Download a free digital audio program for multi-tracking. You can create professional beats using free and open source software such as Audacity, Traverso DAW, Ardour, Qtractor and a variety of other programs.
Download free audio loops to include in your beats. Audio loops are pre-recorded music and instrument samples, usually available for commercial use, that you can incorporate into your beats and edit together for complete, original mixes. A variety of websites offer archives of free audio loops, including Loopasonic and Flash Kit. Download loops that fit your style of music. For instance, a techno artist would want plenty of synthesized bass and percussion loops, while a hip-hop artist might want urban-style drum patterns and catchy keyboard sequences.
Open your digital audio program and choose a tempo, or speed, for your beat. Your "Tempo" indicator should appear on your program's main browser or in your "Options" or "Preferences." A typical slow jam will fall between 90 and 105 beats per minute, while a really fast beat will fall between 140 and 165 bpm.
Begin placing your audio loops into your mix by dragging the files from your hard drive directly onto the project window of your digital audio program. Place a different loop on each track, and align your loops so that they appear directly on top of another. If you do not know what an audio track looks like, just look for the long, stacked horizontal work spaces that span across the project window, often indicated by names like "Track 1" or "Audio Track 3." Think of them as layers, each of which holds a different piece of your beat, such as drum, bass, keyboards, and effects.
Add your own instruments. If you own keyboards, guitars or other instruments, you can add a personal touch to your beats by plugging the instruments into your computer and recording your own riffs and sequences. If you do not have cables for plugging in your instruments, you can also record using your computer microphone, but the recording will sound less professional. To record, just select a blank track on your mixer and click the "Record" button. Then record your new sequence while your beat plays in real time. Click the "Record" button a second time when you finish recording.
Edit your tracks. Now that you have mixed different parts of your beat, you can add effects like reverb, echo and various audio filters.Different programs offer different effects, but your options should appear directly on the mixer and in your menu bar, under "Effects," "Tools" or "Options." Experiment with different effects on each track to get the best mix possible.
Save your beat. If you do not see a "Save" button on your mixer, click "File" on the menu bar and select "Save" from the drop down menu.