How is Digital Music made?

[Imagine]

Hi again folks, I have a question for the musicians among us! ;) I've searched for a while now, but can't find an answer, as I don't know where to start.

My question is "How is 'Digital Music' made?". I'm not too sure if it is Digital Music, but I think it is. I don't mean excellent songs, like those David Bedingfield made (not that his music is good (:p) but you get the idea), but ones accompanying Flash Movies.

I've taken a small selection of Flash movies, so you know the type of music (or tunes) I mean.
http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/37/
http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/47/
http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/46/

Also, how are parodies made? Do the people just play the tune from scratch using instruments, and then sing, while recording? The first question is more important, I'm just curious as to how parodies are made.

Thanks everybody, appreciate your help!

Imagine

[j2buttonsw]

The music is made the way all music is made. I guess he recorded it at home (most of it is electronic: drum machine, keyboards etc) and as such it is probably all done using midi. The only thing not electronic is the vocals which have to be recorded using traditional means (a microphone). You can do all this very easily using Cubase or an equivalent application. I don't know whether these are popular tracks but you can get various backing tracks from the net (like karaoke tracks). You can put your own vocal on top of well known songs if that's what you like. The music is saved as an mp3 then embedded into the flash film which loops over and over and over and over...

[Imagine]

So it can all be done using Cubase, except the voices? All the samples used for drums, bass, etc. can all be downloaded from the net? Excellent.

Except... Cubasis VST 3.0   - 1 New & Used from �229.99  .

That's a bit hefty seeing as I'm not sure I'll even be able to use it! :(

I've had a crack at 'Tracking' before using ModPlug Tracker, but I was absoloutely terrible at it, and the tunes are more techno-based I believe. Also, I've used eJay, which I was good at... but that's a different story altogether! ;)

If I payed a visit to somewhere like PC World, reckon I could find cheaper software there, to get me started? Better yet, do you know of a Freeware composer?

Thanks for the quick reply, I appreciate it.

Imagine

[Gandy]

If you are begining in midi be prepared to spend a lot of cash. You will need not only the software but also a midi keyboard (or controller).  You can get a cheap one for approx �50.  Although it will look like a keyboard it will not actually be able to generate any sounds on it's own.  For this you will need the software.  Before you splash out though, you need to make sure that you have the talent and time you need.  I would suggest that something like Dance Ejay 6 (approx �25) would be a good starting point for you.  It is fairly straight forward to use and pretty powerful for the price.

[Imagine]

Thank you for the reply Gandy. :)

Today is my lucky day!

I forgot to mention, in both posts funnily enough, that I have a keyboard! It's a Yamaha something. Luckily, my great Google skills led me to a page with the keyboard on: http://www.reidys.com/index.pl?submit=View_PLU&PLU=3741 .

MIDI is mentioned on here, and it even has a MIDI-OUT port!
I know it is possible to connect the PC and Keyboard together, by getting leads all costing around �40 , and I believe there is a converter allowing it to be connected to a USB Port. I think. ;)

Where would you recommend I go from here? Get those cables and read the instructions, or .. what? I'm fairly good on the Keyboard, which is, suprisingly, the reason I have one. ;)

Cheers,

Imagine