Rhythm machines, sometimes called drum machines, are an essential part of techno music. A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument made to duplicate the sounds of drums and percussion instruments. You can program rhythm machines, though most come with a wide variety of preset drum patterns as well. Any sound on the machine can be used for any beat in the song, and the tempo can be altered from song to song. Programming can either be done in real time, or by using a process known as step-sequencing, where you can place different sounds, one at a time, within a 16-beat musical bar.
Synthesizers are used in techno music to create the melody of the song. Synthesizers make a variety of sounds, some of which are meant to sound like other instruments, by combining different frequencies and electrical signals. Most synthesizers are controlled by a keyboard like a piano, though there are some that are controlled by turning knobs and pushing buttons. The sounds produced by synthesizers can be altered with equalization and filters, making them very versatile. Usually, there is a small computer screen menu at the top of the synthesizer, allowing you to navigate through these present sounds, equalizers, filters and effects. There is almost no end to the sounds that you can make with a synthesizer. Some synthesizers also have built in rhythm machines.
Digital recording software and equipment plays a huge part in creating techno music. Programs like Pro Tools and Logic, allow you to record, edit and refine your music on your computer. Using these programs and their included hardware, you can layer different synthesizer sounds and rhythm machine beats to create full songs. These programs were also designed for mixing music, and they contain equalizers that will allow you to sculpt the tone of your sounds, as well as advanced recording tools like compressors, limiters and reverb. Once you have completed a song, you can take your multi-track mix and convert it to a variety of different file types, including MP3, so that you can begin to share and promote your music.