'Digital Music'

Digital music is a major player within the 21st century with almost everything that is being recorded being recorded using digital mediums, with the introduction of affordable high quality recording solutions home recording has particularly boomed in recent years.
In turn, this has also lead to the creation and development of affordable home recording software, such as 'Cubase Sequel 2' which not only allows the user to record their own music through the use of traditional instruments/an audio interface (such as a Line 6 UX2).
However, some of the software provides a range of loops for the user to 'drag and drop' within the software to allow them to create music through the use of pre recorded loops (see images below).

 

The main screen within Sequel 2, a simple layout with logically compiled listed categories of loops organised within the bottom 1/3 of the screen and the top 2/3 being dominated by the main production window and playback bar. The lists at the bottom of the screen can deduct all irellevant loops as you narrow down your search by selecting a category within each column, for example:

Selections

Piano, E.Piano, Classical, N/A , Bright.
Leaving the furthest most right column full of loops which fit all of the criteria selected making it incredibly easy to find the elements you feel your creation needs quickly and simply.

Once these loops have been selected they can then be 'dragged and dropped' onto the table and mixed with other loops, in the image above the purple band is the repeated drum riff with the magenta bands showing the Synth pad loops which have also been introduced. This simple set up allows for a song to be created in minutes. 

Alongside this, with the addition of a MIDI keyboard/controller, Sequel 2 takes on another role allowing the user to use the built in MIDI instruments to further enhance their recordings. This MIDI capability also allows for MIDI controller to be assigned certain loops/samples to the pads on the controller, allowing a sound to be played each time a pad is pressed. 

(Image Source)

(www.gak.co.uk)

Above is an example of a simple MIDI control pad, featuring 16 velocity sensitive pads and a single fader.