Digital Audio Workstations (DAW's) are the lifeblood of your budding music production career. The argument of "which DAW is better" goes back decades, but ultimately only one thing matters: your comfort.
All DAW's allow you to do the same thing (produce music) but in different ways. Keep in mind that you will be using this tool for hundreds, thousands, of hours moving forward so it is important that you are comfortable with the DAW you use but it's pointless to fret about "which one is best."
Download a free trial of each DAW listed below. Spend a few hours tinkering around and running through a few tutorials. After you have tested each DAW thoroughly, make a decision as to which one "clicks" with you best and don't look back!
Mixing and mastering of songs is often overlooked, yet proper mixing and mastering can easily take a good song to the heights of greatness. Below are a few industry favorites in the mixing and mastering realm. Take advantage of the free trials and experiment to find the tools that will help make your next club banger come alive!
Synthesizers and audio effects are great tools to use when producing music, but sample libraries should never be forgotten. These great recordings can bring real-life piano, guitar, strings, and so much more to your tracks. These downloads can get large so pick and choose wisely.
Not only can loop packs provide you with easy content to use for your tracks, but they can also make for great learning tools. I like to download loops and deconstruct them to learn what others are doing and then use similar techniques in my own work. Free loop packs are easy to find, but if you are ready to lay down some cash for premium loops, check these out.
A wise man knows that he knows nothing. While getting trapped in an information loop is terrible for creation and productivity, it's always important to be constantly learning. Read and watch tutorials that apply to your favorite plug-ins, music techniques, or new areas that you want to learn more on. While there is a great amount of free information available online, don't be afraid to splurge for the premium content. A few dollars expense can easily take you to the next level in your music production endeavor.
It's always a great idea to see what others are creating. This helps you keep your ear to the ground and know what's going on in the music world, plus can often lead to great inspiration and even become extremely educational. How did Prydz create that snare? How did deadmau5 lay down those cords? You might be surprised how simple these techniques can be if you really listen and pay attention.