FAQs

I can’t read or write music. Does that matter?

Absolutely not. Within the DAW itself you can create and position each note, whilst choosing the length and volume of each note or section. It is simple and intuitive to learn, and this process does not require knowledge of traditional musical notation or theory.

I can’t play an instrument. Does that matter?

Not at all. Sample libraries exist in part for this very reason. The minimum requirements to write music on your PC or Mac are a mouse and computer keyboard. You can buy additional accessories such as a midi-keyboard if you would prefer to “play” in a more traditional manner, and this probably suits those more without mobility issues.

What are my expected costs?

We believe cost and complexity should not be an up-front barrier to getting started. All DAW and sample libraries recommended by us are free and there are no hidden costs. Waveform is a great free DAW for Windows or Mac users. If you are a Mac user, we recommend the free trial of Logic Pro.

For sample libraries, the BBC Symphony Orchestra Discovery, selective LABS libraries and Kontact (amongst others) are all available for free. If you have the budget, we can advise on more expensive but cost effective options. For example, you may wish to consider upgrading headphones or speakers, or purchasing an external hard drive if hard drive space is a limiting factor. We can also discuss the cost of paid sample libraries, which usually come with better sound quality and a greater variety of instruments and synths.

What software and samples do I need, and how can I trust this is safe?

rwxMusic only recommends software and sample libraries from reputable companies. We do not make DAW software or instrumental sample libraries and do not receive commission on paid sample libraries we recommend.

I have disabilities, can I learn to make my own music?

Absolutely. That was how rwxMusic came into being and why we promote this way of making music - anyone can do it. We use DAW and sampling to write music despite not being able to physically play an instrument due to disability. If you want to physically play an adapted instrument, Drake Music may be a better option for you.

What other practical benefits are there?

You can input notes at whatever speed you want. When you play the track back, the tempo or beats per minute is set within the software itself.

You can save your work at any time and start up where you left off!

It might sound laborious creating a piece a note at a time, but there are loads of shortcuts and tips that help to make this faster. For example, if you create a piece with two different instruments that play the same notes, you can simply copy and paste the notes from one instrument to another.

You have no musical qualifications. Why can we trust you?

rwxMusic has nearly two decades of personal experience using digital audio workstations and use sample libraries spanning orchestral, synth, percussion, ethnic, choir, rock and electonics. Demo tracks can be found here and the channel will add a wider body of content in the future.

rwxMusic was formed because Leon was able to write his own music despite being unable to play an instrument, and knows first hand how this technology and approach can revolutionise musical opportunities for many underrepresented groups.

We aim to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible so individuals can have fun, develop their own musical skills and experience the benefits for themselves.

What computer specifications do I need?

We recommend computers have at least 10GB of storage space for software and the free sample libraries, and 8GB of RAM.

We want to learn how to record live music. Can you help?

Unfortunately, not. We have no experience in any aspect of live recording.