What is DTM? Explaining how to create music on a computer from scratch

DTM is an abbreviation for "Desktop Music" and refers to creating music mainly on a computer or tablet. In addition to playing and recording your instrument, you can also input notes on the screen, select tones, and mix them to create a song.

What you can do with DTM

You can record songs and guitars, record drums and piano, create synthesizer sounds, edit vocals, mix, and master. It doesn't matter what genre you create, such as pop, rock, vocaloid, BGM, or sound sources for distribution.

Basic flow until the song is completed

The basic order is to record your idea, decide on the tempo and key, layer instruments and MIDI, record the song, adjust the volume and tone, and export the completed audio file. It doesn't have to be exactly like this, you can start with any process you can think of.

Difference between recording and typing

Audio recording is capturing the actual sound from a microphone or guitar. MIDI is used to input the pitch, length, and strength of a sound using the keyboard or screen to play a soft sound source. Many songs combine both.

No need for expensive equipment from the beginning

If you have your own computer, DAW, and headphones, you can start typing. When you want to record songs or instruments in high quality, add an audio interface or microphone.

First goal

My goal is not to write a perfect song, but to write it all the way through, even if it's just 30 seconds. Once you have experienced composing, recording, and mixing, you will have a clear idea of ​​the knowledge and equipment you need.

DTM is not a competition for equipment knowledge. It's a production environment where you can get the sounds in your head out and fix them as many times as you like. It is enough to memorize the words you don't understand one by one while creating them.