The Gear

• To produce electronic music, you should have the gear to do the job. This means composition or sequencer software, audio production software and mics--or at least a trackable tape device. Propellerhead makes a great composition production software bundle in its Reason & Record combo. This bundle offers user-friendly interface recording tracks, sequencing, or mastering. It runs efficiently on low-power computers, as well as priced for a budget. Likewise, Cakewalk's Sonar 7, although not as flexible, is a mid-priced option with lots of audio recording muscle. Protools is currently the industry standard in production software. Although pricey, there is nothing this software can't do from audio tracking, track effects, mixing and mastering at top-shelf quality.
  
  

Market

• Know your market. To produce electronic music, you need to listen to it and become knowledgeable. Electronica is a fad-hungry style, so it changes quickly. It is important to be able to spot trends and to anticipate changes. Research venues will allow you to play your electronic music and study people's reactions to it. This will give you the best gauge of current market trends.
  
  

Originality

• Know your sound. In a genre where there is so many copycats, it is paramount that your find a unique style that can be clearly attributed to you. Producers often have "pet" licks that identify them, like a signature on a painting. This could be a beat style, or a specific sounds or even a repetitive lyric. Whatever your calling card is, be sure to incorporate it in a stylish and natural way so it penetrates the music without feeling manipulated.
  
  

Theme

• Finding a theme in the music is the most popular way to produce a popular hook. For example, variation on the theme "Twinkle, twinkle little star." Anything that is known to over 90 percent of the public will be a recognizable hook. This will allow the audience to engage and interact with the music immediately.
  
  

Mixing

• Mixing is an important part of producing electronica. These songs play in clubs primarily for dancing, so emphasis must be focused on the bass drum. It has to be huge and felt in the chest of the listeners. Be sure to record the bass drum track separate from the other tracks. Use a good compressor dialed at about -2db on the bass drum track. Use another compressor on the main board at 0db. EQ the mids out until it doesn't sound muddy and try adding just a bit of reverb to your liking. Mix everything else just underneath. Save your master mix with an overall +4db to make the song jump in the speakers.