4 Steps to Getting Started in Sound Design

We would all love to make original music with new and exciting sounds, but creating your own unique sounds can sometimes feeling daunting. As a beginner, Maybe you have vague ideas about the kind of sounds you want to create, but don’t know exactly how to execute those ideas. In this article I want to provide you with the necessary steps to getting started in sound design so that your music can sound unique and interesting.

Step 1: Find a Genre You Like

Maybe you’re thinking “But I want my music to sound unique and not be bound by any particular genre.” That’s great, but not a realistic proposition as a beginner sound designer. Realistically, we all need some sort of reference to get started. The reason this step is so important is because it will narrow down the types of sounds you will focus on. Rather than trying to re-create every sound out there, you can narrow it down to 20, 30, 50, 100 different sounds and I guarantee you that will be more than enough to get you started. Even the best artists in the world have a bank of presets and samples they like to use. Therefore, choosing a genre will help you create the sounds you enjoy the most and won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Step 2: Find Presets That You Like

Sometimes finding presets in your genre may not be an easy task, but you’d be surprised how much is out there. Everybody and their mother is releasing some kind of preset pack, so you’re bound to find something that aligns with the genre you want to create. As a beginner, do not spend too much money on preset packs, but keep track of the ones you like. This will give you an even better idea of what you want to create. Most importantly, this will lead you into the final step; copying presets.

Step 3: Learn the Basics

You won’t get anywhere in sound design without knowing the basics. Learn about different Oscillators, wavetables, ADSR, LFOs, filters, etc. If you don’t know the difference between a basic saw wave and a sine wave, or the effect of a low pass filter, then you won’t get far into sound design and electronic music production in general. I suggest starting with my “Sound Design Basics” playlist. If you have questions or comments then feel free to ask!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD204QLYick&list=PLzZvSOlkA6sXF4orgB6bM1RdYSrpuY7m4

Step 4: Learn to Copy Presets

Now this may sound like stealing, but if you’re copying presets for the sake of learning or using them yourself it’s fine. Don’t steal work then try to sell it as your own, but learning how to re-produce presets is an important part of sound design. Learn what makes them unique, along with the basics of how they work. Analyze the filters, the oscillators, ADSR, LFOs, the effects, etc. By learning more about presets, you’ll learn what makes them sound the way they do and will help you create your own later on.

Follow these 4 basic steps and I guarantee this will get you well on your way towards your goals. Remember, it’s important not to try and cut corners, the more work you put into at the beginning, the easier it will be later on.