Beat making software can refer to a digital audio workstation (DAW), a software plugin, or even a beatmaking website.

According to beatmaker and producer 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Destiny’s Child, Erykah Badu), ideas come from different places, so you need to be able to put them all together into a cohesive musical idea.

And he should know about puzzles – he used three different samples from three different countries in three different genres across three different generations, all for Kendrick Lamar’s song “DUCKWORTH.”

Beat making software is the tool that helped him piece together that puzzle.

So let’s talk about DAWs, online programs, and plugins that will help you make your next beat.

In order to make beats, you’ll need a digital audio workstation (DAW). This is the piece of software where you create the music and where the music lives.

So here are the top three DAWs for making beats…

FL Studio is one of the most popular choices of DAWs for beat makers.

Why? Because its interface is easy to use, which streamlines the process of sketching out ideas and crafting beats.

The step sequencer, a key feature of FL Studio, provides a grid-based platform that simplifies the creation of drum patterns and melodies.

It also has a wide array of built-in plugins and virtual instruments, including a plugin called the Soundgoodizer, which is a “stereo maximizer-enhancer plugin.”

FL Studio has been used by:

• Deadmau5
• Martin Garrix
• The late Avicii

Ableton Live is another top choice for beat makers, thanks to its ability to work well in the studio or live on stage.

The Session View is Ableton’s bread and butter. It lets you experiment with loops and samples in a non-linear, improvisational manner. This feature not only helps you make beats quickly but also can help live performances go smoothly. But if you want a more traditional linear timeline, you can switch to Live’s Arrangement View.

This dual-view setup lets you quickly create a beat in Session View then refine it further in Arrangement View.

On top of that, Ableton Live comes with an extensive library of sounds, loops, and virtual instruments, something every beatmaker craves.

Ableton Live has been used by:

• Martin Garrix
• Deadmau5
• Skrillex
• Daft Punk

Logic Pro is a standout DAW for beat makers working on Apple devices. It has earned its place as an industry standard alongside Pro Tools.

But what makes Logic Pro especially good for beatmakers is its huge built-in library of sounds, loops, and plugins and the easy-to-use interface.

The MIDI sequencer in Logic Pro is top-notch, which means making beats is a seamless experience.

Logic Pro has been used by:

• Tyler, The Creator
• Calvin Harris
• David Guetta
• Ed Sheeran
• Nathan Chapman (has produced Taylor Swift)
• Jacob Collier
• Billie Eilish & Finneas

If you want to start with a free beat maker, here are the top three beatmaking DAWs you can get at no cost…

As its name suggests, MPC Beats is specifically designed for beatmakers.

It features 16 digital pads for sampling drums and sounds, a sample editor, a collection of built-in sounds, and genre-specific templates to kickstart your projects. You can also upload and sample your own sounds using the digital pads.

Lots of well-known musicians have used Akai’s MPC tools, like physical and virtual drum machines. Those artists include:

• John Mayer
• Machine Gun Kelly
• The Chainsmokers

Serato Studio is all about simplicity. They designed a clean interface so beat making and using samples is as easy as possible. This also makes it relatively easy to learn for beginners. It also has enough features for you to get into intermediate editing and mixing.

Serato Studio has been used by:

• Just Blaze
• Nick Hook
• Hudson Mohawke

GarageBand, which comes preloaded on every Apple computer, is an excellent free DAW for beatmakers.

You get access to a ton of professional-quality sounds and loops that you can use commercially in your songs. And because it comes preloaded with beats and one-shots, it’s so easy to get started on a beat.

You can also control your beat’s sound with the built-in plugins, effects, and settings.

GarageBand has been used by:

• Usher
• Snow Patrol
• Fall Out Boy
• Rihanna

If you don’t want to (or can’t) download a DAW or plugins to your computer, not to worry.

Below are two online beat making programs that are free and easy to use, as long as you have a computer and a strong Wi-Fi connection.

Soundtrap uses clickable squares to trigger instrument hits, and it also includes musical typing and offers a ton of sounds, like drum kits, guitars, synths, pianos, and strings. You also have the option to record live instruments

While many of the samples are only available to paid subscribers, there’s still enough of a selection for free users to get started.

Overall, it’s easy to use, includes a lot of cool sounds, and it even lets you collaborate with other beatmakers and musicians.

BandLab is a great choice for beat makers for many reasons, but the main reason is its tool called Song Starter. This feature will create a loop of music for you using AI, and then you can then edit the different instruments in that loop.

On top of that, BandLab supports real-time collaboration with others and offers a robust library of sounds and editing tools, it’s a powerful and flexible platform for beat makers of all levels.

The number of plugins that could help you make beats is endless. So we’ve whittled it down to three plugins you should try because they make beatmaking fast, easy, and can lead to really cool results.

Omnisphere is a behemoth of synth sounds. It has over 14,00 sounds you can play with and even combine.

You can also integrate it with your hardware, making it easy to play the sounds with physical synths or your MIDI controller.

Serato Sample is a sampling plugin. This means it’s a piece of beat making software that lets you take a sound and manipulate it however you want to build a song around it.

It’s one of the go-to sample plugins for new and experienced beatmakers alike.

The V Collection is a batch of software instruments featuring everything from hybrid synths to keyboards to acoustic instruments.

If this collection is too pricey for your budget, you can get just certain elements from this collection for much less.