What Do I Need?

[sicksex6]

Ok. So I apologize if this is somehow the wrong thing to do and at the wrong place. But here goes....

I love industrial music and darker club stuff. Im sick of only listening now I want to make it.

I have 0 idea of what I need to get started. An inspirational song id like to style myself after would be Razed in Black Oh My Goth or Lust by Rib also.

Thanks for any help.

[sicksex6]

Thanks for putting this in the right place. I had no idea where to ask.

Didn't want to cause problems. Just asking so I can learn.

[grazz16]

Well, your first step is to choose a DAW (digital audio workstation) the 2 most popular being Ableton and Logic. Ableton Suite has a free month trial period, if you have a Mac you already have Garage Band which is essentially Logic "light" but i dont think u can get a free trial of Logic, someone correct me on that if im wrong. Play around with both if u can find them and see which u like better. I'd probably recommend Logic or Garage Band as it is waaaaay more user friendly for n00bs. Even though i use Ableton myself now when i was in your shoes i started out playing around with Garage Band on my Mac and was producing full songs in no time. Are they gonna be pro quality sounding? No, but you need to start somewhere. Actually, oddly enough, right now im working on converting one of the songs i did in Garage band 3 years ago to an Ableton track, song was killer but the quality just wasn't pro sounding. Ableton has a massive learning curve, it's extremely versatile but you really need to know your shit to use it effectively, that or you will be doing a ton of reading/youtube video watching, although if u have the patience and dedication its prob worth it to jump right in.

The other thing you may want to consider is price. Ableton Suite is like $900, Logic is like $300. Both are significant investments imo, depending on your financial situation, but i'd say few have that kind of money to spend on a DAW only to get frustrated and give up on it a week later. So go the free route for now and if you are throughly discouraged after trying them out (its a lot harder than u may think) report back here for the next steps.

[mostapha]

There are a million ways to skin that cat, and people are probably going to list what they use. In that vein, I use Maschine and Pro Tools…I've used a lot of stuff (Reason, Ableton Live, Logic, Renoise, Ardour, etc.) and that's what seems to work the best for me……but I'm in the minority making dance music with Pro Tools.

My honest suggestion is to start reading as much as you can, watching reviews, watching/reading tutorials……and then go with your gut. If you make a bad decision, you can always correct it later.

And don't buy stuff just to have it. Don't play keyboard and don't intend to learn? A MIDI keyboard is probably not the best investment. Don't have a good room? Studio Monitors are probably overkill compared to good headphones……at least until you know what you're doing and that you're going to stick with it. Don't plan on recording any instruments? No need to care about mic preamps or expensive sound cards……at least for a while.

[WastedYouth]

Try out some programs, but read the manuals or watch some toturials.
Sounds bloody lame but it's the truth.

[ThinkAboutIt]

Just start from somewhere if you're dedicated enough everything's gonna be fine. Start right now

[davodavidson]

There are a million ways to skin that cat, and people are probably going to list what they use. In that vein, I use Maschine and Pro Tools…I've used a lot of stuff (Reason, Ableton Live, Logic, Renoise, Ardour, etc.) and that's what seems to work the best for me……but I'm in the minority making dance music with Pro Tools.

My honest suggestion is to start reading as much as you can, watching reviews, watching/reading tutorials……and then go with your gut. If you make a bad decision, you can always correct it later.

And don't buy stuff just to have it. Don't play keyboard and don't intend to learn? A MIDI keyboard is probably not the best investment. Don't have a good room? Studio Monitors are probably overkill compared to good headphones……at least until you know what you're doing and that you're going to stick with it. Don't plan on recording any instruments? No need to care about mic preamps or expensive sound cards……at least for a while.

These are all very good points. There is only one which I will say something about. The Midi Keyboard statement. I am a guitarist and always have been. I do not know piano nor do I intend to learn. But buying a Midi Keyboard is one of the better investments I have made. You can control your entire vst library, many DAW's also have control mapping for most brands. There are many other uses for Midi Keyboards. My recording equipment started with a laptop with reason and a midi keyboard. I think for a beginner that is where you want to start and then build from there.

[mostapha]

That's legit. Personally, I like noodling on my guitar better……or the "keyboard" mode on my Maschine. But to each his own.

[Razzlesnaz]

Pretty sure you can get a ton of free starter software from any edition of Computer Music and the included DVD. That is a great way to get started with minimal investment. Not to mention a ton of useful reviews on every aspect of making music with a computer.

[MrDreadmonkey]

->Buy a music programm like (ableton live!)
->Dowload or buy Samples
->Watch tutorials they are pretty boring... but you will lern alot out of it if your not too lazy
->Get your Motivation ( watch Producer videos like Mysto and pizzy) or
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->Practice Practice Practice
->Buy Vst plugins to get more better and qualitative sounds (i prefer Sylenth, Massive, Omisphere)
->Buy Midikeyboard (i prefer Novation (http://de.novationmusic.com/midi-controllers/sl-mkii)) its more fun and an easy to make musik .
->Practice Practice Practice
->Buy good Speekers to hear the quality of your songs. ( i prefer (http://de.yamaha.com/de/products/pro...s/?mode=series))
->Cooperate with other musicans to lern from each other
->Practice Practice Practice
->Stay motivated, inspirated, practice alot!

Thats what i did, doing at the moment. That helped me out

You check out my Youtube chanel : MrDreadmonkey

HF!