So something got messed up in my high school schedule and I have to spend 3 hours in the library so this definitely gives me time to get some work done there. I have my laptop, about to get sennheiser hd-25s but my vci100, despite being very portable, is wayyy too much hardware for just chillin in the library practicing.
So I what I was thinking was an lpd8 since it’s really small and I won’t look like a tool. Ideally I would want control of cue points 1-8 for all 4 decks, something to help with looping, filter knobs, and something for just quick effects.
My idea is mapping my computer keyboard for cue’s 1-8, using the 1,Q,A,Z rows, assigning a few buttons to toggle effects on & off (I only use reverb and delay), something for play/pause and maybe sync, then set up the lpd8 to handle looping controls and filters.
Does this seem like a logical approach? Is there some knob/button I’m missing? I would love to have a crossfade/vol. fade but then that’s basically a controller and I can do with just xfading/adjusting volume with my mouse.
Should I go after this or would I just look like a tool? I would do homework but I only get so much of it and without any cell service/internet/twitter, there’s not much else I can occupy myself with.
P.S. does the lpd8 make clicky noises when you press the pads?
On a side note I had downloaded a pirated version of ableton 7 on a computer in my 4th period government class back in highschool. That was an interesting semester Fortunately i’m now a proud owner of live 8.
Hmm, I really want to make nice sounding mashups so ableton would definitely be key there but looking at pictures of the interface on youtube and google it just seems like a very daunting task; I wouldn’t know where to even start as there is so much to do.
But it seems like music production would probably be the best way for me to get my name around given I do a mashup with some popular rap track. Which… (begin rant)
…is the problem with my location/demographic. I don’t enjoy mixing rap nor do I have enough knowledge to spit out tunes that people really like but maybe have never heard of. Hopefully that changes when I go to the university next year, because I really enjoy mixing progressive house, electro and even moombahton (though it’s more difficult to mix). Anyone who is around the high school/college age have this trouble? Sorry for the rant.
But an lpd8 + nano kontrol would seem like a pretty sick setup given it’d be less than $70. Is there a really nice pdf/series of videos that you guys use or know of out there that outlines/tutorials ableton?
Yeah ableton is stupidly complex and powerful but there’s a tutorial out there for almost anything you’re trying to do, all it takes is time which is something you have.
As far as the challange of local musical tastes, your first assignment should be to make some remixes and mashups that combine what other people know and like with what you think is fresh. Do that successfully and you WILL get noticed.
This is the most untrue statement I’ve read, in college you will have infinitely more time, I was way more tied down in HS with sports and school itself.
*Relatively untrue, you should say. Mind you, I did say “chances are”. I used to devote an hour outside outside of class daily in highschool, if that. I can’t really get away with that now in college between homework, work, random tasks, and volunteer work related to my major. I guess you’re just really lucky. My freshman year of college was the most stressful and depressing time of my life.
Hopefully I’ll have extra time in college! But I just started using FL Studios yesterday and I really like it. Ableton was just too complicated for me and all I’m interested in making at this point is mashups which I can do pretty easily in FL10.
Thanks for the producing tip! I have so many ideas right now it’ll surely keep me busy for a LONG time.
Well i was gonna say get a launchpad and you could do wtf ever you wanted with ableton in a library. But you chose FL, which isn’t a bad choice. Thats what i started on, but eventually moved to Ableton. Good luck!
P.S. keep an eye out for Bitwig, that stuff looks tasty
good times, good times…
Fortunately i’m now a proud owner of live 8.