Beatmaker’s Glossary

Welcome to the ultimate Beatmaker’s Glossary, your go-to resource for understanding the key technical terms and tools that every music producer needs in their arsenal. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned beatmaker, this guide will help you navigate the complex world of music production with ease. Each entry in this glossary not only defines a crucial term but also provides you with a free VSTi (Virtual Studio Technology Instrument) that you can download and start using right away. Additionally, we’ve included tips on how to effectively use each plugin to enhance your productions. By the end of this article, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the essential components of beatmaking, along with a robust collection of tools to bring your creative visions to life.

A

Automation: Automation is a built-in feature in most DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), so there is no dedicated VSTi. You can automate the parameters of any VSTi, such as filters or volume, directly within your DAW.

B

BPM (Beats Per Minute): BPM is a measurement and does not have a dedicated VSTi. However, to adjust the tempo, you can use HY-SEQ16x3, a free step sequencer. It allows you to create rhythmic sequences that follow the project’s tempo.

How to use: Load HY-SEQ16x3 in your DAW and set it to control another virtual instrument. Adjust the steps to create rhythms that sync with your project’s BPM.

C

Compression: TDR Kotelnikov is a high-quality free stereo compressor.

How to use: Insert TDR Kotelnikov on an audio track or bus. Adjust the threshold to determine when the compressor should start working, then use the ratio to control the amount of compression applied.

D

Delay: Valhalla Supermassive is a free delay/reverb plugin that offers spectacular echoes.

How to use: Insert Valhalla Supermassive on an audio track. Choose a preset or manually adjust the delay time and feedback to create echoes that enrich your sound.

E

EQ (Equalizer): MEqualizer (by MeldaProduction) is a free parametric equalizer.

How to use: Load MEqualizer on a track and adjust the frequency bands to cut or boost certain parts of the audio spectrum, helping shape the sound to better fit into the mix.

F

Fade: Fade is a function built into most DAWs, but for advanced control, Blue Cat’s Gain Suite is a free plugin that allows precise volume control.

How to use: Use Blue Cat’s Gain Suite to create detailed volume automations, applying fade-ins or fade-outs to a specific track.

G

Granular Synthesis: Aparillo (demo version) – Although it’s a demo, Aparillo allows you to explore granular synthesis with limited features.

How to use: Load Aparillo on a MIDI track, experiment with different presets to understand granulation, then tweak the grain parameters to create unique sound textures.

H

Harmonizer: MAutoPitch (by MeldaProduction) is a free plugin that offers pitch-shifting and harmonization functions.

How to use: Load MAutoPitch on a vocal or instrumental track. Adjust the settings to create harmonies that add extra layers to your sound.

I

Imaging (Stereo): Ozone Imager (by iZotope) is a free tool for stereo imaging.

How to use: Insert Ozone Imager on your master track or an individual track to widen or narrow the stereo field of your mix. Use it to position sound elements precisely in the stereo space.

J

Jitter: Smartelectronix KTGranulator is a free granulator that can introduce random timing variations, simulating jitter effects.

K

Kick: A kick is a fundamental sound in beatmaking, often part of a drum kit. For creating powerful kicks, you can use Synsonic BD-808, a free plugin that emulates the classic 808 bass drum.

How to use: Load Synsonic BD-808 on a MIDI track, and use MIDI notes to trigger the kick sounds. Adjust the parameters to shape the kick’s tone and punch to fit your track.

L

Limiter: LoudMax is a free limiter plugin that prevents audio signals from exceeding a certain level, avoiding distortion.

How to use: Insert LoudMax on your master track or any track that needs volume control. Set the threshold to the desired maximum output level, ensuring no peaks exceed this limit.

M

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface): Plogue Sforzando is a free, highly efficient SFZ player for MIDI files.

How to use: Load Sforzando into your DAW, import an SFZ file or MIDI data, and assign it to a track to play different virtual instruments via MIDI.

N

Noise: TAL-NoiseMaker is a free synthesizer that generates noise and other sound textures.

How to use: Load TAL-NoiseMaker on a track, select a noise preset, and adjust the filter and envelope settings to shape the noise to your liking.

O

Overdrive: Softube Saturation Knob is a free plugin that simulates overdrive, adding warmth and grit to your sounds.

How to use: Insert the Saturation Knob on a track, and turn the knob to increase the amount of saturation and overdrive applied to the sound. Choose between the different modes (Keep High, Neutral, Keep Low) to focus the effect on specific frequencies.

P

Panoramique (Pan): Acon Digital Multiply is a free chorus effect plugin that also allows for stereo widening, which can be useful for creating panning effects.

How to use: Load Multiply on a track, and use the stereo widening feature to pan the sound across the stereo field. This helps create a sense of space and directionality in your mix.

Q

Quantization: Quantization is typically a feature of your DAW, so there isn’t a dedicated VSTi. However, you can enhance MIDI timing with Cales, a free plugin that helps you constrain notes to a specific scale, effectively assisting with quantization in a musical context.

How to use: Load Cales on a MIDI track, and set the scale you want to use. As you play or input MIDI notes, Cales will snap them to the correct scale, ensuring they stay in key.

R

Reverb: OrilRiver is a free, high-quality reverb plugin that adds depth and atmosphere to your sounds.

How to use: Insert OrilRiver on a track or bus, and choose a reverb preset or customize the room size, decay, and other parameters to achieve the desired reverberation effect.

S

Sidechain: Xfer OTT is a free multiband compressor that can be used for sidechain compression, especially in electronic music.

How to use: Insert OTT on a bass or synth track, and set it to be sidechained to a kick drum track. Adjust the compression settings to create the pumping effect typical of sidechain compression.

T

Threshold: TDR Nova is a free dynamic equalizer that allows you to set thresholds for EQ bands, combining EQ and compression in one tool.

How to use: Load TDR Nova on a track, and set thresholds for specific frequency bands. This lets you apply compression only when certain frequencies exceed a set level, perfect for dynamic sound shaping.

U

Unison: Shortcircuit is a free sampler that supports unison mode, which can be used to thicken sounds by playing multiple voices at once.

How to use: Load a sample in Shortcircuit, enable unison mode, and adjust the number of voices to create a richer, fuller sound.

V

Velocity: MIDI Velocity Tool is a free plugin that allows you to control and adjust the velocity sensitivity of your MIDI instruments.

How to use: Load MIDI Velocity Tool on a MIDI track, and adjust the velocity curve to ensure that your MIDI input responds exactly how you want it to, making it easier to control dynamics.

W

Wavetable: Surge is a free, open-source synthesizer that includes wavetable oscillators.

How to use: Load Surge on a track, select a wavetable oscillator, and experiment with the waveforms and modulation options to create evolving sounds.

X

XLR: XLR is a type of connector and doesn’t have a corresponding VSTi. However, you can use Blue Cat’s Gain Suite to simulate the gain staging that you might adjust with XLR-connected devices.

How to use: Use Blue Cat’s Gain Suite to control the gain structure of your audio tracks, mimicking how you would adjust the input gain on a physical mixer connected via XLR.

Y

Yoke: MIDI-OX is a free MIDI utility that can function as a virtual MIDI yoke, routing MIDI data between applications.

How to use: Set up MIDI-OX to route MIDI signals from one application or device to another, allowing you to control multiple MIDI instruments or DAWs simultaneously.

Z

Z-plane filter: OB-Xd is a free virtual analog synthesizer that includes advanced filter options, including z-plane filtering.

How to use: Load OB-Xd on a track, and experiment with the filter settings to create smooth transitions and complex filtering effects within your sound design.

In conclusion, mastering the technical aspects of beatmaking is essential for any producer looking to elevate their music. This glossary has provided you with not only the definitions of key terms but also practical tools in the form of free VSTi plugins that you can integrate into your workflow. By exploring these resources and applying the techniques discussed, you’ll be well-equipped to craft professional-sounding beats and expand your creative possibilities. Keep experimenting, learning, and pushing the boundaries of your production skills. With the right knowledge and tools at your disposal, the sky’s the limit for what you can achieve in your music-making journey.