music production help

[deejayf8]

currently mix on turntables but am looking to get into music production. What software would you suggest to start making my own electronic beats? thnx

[Nick]

Reason 4.0
Cubase 4
Ableton Live 6 (they are coming out with 7 shortly)
FL Studio

Be sure to get a MIDI controller too.

[RS4]

wrong forum guy

and all those programs Nick listed suck hard.

all you need is a rubberband and 6 toothpicks and you should be set.

[Nick]

Well, the rubberhand and toothpicks come first. Of course.


The others come further down the road.

[Drew]

moved to proper forum

and i would recommend protools if you have a pc, or logic studio if you have a mac

cubase sx is also good, and ableton live is a must.

[Josh Max]

Before anything you'll need a decent audio interface. You don't want to use your stock soundcard for music creation. There are alot out there now from $150 to $5000. Check out MOTU, M-Audio, Alesis, Presonus, T.C. Electronic, Mackie, Focusrite, Apogee.

A midi controller a must, unless you like playing chords with your qwerty. The Axiom controllers by M-Audio are cool. Their cheap, they have knobs, sliders, buttons, keys, and even drum pads.

For a sequencer program I'd definitely say Logic Studio if you own a Mac. If not, go buy a Mac so you can use Logic. Okay, if that's out of the question definitely go with Reason, or Ableton live. The new version of Reason is supposed to be a powerhouse. It comes with way more music creation tools and instruments than Ableton Live does. I do like them both though. At least one of these three programs is what you'll want if your making mostly midi based "electronica".

Protools is the Devil. treat it like you would an STD.

Also make sure your computer is up to par. Audio loves ram and cpu power.

[A.D]

mud, what audio controller do you use for your mbp? and if it's higher end...what would be a good introduction tool?

[DJ Namaste]

Before anything you'll need a decent audio interface. You don't want to use your stock soundcard for music creation. There are alot out there now from $150 to $5000. Check out MOTU, M-Audio, Alesis, Presonus, T.C. Electronic, Mackie, Focusrite, Apogee.

A midi controller a must, unless you like playing chords with your qwerty. The Axiom controllers by M-Audio are cool. Their cheap, they have knobs, sliders, buttons, keys, and even drum pads.

For a sequencer program I'd definitely say Logic Studio if you own a Mac. If not, go buy a Mac so you can use Logic. Okay, if that's out of the question definitely go with Reason, or Ableton live. The new version of Reason is supposed to be a powerhouse. It comes with way more music creation tools and instruments than Ableton Live does. I do like them both though. At least one of these three programs is what you'll want if your making mostly midi based "electronica".

Protools is the Devil. treat it like you would an STD.

Also make sure your computer is up to par. Audio loves ram and cpu power.

CPU - Ableton needs a ton! I am kinda at a stand still with Ableton 6 and 1 gig ram. I need more power. Ableton 7 (beta at least) is even more power hungry.

Reason is very good with CPU. Works with Mac and PC, and teaches the basics of synthesis. It also makes a great rewire slave. I would start wtih Reason.

Sound card... I would say learn the program first and mess around a lot with it before you worry about the quality of sound. Figure out how to navigate the system first.