Making Music. What do i need?

[DubluW]

Hi guys.

Ive been mixing music for about a year now, and im interested in making my own.

The thing is, as it was when i first started DJ'ing, ive no clue where to start. Loads of different software and wacky stuff out there, but ive no clue as to what any of it does!


What do i need to get started in making my own beats, or whats considered a good platform to start on to get an idea of what does what, and where to go next?

[elliot1106]

http://www.ableton.com/free-trial

[kimozaki]

Hi guys.

Ive been mixing music for about a year now, and im interested in making my own.

The thing is, as it was when i first started DJ'ing, ive no clue where to start. Loads of different software and wacky stuff out there, but ive no clue as to what any of it does!


What do i need to get started in making my own beats, or whats considered a good platform to start on to get an idea of what does what, and where to go next?

It's the best time to start making music. It's cheaper, software is more accessible and easy to sell.

First learn the industry standard applications Ableton (download a free trial here) or Logic Pro (Mac only). Just learn how to use the application.
You might need a low fidelity audio interface (an external sound card). However I think your PC or Mac laptop's internal soundcard will do while starting out.

Seriously that's all you need now to start learning. Build slowly and when you are ready for a bigger step, invest in gear and education.
Hope this helps!

[DubluW]

Excellent, cheers chaps. Got a long flight to Canada tomorrow, so Ableton will keep me occupied!

[wannabemusician]

Would you guys consider Alberton to be the easiest?

[mostapha]

There isn't really an easiest. Some just work better/worse with the way people think.

I feel like Ableton makes me jump through ridiculous hoops to do very basic things, and I hate the GUI. But I'm obviously in a very small minority on that one.

As always, the best way to do it is to look at everything and pick the one that appeals to you most. There are some differences in capabilities, but they don't really matter that much…especially if you're just starting out.

If you have a modern computer and want to use it, I think you should look at:

• Ableton Live
• NI Maschine (will work just fine on its own but kind of needs another DAW to really stand out)
• Propellerheads Reason
• Apple Logic (Mac only)
• Steinberg Cubase
• Presonus Studio One 2 (basically the same thing as Cubase with a different skin and marketed by a different company)
• Avid Pro Tools
• MOTU Digital Performer
• Reaper
• FL Studio (windows only)
• Cakewalk Sonar (windows only)

They all have people that love them, and they all have people that hate them.

They all should come with some instruments, or at least they're available in packages that do, and they're great to start learning composition, arrangement, and synth programming while you figure out what other instruments/tools/etc. might help. Pro Tools probably gets the short end of the stick in that regard: you get a crappy drum machine, a piano, one subtractive synth, and a demo version of something else that I don't like.

Processing plugins are the same way. The EQs, Compressors, effects, etc. in all of them are very usable. Personally, I feel like Pro Tools and Logic offer the most in that department.

I've settled on Maschine + Pro Tools as being the best compromise (between functionality, portability, and cost) for the way I work, but I'd love to slowly migrate towards mostly hardware.

And as far as choosing between them…you could go the normal electronic musician route for the last few years and try out Live and Reason and not bother with anything else…or I'd suggest watching tutorial videos for everything and picking the one that seems like it'd make the most sense.

Once you pick one…read the damn manual and start watching more tutorial videos. Then stop worrying and make some music.