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because of my biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig love for music..
What would I need to get started?
Started by Guest · 15 posts · 168 views · this thread in the Internet Archive
Cithan7 Oct 2003, 18:53 ok, like this: because of my biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig love for this music, I was thinking of starting to make some of ma own.... hrmhrm..... but u c i kinda need ur help, could tell me exactly what i would need, both hardware and software, that is..... and also tips of for example programs.... wow now u probably think; "what kind of loser is this", but hey dont blame me, blame my environment.... eh well... hmm.. that sounded a bit odd did it not ? :huh:DjDaed7 Oct 2003, 21:04 Are you trying for an all hardware, or all software setup, or a mix of both?TranceSynthVania7 Oct 2003, 21:17 hmm, maybe we should make some kind'a tutorial on these forums with a sticked topic saying "How to make trance music" or something like that, so we wouldn't have to explain it every time.. hehe. :rolleyes:
But anyways, since I'm the first to reply to you now, I'm not gonna suggest FruityLoops or Reason, no matter how much you have heard about them.
Go to Steinbergs homepage and check out Cubase SL. This program should be great for you, tho it might take some time to learn it... But I don't think it's really easier with Reason or FruityLoops, they're just different.. so if you start with Cubase SL, you should have more than enough to play with some time forward. I'm just warning you tho... careless of which program you choose, you should really read the manual. It is no good coming here asking "how does this program work?" It's simply too much to explain.
Along with Cubase SL I suggest you get some kind of VST (software) sampler or drummachine. I also suggest you invest in a good soundcard. on www.m-audio.com you can have a look at some good and not too expensive cards. And make sure your speakers are good! You don't need studio monitors at first, but at least don't use some small computer speakers without a sub!
that should be enough to make some good quality music... then it's just to learn it and to get some experience in music making. :whistle:Trancefuzion7 Oct 2003, 21:21 Can I blame you for asking this question? No. Not at all. In fact I've seen this question quite a number of times since I've been on the t[]c forums.
First off let me tell you, don't get cheap software like eJay or ACID (the loop kind not ACID Pro 4). That lacks your originality because it runs off premade loops.
Sound Card:
Obviously you're going to need a soundcard. I would say unless you dont have audio ins on your card (which is rare now) that you need a new professional one. But if you've got loads of money to spend I'd recommend either M-Audio or Creamware sound cards.
Hardware:
As far as hardware you have so many choices that I can't even begin to go into that. I would recommend to begin with just to start off with some softsynths which I will explain more about that below. However if you like to play your melodies into the computer I would first recommend getting just a simple 1x1 (1 in 1 out) midi interface and a simple MIDI controller. The M-Audio Oxygen 8 is great for this. I have a Yamaha PSR-282 which I use for my MIDI controlling and a few of its sounds.
Speakers:
There is quite a variety here too. Really there is no "better" speaker than the other. Just make sure the treble is clean and crisp and the bass is sharp and not muddy. Studio monitors are great but if you can't afford any I would just recommend going with a really good computer speaker system. That's what I'm doing. I have the Creative I-Trigue 3300 2.1 system and its outstanding quality despite the reputation Creative has for speakers.
Software:
Producing software:
Now for the fun part - software. There are many great software tools out there. I use Reason 2.5 (www.propellerheads.se) which is an all in one tool for production. It has the sequencer and all your synths right there. Its rack based and you can route the sound as you would with real hardware. Other options are Cubase SX (www.steinberg.net) which is a great sequencing tool. While it supports VSTi's (another type of softsynth) it is more hardware oriented. It can also be interfaced with Reason through a program offered by the creators of reason called ReWire. Kristian (TranceSynthVania) uses this program and could tell you more about it than I. Another great program is eMagic Logic Audio (www.emagic.de). t[]c uses this but I know next to nothing about it. Sorry can't help you there. These are just a few tools out of many. So everyone else feel free to chip in.
Mastering software:
Plenty of options here too. I'd recommend either Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge or Steinberg's WaveLab.
This is only the tip of the iceburg. I'm afraid theres far too much more for it all to be covered here but this should get you started. Everyone else - pick it up from here. :P *gasps for air* :lol:Trancefuzion7 Oct 2003, 21:22 Haha wait I was the first. :-P I think we all hit reply at the same time lolLithius8 Oct 2003, 05:44 Well, people have preferences ... mine sides with Fruityloops. The thing about this program is that it is just the basis for your journey ... you need to pick up some softsynths on the way if you want some quality synthesis! But it has enough synths built-in to give you an idea of what FL's all about before you get all confused. You can get a demo of it at www.flstudio.com
How do you make it? There's a million ways you can make trance, from computers to beatboxes, from vinl to reel-to-reel. The most common and modern way trance is being produced mowadays is through computers. This means most of your studio will probably be in your computer. You could have a full-sized studio that has $30,000 worth of equipment, but now all that technology can fit into a modern computer!
So I can't really tell you how, cause it took me a few months of learning FL to know it all. That would mean writing a book about it. All I can say is get a sequencer and play around with it. A sequencer is what you use to create music - the center of your studio. Some very popular software titles are Propellerheads Reason, Steinberg Cubase, Image-Line FL Studio, Cakewalk Sonar, and eMagic Logic. There are many others, but you should stick to one of these - they will give you the best experience.
When starting out, don't get a new sound card, don't get a MIDI setup, and don't even buy the software if you can get a demo. Start out small and progress to higher levels when you're comfortable. You'll feel really bad if you spent $500 worth of stuff and you can't figure any of it out. But you'll feel really great if you just spent $500 on a piece of software that you know what to do with.
For kicks, check out the resequencer at resequenced.com ... it's a neat little loop-based sequencer that Jason Cluts wrote in flash. It's just a hair of the possibilities (and I mean a hair), but you can get an idea of what you're in for before you go all for it.
Oh, about being stupid ... are you kidding?? We were all a grasshopper once. I couldn't figure out the FX in FL 3.1 two years back and look at me now. You are totally cool for getting in here and asking what to do! That's what we're here for man! Hey - good luck with the music too. Tell us what sequencer you are into and we'll help you out from there.TranceSynthVania8 Oct 2003, 08:26 ok, I was a little tired yesterday, so I'm gonna explain to you now why I think you should choose Cubse SL/SX.
Reason is a great software program indeed. And with a midi controller and Reason 2.5 you DO have a complete software based music workstation. But whenever I work in Reason, I feel I am working in a small room with thick brick walls... there's no room to really express my point with the music...
With Cubase you can do literally anything within music. You can use it the way YOU want to use it.
All music, even trance and techno, is (or at least should be) a piece of art created with a meaning and have expression. It should not be about how phat beats your computer program can make, or how cool wicked leads it can do, and to use them all together in, what becomes, a hell of a mess. The way I usually create my music, is that I find a theme, all depending on which mood I am in, and then, I find some sounds that fits nicely together with that theme, and work from there. I find this working method quite hard in Reason.
Maybe it's just me tho, I am not that used to Reason, but IMO, you should go for a sequencer like Cubase. And of course, there is Logic Audio too (which t[]c uses), but if you want to be up-to-date you should have in mind that Logic is being released and sold for Mac only now. Of course you could buy Logic 5 to PC from someone and use it the rest of your life, or until you get a Mac, but it's really up to you.
Oh, and the difference in Cubase SX and Cubase SL is that Cubase SL is a "lite-version" of SX. And it costs less of course. You should check them out.
Good luck man !Trancefuzion8 Oct 2003, 08:45 TranceSynthVania wrote: I find this working method quite hard in Reason.
Maybe it's just me tho, I am not that used to Reason
I've never had any problems coming out with ideas in Reason. I just put down my thoughts and find a sound that fits it as you say. The only limit is the sounds that I have but I can always download more without problems.
I do find Reason much simpler than Cubase but I would like to learn Cubase anyway.
If you want my advice I suggest starting out in Reason, getting the hang of that, and then moving on to learn Cubase and then interfacing the two using ReWire. That way you get the best of both worlds. You've got nothing to lose there.
Anyway its all up to you. Just be careful not to bite off any more than you can chew just yet.DjDaed8 Oct 2003, 21:11 Ok, here is my setup.
Hardware:
2x Numark 1600 Turntable (For sampling records)
1x Optimus 4 channel stereo mixer
1x POS JVC CD Player/Tape Deck/Radio
Plenty of Audio Cables
1x Boss DR-202 Drum Machine
Software:
FL Studio Producer Edition
Propellerheads Reason 2.5
Synth1 DXi
Dreamstation DXi
Muon Software Tau Pro Bassline
Muon Software Atom Pro
Native Instruments FM7 VST
Reason ReFills
Rebirth (For the old old sound)
Cubasis VST 4.0
T-Racks 24 (Mastering Program)
and a slew of wav samples.David McGowan9 Oct 2003, 00:00 Ok Daed.. not sure why you posted your setup here..
as to Cithan's question..
All im going to say is that all of these guys have listed many great programs that enable you to create music. Some might be more complicated than others. They also each gave you there own personal tastes,likes, and dislikes about each one. But what it breaks down to is they each use there favorite tool to make music cause its what they are most comfortable with or what they like best. thats a personal prefrence. You need to develope your own personal prefrence, and it will come in time. I encourage you to try all of these software packages , and find out what works best for YOU. Dont write a piece of software off , cause so and so doesnt like it , make that deterimnation for yourself, that way you are not limiting your potenitals.
This is just something i thought should be mentioned. im not flaming you guys for saying which sequencer's you like better, trust me its been hard for me to bite my tongue on the matter.
Good luck my friend.
David :lol:Lithius9 Oct 2003, 05:53 David McGowan wrote: Ok Daed.. not sure why you posted your setup here..
as to Cithan's question..
All im going to say is that all of these guys have listed many great programs that enable you to create music. Some might be more complicated than others. They also each gave you there own personal tastes,likes, and dislikes about each one. But what it breaks down to is they each use there favorite tool to make music cause its what they are most comfortable with or what they like best. thats a personal prefrence. You need to develope your own personal prefrence, and it will come in time. I encourage you to try all of these software packages , and find out what works best for YOU. Dont write a piece of software off , cause so and so doesnt like it , make that deterimnation for yourself, that way you are not limiting your potenitals.
This is just something i thought should be mentioned. im not flaming you guys for saying which sequencer's you like better, trust me its been hard for me to bite my tongue on the matter.
Good luck my friend.
David :lol:
Completely agree.
I drive a 88 Honda Prelude 2.0Si. I think its a really sick car. Hondas rock. My neighbor thinks its completely ugly and he's all into Italian cars.
I have an AMD Athlon overclocked 500 Mhz with a bunch of case mods and lighting. I think it rocks. A lot of people think AMDs suck and Intels rock, and my case is totally pointless.
I have a CD player in my car and I love it. I have a pack of CDs in my car wherever I go. My mom likes the radio and refuses my offer to install a CD player for her.
I like colors ... If I owned a house I'd paint my bedrrom solid red, the kitchen solid orange, the living room solid blue ... I bet a _lot_ of people wouldn't even step foot in that house.
I use FL Studio Producer Edition. I've used Image-Line's products for 2 years and they've evolved massively since version 3.01. A lot of people perfer other sequencers and think FL sucks really bad.
See? We all have tastes when it comes to one thing or another. What really matters is that you pick out a software title that is attractive to you and that you get the grip on how to use it. As long as you do that you'll be writing music that sounds just as great as everybody else's on the forum. Look at the titles yourself, check 'em out, give them the old test drive ... you'll know when you found your sequencer. You know the feeling when you hop in a car you can afford and you have the money, and you think, 'This is my car.'? Well you'll have that feeling when you start working with sequencers - let your instinct guide you. Don't force yourself to use something you aren't comfortable with because somebody else said to. ... But take their suggestions.Cithan9 Oct 2003, 17:30 wow wow that's a lot of information ;-) thx for ur encouraging words m8s, tho i have to read this bout 20 times til i get it ^_^ so yeah thx for ur help guys, rly6 appreciate it... so 1 day ull probably hear some of my music thru ur speakers (might take a while tho im a slow learner)Cithan9 Oct 2003, 17:34 hmmm i think i'll go with fuzion and start, with reason, and we'll see what happens after that...Cithan9 Oct 2003, 18:16 dont exspect something soon now, my time with computers r still v rare due to the fact that the computer is at ma dads, and i still live with my mom (u got it right-im a minor) i think that will explain y i dont answer v quickly.....Alle14 Oct 2003, 04:03 My advice would be to get a decent computer (P4 class) with an ASIO 2.0 compatible soundcard and Reason 2.0...
Should be enough to get you started & get a good grip of what a virtual studio environment is.
//ALex