The Paradox of the Easy Beat Maker: Why Simplicity Breeds Complexity

The Rise of Easy Tools

Decades ago, the introduction of digital audio workstations (DAWs) democratized music production. The process was no longer only accessible to those with access to a professional recording studio. With DAWs like FL Studio, Ableton, or, in recent years, even free online DAWs, even beginners could start out as a beat maker from the comfort of their home.

Similarly, the rise of easy beat making tools for producers is now putting the art of sampling into the hands of beginning beat makers. With mobile apps such as Groovepad or Incredibox, and a wide range of options with instant loops and drag-and-drop magic, it’s easy to get new beats and ideas going.

But: where do they fall short? A lack of sample ownership, bad export quality, or no mobile-to-desktop features can bring the beatmaking workflow to a screeching halt. Let's highlight some of those features and how to shift from an easy beat maker to a great beat maker.

Ease of use ≠ shallow tools

Ease of use is a great feature to have. For a beginner beat maker, there’s no point in starting with a mobile beatmaking app that has a steep learning curve like, say, the mobile equivalent of Reason Propellerhead. So when it comes to the user experience (UX), accessibility, and having a starting point, ease of use is for sure a pro for beat making apps. However, that doesn't mean an easy tool is a shallow tool. But it's worth noting that the best apps to make beats take functionalities one step further—or even many steps further.

Features that matter

That’s why, when you’re looking for the best app to make beats, it’s good to focus on features and functionalities that matter to a professional beatmaking process. Think of tempo control, adding real samples, sample layering, export options in high-quality formats, and integrations that allow mobile-to-desktop synchronization to continue working on beats on desktop or in your DAW.

The right library for real ownership

Using built-in royalty-free sample tools, loops, or standardized sample packs is fun. But real sampling with real ownership brings music production to a pro level. That’s how TRACKLIB’s mobile beat maker app ties into the desktop catalog: it comes pre-loaded with the most complete sample catalog in the world. Ready to use, legal to release. That way, using the app brings great opportunities instead of being stuck in an easy beat maker without making it anywhere outside of that tool.

Quality over gimmicks

When looking for the best apps to make beats, keep your eyes peeled for intuitive user interfaces (UI). For example, a mobile tool like Koala Sampler is often hailed as one of the best apps for beatmaking because the developers “get” sampling. Their UI makes that very clear. Anyone can come up with gimmicks, which is nice and easy beat making for beginning producers. But real quality for beatmaking can only be developed by those who are deeply ingrained in the world of music.

Real samples, royalty clarity, DAW compatibility

When Madlib shared that he made all the beats for Bandana with Freddie Gibbs on an iPad, music producers and fans alike lost their minds. No wonder many beginning producers these days are looking for ways to make beats like Madlib. But the story doesn’t end there. With samples by The Sylvers, R.D. Burman, Patchbanks, Donny Hathaway, The Heliocentrics, James Brown, Wee, Frank Dukes, and many others, the sample clearance process for the album was long and tedious.

By using apps like TRACKLIB's mobile beat maker and/or desktop app, you avoid those risks as the tools come pre-loaded with a catalog full of pre-cleared samples. Ready for release. On top of that, as “easy” as Madlib’s use of the iPad sounds, it’s best to look for DAW compatibility. After all, creating beats on a smartphone or tablet is one thing, but the right mobile-to-desktop integration allows for drag-and-drop into your DAW to fully finalize a beat. Like we said before, it’s all about finishing up what you have started if you want to escape the pitfalls of an easy beat maker.