Bottom Line: If you want a very reasonably priced program that will produce top quality beats and make instrumentals, then this is THE software to get.

FL Studio 8

Price: $100 – $399

Overview: I have had a lot of experience with FL Studio and would recommend this software to anyone who is looking to do more than hip hop beat making. Though the step sequencer allows for flawless beats to be produced, the program is able to do much more. I personally love this program because it is easy to use, the VSTi, DXi and MIDI support is exceptional (you will need these features if you plan on producing instrumental-heavy arrangements) and it contains my favorite feature – the Piano Roll. The customizable interface is made up five main windows – Sample Browser, Channel Window/Step Sequencer, Piano Roll, Playlist, and the Mixer. It may take a few days to get used to the basics, but once you do it becomes easy to make music. The software is comes packed with some very good plug-ins and an array of sounds.

Bottom Line: If you only want to make beats on your computer, then I would recommend Sonic Producer over FL Studio. If you want a powerful and professional tool that can deliver a vast amount of variations, then this is the best investment that you can make.

Well there you go. If you want to make your own beats then I strongly suggest that you check out some of these programs. I have recently given a full online review on both Sonic Producer and Fl Studio, if you would like more info on these programs and how to make beats online.