What is the best app to make EDM music?

EDM (Electronic Dance Music) refers to a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves, and festivals. The music is produced for playback by DJs who create seamless selections of tracks, called a DJ mix.[1] Some of the most popular EDM genres include house, techno, trance, drum and bass, dubstep, and trap.

EDM first emerged in the dance culture of the 1970s and 1980s in cities like Chicago, Detroit, New York, and London. Early pioneers of the music included artists like Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Jean-Michel Jarre. However, EDM exploded into mainstream popularity in the late 2000s and early 2010s with the rise of major festivals like Electric Daisy Carnival and Ultra Music Festival. Iconic DJs such as Avicii, Skrillex, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and Tiesto helped popularize the music globally. According to recent market research, the EDM industry was valued at over $8 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $17 billion by 2031 as the genre continues to gain popularity worldwide.[2]

[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/evolution-of-music/edm/
[2] https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/electronic-dance-music-edm-market-102819

Criteria for Evaluating EDM Music Apps

When looking for EDM production software, some of the key features to consider include:

Synthesizers – Having a good selection of quality virtual synthesizers is crucial for designing electronic sounds and leads. Look for options like subtractive, FM, additive and granular synthesis.

Drums – Strong drum machine capabilities let you program drum patterns and electronic percussion. Features like sample playback, sequencing and drum synthesis are ideal.

Effects – Effects like delay, reverb, distortion, compression and EQ allow you to shape and enhance your sounds during mixing. Robust effect options aid creativity.

Sequencer/DAW – The sequencer or digital audio workstation functionality is the core of any production software. It lets you record, edit and arrange audio and MIDI tracks to build full productions.

Workflow – The workflow and layout should allow you to quickly sketch out musical ideas and manipulate tracks intuitively. An inspiring interface can stimulate creativity.

Hardware Integration – If using external synthesizers or drum machines, the ability to easily integrate hardware gear is important. MIDI and sync options enable hardware use.

Community – Having an active user community means access to tutorials, add-ons and technical support. A popular platform typically has more resources.

Compatibility – Check for compatibility with your operating system and that minimum system requirements are met for smooth performance.

Price – Production software ranges from free to hundreds of dollars. Consider whether a free or paid option best fits your budget and needs.

Top Pick: FL Studio

FL Studio is the leading Digital Audio Workstation for EDM music production (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjLuGKUkZQc). It includes powerful synthesizers like 3x OSC, Harmor, Sytrus, and more that allow you to easily create and manipulate synth sounds. The built-in effects like Delay, Reverb, Compression, EQ and more provide advanced audio processing to shape your sounds (https://ummtone.com/is-fl-studio-good-for-making-beats/).

FL Studio’s Step Sequencer allows intuitive beat making using Piano Roll editing for percussion, melody, and automation sequences. The Mixer includes effects chaining, routing, sidechain control, and visual workflows. Overall, FL Studio offers an unmatched range of tools for synthesizing, mixing, and arranging professional EDM tracks.

Runner Up: Ableton Live

Ableton Live is another top choice for EDM production. It’s known for its exceptional live performance capabilities, making it a great option if you want to use your EDM creations in a live setting. Some key features that make Ableton Live excellent for live performances include:

• Session view for improvisation and playing clips live
• Extensive MIDI mapping and control surface support
• Low latency for responsive performance
• Time stretching options
• Looper and other creative live performance effects

Beyond live capabilities, Ableton Live also works well for laying down tracks in the studio. It comes with a large library of quality synth and sampler instruments, effects, and samples. The workflow is fast and flexible with clip-based sequencing that’s different from traditional DAWs.

While the learning curve is steep, once mastered, Ableton Live gives producers and performers expansive creative control for crafting innovative EDM. If you want a top-notch DAW optimized for live performance of electronic music, Ableton Live is hard to beat. (Source)

Also Consider: Logic Pro

Logic Pro is Apple’s flagship DAW that comes bundled with an extensive library of software instruments, effects, loops and sounds. Unlike the entry-level GarageBand, Logic Pro is packed with professional features for recording, editing and mixing audio and MIDI.

Logic Pro comes with a massive sound library including sampler instruments like the EXS24 mkII sampler, synthesizers like Retro Synth and Vintage B3 organ, and studio effects like pedals, amps and channel strips. This makes Logic Pro a great choice for EDM production right out of the box without needing to purchase any additional plugins.

Apple has optimized Logic Pro to take advantage of the Touch Bar on newer MacBook Pros. The Touch Bar provides quick access to useful tools like track padding, quantization and Apple Loops that can speed up your workflow.

With its pro-grade feature set and deep integration with macOS, Logic Pro is a great option for Mac users looking for a powerful DAW to produce EDM music.

Best for Beginners: GarageBand

If you’re just starting out making EDM music, GarageBand is a great option thanks to its simple and intuitive interface. GarageBand comes pre-installed on Mac computers and iOS devices, making it easily accessible for beginners. The streamlined workflow allows you to quickly lay down MIDI tracks and loops to build a song. GarageBand also includes a large library of virtual instruments, presets, loops, and effects specifically tailored for EDM production. While it may not offer all the advanced features of other DAWs, GarageBand provides an easy on-ramp for new producers to learn the basics of constructing an EDM track from start to finish.

As noted in this GarageBand tutorial, the simple interface allows even complete beginners to start making melodies, drum patterns, and complete EDM tracks. If you’re looking for a way to dip your toes into EDM production and learn the fundamentals, GarageBand’s intuitive workflow and built-in sounds make it a great first DAW.

Best Free Option: LMMS

If you’re just starting out making EDM music and don’t want to spend any money, LMMS (Linux Multimedia Studio) is an excellent free and open source option to consider. LMMS provides a user-friendly interface and a good selection of virtual instruments, effects, and tools for EDM production.

As an open source DAW, LMMS benefits from an active community of developers and users who are continually improving the software and releasing new features and add-ons. The forums provide helpful support for beginners learning how to use LMMS. While the interface is more basic than paid options, it provides powerful capabilities for free.

Key highlights of LMMS for EDM production include:

• Instruments like synthesizers, samplers, drums, and basslines
• Effects like distortion, delay, reverb, equalization, compression
• Ability to automate parameters over time
• Piano roll editor to program melodies and drum sequences
• Song sequencer to arrange musical parts

For a full-featured free DAW, LMMS is hard to beat. The open source community provides an added benefit of continual development and support. While it lacks some advanced features of paid options, LMMS is fully capable of helping you produce complete EDM tracks from start to finish.

Key Features to Look For

When evaluating EDM music production software, some key features to look for include:

• Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) functionality for arranging audio clips, automation, and mixing. Top DAWs like FL Studio and Ableton Live excel here.
• Instruments like synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines. Having a variety of high-quality built-in instruments allows for creative sound design without requiring external plugins.
• Effects such as EQ, compression, reverb, delay, distortion, etc. A robust effects library helps polish and blend sounds.
• MIDI editing and sequencing features like piano roll editors. These tools are essential for programming melodies, basslines, and drum patterns.
• Automation of plugin parameters and mixer levels. Automation is key for creating builds, breakdowns, and transitions in EDM songs.
• Compatibility with VST/AU plugins for expanding sound design options.
• An intuitive workflow and interface designed for electronic music production.

Choosing software with professional features like these allow producers to craft industry-standard EDM tracks entirely within the box.

Hardware Considerations

When producing EDM music, having the right hardware setup can make a big difference in workflow and end results. Here are some of the most important gear considerations:

MIDI Controllers – A MIDI keyboard or pad controller allows for hands-on control of software instruments and drum pads. Popular options include Akai’s MPK Mini, Native Instruments’ Komplete Kontrol keyboards, and Novation’s Launchkey series.

Audio Interfaces – An audio interface handles analog-to-digital conversion and allows you to connect studio monitors, microphones, and instruments. Look for an interface with enough inputs/outputs for your needs, solid AD/DA conversion, and low latency monitoring. Top choices include Focusrite Scarlett and Universal Audio Apollo interfaces.

Monitors/Headphones – Quality studio monitors (speakers) and headphones are essential for mixing and mastering. For speakers, Yamaha HS series and Adam Audio are popular in home studios. Top headphone choices include Audio-Technica M50x, Sennheiser HD600, and Sony MDR-7506.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing the best app for making EDM music, FL Studio stands out as the top pick. Its user-friendly interface, powerful mixing capabilities, and extensive sound library make it an excellent choice for EDM producers of any skill level. For those seeking more advanced features, Ableton Live is a close second with its exceptional workflow and live performance tools. However, FL Studio offers the best balance of features, price, and ease of use. Both beginners and experienced producers will find everything they need to create polished EDM tracks with either FL Studio or Ableton Live.

For those on a budget, LMMS and GarageBand provide capable free or low-cost options. While they lack some of the more sophisticated tools of paid alternatives, you can still produce decent quality EDM music with either program. When choosing hardware, investing in a MIDI controller greatly enhances workflow and creativity compared to only using a mouse and keyboard.

In summary, FL Studio emerges as the best overall app for making EDM music. It provides extensive tools and functionality in an accessible package for producers at any skill level. Try out demos of a few different options, but FL Studio is a safe bet that will enable you to create professional sounding EDM tracks.