Time to start the production

[Lazy-Rich]

So, it's about time I got into this whole producing business, I've got a ton of ideas and my music genius room-mate has just arrived, so I want to throw some beats together and make some dirty house music.

I'm not on a super strict budget but obviously I'd like to keep it all as cheap as possible.

What do I need to get started?
Which software should I use?
Does anyone have any software I can skank off them (pm me)?

If anyones got any suggestions I would REALLY appreciate some help.

Cheers,

Rich.

[nabs]

put this in the Simply Music catergory, you may get a better response without ur thread being shat on.

[esoter1c]

http://www.torrentspy.com/torrent/65...eason_3_Serial

[Skitzo_Style]

good luck to you

[P.A.R.T.Y]

Production=sacrafice
You will be able to make a track using Reason 3, Fruity loops, etc.
But, dedication to this craft involves investment in musical equiptment such as: a soundcard, midi interface, mixer, preamp, analog synth, drummachine, compressor, fx, monitors, headphones, manuals, etc.
Electronica production is no different from producing any form of music. You recognize a good track you hear on the radio, because those individuals went to a lot of trouble to make their music sound top knotch. If you rush it by downloading Reason 3 and crank out a track, you may find a large community of people laughing at you.
What I've given you is a framework for success. The equiptment I've listed is essential to making a solid hard hitting track. You don't need to buy everything at once, I suggest picking up a sound card and midi interface first (M-audio, Edirol, Novation, Korg) Personally, I would pick-up a Roland Juno 106 and an Echo soundcard with a midi interface.
As for production software, you need something that records at a very high bit rate (24bit minimum) I suggest Cubase SX with appropriate vsts. Read the manual over and over until it becomes second nature. Learn the little shortcuts like the hot keys (eg. g and h = zoom in and zoom out) the function keys, and the mixer.
Lastly, you say you have the music in you. Music and art is its own reward. Don't expect to get famous doing this, this is a more for you than anyone else. Expression of the arts is achieved through sacrfice and dedication. Research proven methods of success, try to make good decisions and don't rush things. Good luck.

[-evil-duerr-]

Ableton Live - I've never had so much fun making music with my computer. It's an inspiring tool.

check out the sample videos http://www.ableton.com/movies

[b0ld]

its all about how you use your tools thats all.... I've heard AMAZING shit made in fruityloops..... reason.....ableton.....etc.... but then I've heard really shitty stuff.... it all comes down to your imagination... You'll spend hours on end figuring exactly what sounds right and what doesn't..... I am not going to mention the artist however many people know this person. But they have been using Reason 3.0 for the last little while and have been making a BIG name for themselves.... Got there shit cut on vinyl and such..... Nobody probably wouldn't of known that they use reason but again it comes to prove based on how you use your tools...

[Revolver]

good sounding "instant music" is very easy to come by nowadays.

ive been a cert. engineer for years with a few comercial credits under my belt, nothing major. im too involved in other things now...

one thing i can tell you when just starting out is READ READ READ READREAD. go out and buy all the magazines like futuermusic, mix, recording, computer music so on and so forth.

also, really truly focus on the shape of your sounds. focuss real hard and but delicate on mixing,eqing and mastering.

it is minxing and mastering wich really sets your material apart from amatures.

[r a m a z e]

you should start out with a cheap midii recommend (M-audio) and get fl studio work on that then upgrade to reason or just go reason all the way then get some good VST'S and your good to go.

[b0ld]

Originally Posted by r a m a z e

you should start out with a cheap midii recommend (M-audio) and get fl studio work on that then upgrade to reason or just go reason all the way then get some good VST'S and your good to go.

well some midi controllers keep in mind have different options and different characteristics.... I have the m-audio trigger finger... excellent piece of equipment, however I wouldn't go with there midi keyboards.... they don't feel solid enough. I have a Edirol pcr-m30 which does me well... Edirol is pretty much Rolands sub-company that produces midi equipment and other audio equipment for computers. They keys are nice and solid.... The pitch bend joy stick is also solid.... So if one is looking for a midi-keyboard I recommend Edirol or Alesis

[inside]

get ready to not have a life, and becoming very pale.

[tiedye]

I bang pots and pans together while playing the kazoo. Talent.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by inside

get ready to not having a life, and becoming very pale.

lol.....

[b0ld]

Originally Posted by P.A.R.T.Y

Lastly, you say you have the music in you. Music and art is its own reward. Don't expect to get famous doing this, this is a more for you than anyone else. Expression of the arts is achieved through sacrfice and dedication. Research proven methods of success, try to make good decisions and don't rush things. Good luck.

SOOOOO true.... this man knows his shit.... Personally myself I enjoy mainstream electronica which of course comprises to a 4/4 beat and what not... When it came to the start of producing I ended up getting this gear and realized "what do I want to do" It ended up coming to the point where I was producing something rather unique. Something that soothed my mind and soul which ended up being "experimental/idm/ambient/dark ambient" type stuff. But in my case I didn't really know what the hell I was producing although to me at the time it was some type of mystical odd sounds and what not. Thats until I ended up checking around some underground shows which had artists that produce the same type of stuff I do to which I was kinda amazed at the time. And since then after releasing some tracks and a 20 minute recording and what not I have been getting a mass amount of feedback and am being recognized by alot of people as well. So in my case, I ended up finding a genre that I ended up producing at first to which I really never knew had a name.... or a community.... its not like it was something I was forced upon or anything just because I may listen to mainstream electronica. So the way I put it is just be yourself...

[P.A.R.T.Y]

Thanks for the compliment. Music writes itself, if you feel it and you want to express it, then it comes through you.
I used to write music in my sleep, wake up and try to recreate the midi. My first song was roughly 10 minutes long and took me about 6 months to compose. I recorded it at a Fresh Studios (R.I.P) and I still enjoy listening to it today. To date, I've released nothing, I have half an album, it's good and it's mine.

[Skank Honto]

dont start with Reason. Reason is a headache and a half. the layout is confusing for a first timer and the sequencing blows, so you'll have to use other programs anyways.
I'd recommend Cubase as a starting block as the layout is very user friendly, and you can create top notch, fully professional sounding productions, and do it all within the program without much other software.
download lots of VST Instruments and get yourself a midi controller, and have fun.

as mentioned before, do some homework as well. there is a neat 3 part video tutorial for Cubase you can download off various torrent sites, and just reading through various online materials can go a far way.

I will also vouch for Ableton as many people I know really enjoy it, and if you are remixing other peoples beats its apparently 10x easier. I just havent made the jump as I only get so much time to spend in the studio and am not ready to spend that time trying to fix what isnt broken.

[whatitdo]

I agree with the above. Reason isnt the way to go.

Cubase and Live arent much harder to use but give you more headroom to grow with.

[jprime]

It's funny. People will suggest you get a whole slew of hardware, yet there are still unknown dudes pulling out bombs using a basic sequencer and a synth sound.

Just do it, and have fun.

[Séguin]

I agree with not using Reason. I still don't use it.
Soundforge for editing samples
Fruityloops for building/arranging the track
Cubase for leveling, EQing, finalising. And if you want to play live, adding your MIDI data for your synths.

Originally Posted by jprime

It's funny. People will suggest you get a whole slew of hardware, yet there are still unknown dudes pulling out bombs using a basic sequencer and a synth sound.

Just do it, and have fun.

So true! Especially in the dnb scene! A very large number of prominant dnb producers are running *mostly* all software. Concord Dawn even produced their early stuff (Morning Light, etc) in fruitly loops using 100% software.

Don't cheap out on the monitors. You need to be sure you're hearing the truth. Its all really a matter of preference. As far as mastering goes; however, hardware + mastering engineer all the way.

[dabbler]

a lot of DnB producers have at most a compressor or mixing board. no actual hardware synths, DEFINITELY no drum machines lol. i use logic, and only the basic plugins that come with logic, i've installed nothing extra in terms of synths or vst's. not that i'm making the best tunes ever, but they hold their own in terms of sound quality now. so hardware is definitely NOT necessary. its more important to know your gear inside and out than to have the most gear.

oh and reason sucks, don't use it.

[dabbler]

pps : get the best monitors you can afford.

[Séguin]

Originally Posted by dabbler

pps : get the best monitors you can afford.

and if you can't... finnance them!

or buy a good set of headphones

[Lazy-Rich]

well, found myself cubase, got a midi keyboard, got a sweet pair of headphones, and now just putting the finishing touches to my first track. Sure it's not gonna win any awards but I'm reasonably pleased with it for a first try. I'll post it up here in a day or two. Cheers for everyones advise...