Starting Production
Starting Production Posted on: 03.02.2010 by Malvina Zar Sorry but I posted this on the wrong community
by accident.I've been DJing for a few years now and i'm finally about to start buying some production gear. I know you've probably seen this type of thread a million times now but your help would be appreciated. I was believeing of getting a macbook and putting Reason on it to start off with and using a midi controller. I also have a copy of Ableton live LE somewhere that should give me a good idea of how the whole subject works, maybe believeing about buying the full version later. I was also wondering what type of soundcard or interface would be best, and if I would need a small mixer or not. I was going to get the M-audio bx8a monitors as they sound great. Budget isn't too much of a problem as i've been saving for a good while and I believe the gear is most definitely worth the money. Please tell me your thoughts and any other things that you would recommend to me. Cheers | |
| Efrain Scharr 04.02.2010 |
Originally Posted by belchman
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| Efrain Scharr 04.02.2010 |
Originally Posted by lsmith
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| Efrain Scharr 04.02.2010 |
Originally Posted by belchman
I know it is very frustrating to learn the programs. I believe that is what makes most people give up. I know so many DJs who tell me that they know how they want to make music sound, so they want to start producing.. they buy all this gear, then 6 months later they are giving up. Its not simple... but its also not rocket science. A little patience will go a long way. Look on the web and watch the Future Music videos. Even if its not the producers you like, or if they use programs you don't use, a lot of the stuff you learn is interchangable, and you learn lots of good ideas you can throw into your own stuff. Remember, some of the best things in music come from mistakes, so don't be afraid to try something that is out of the ordinary... |
| Malvina Zar 03.02.2010 | Sorry but I posted this on the wrong community
by accident. I've been DJing for a few years now and i'm finally about to start buying some production gear. I know you've probably seen this type of thread a million times now but your help would be appreciated. I was believeing of getting a macbook and putting Reason on it to start off with and using a midi controller. I also have a copy of Ableton live LE somewhere that should give me a good idea of how the whole subject works, maybe believeing about buying the full version later. I was also wondering what type of soundcard or interface would be best, and if I would need a small mixer or not. I was going to get the M-audio bx8a monitors as they sound great. Budget isn't too much of a problem as i've been saving for a good while and I believe the gear is most definitely worth the money. Please tell me your thoughts and any other things that you would recommend to me. Cheers |
| Ashirumatic DJ 05.02.2010 | One of the best places I found to get starting points for making your own Bass patch is do a search on youtube for the DAW/VST you are using. Copy the setting and such that you see in the vid, learn and modify to your own liking. Here is an Electro one for Reason4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0LP5S3UwpU A Dubstep Wobble in Massive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZYDmw2pYOk In Ableton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjZ8Xvq0Xtk In FlStudio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZP2-AXnBm8 In Logic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9blsxel11XA Rob Papen Predetor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZf_M9oSmr4 For the most part once you start to learn how to make the basslines in one type of synth the concepts are generally the same (with subtle differences from one DAW/VST to another) |
| Efrain Scharr 04.02.2010 |
Originally Posted by belchman
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| Efrain Scharr 04.02.2010 |
Originally Posted by lsmith
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| Leota Saniuk 04.02.2010 | i also just started with production. ableton live le actually is pretty nifty these days. its basically live intro, but with less bundled instruments (and this is where you will be hurting at the start, but you can get quite a few sounds via the free kore player from NI). i have now upgraded to live 8, but i am still pondering to get the suite to get more instruments, but its not super necessary either. i got the launchpad which makes working with ableton sooooo much more fun and interactive. it also comes with 1Gb of loops which I used to put together my very first track after about 2-3 weeks of messing around with ableton once or twice a week for a few hours: http://soundcloud.com/djsdive |
| Roni Batchan 04.02.2010 | hmm yeah i guess.. I've seen a lot of production happening.. used to do a lot of recording and live synth modelling when i was in a band. plus i get future music and computer music a lot and watch the masterclasses, so I know what's involved in the process. i guess for me it's more about LFO automation and stuff (if that's even how it's done.. to make wonky basslines?) i just dont know where to start! |
| Efrain Scharr 04.02.2010 | Also, don't worry about learning mastering. Its really an art on its own outside of producing. |
| Efrain Scharr 04.02.2010 |
Originally Posted by belchman
I know it is very frustrating to learn the programs. I believe that is what makes most people give up. I know so many DJs who tell me that they know how they want to make music sound, so they want to start producing.. they buy all this gear, then 6 months later they are giving up. Its not simple... but its also not rocket science. A little patience will go a long way. Look on the web and watch the Future Music videos. Even if its not the producers you like, or if they use programs you don't use, a lot of the stuff you learn is interchangable, and you learn lots of good ideas you can throw into your own stuff. Remember, some of the best things in music come from mistakes, so don't be afraid to try something that is out of the ordinary... |
| Roni Batchan 04.02.2010 | i've been mucking about with production for a while now, but never got serious partly as i havent had the time, and partly the know how really. i've found you can only teach yourself up to a point.. I'm really familiar with synths and sound modelling, but really not great with DAWs and automation etc.. @someone like Lance Blaise - how do you recommend getting more familiar with the fundamentals behind production and mastering, without blazing into a full on sound production course? (@b1rell sorry for jacking the thread, but thought it might help you out too ) |
| Ashirumatic DJ 03.02.2010 | I really only ever use ableton for live sets. Perhaps soon I will pick it up as a production piece. For now though I am pretty stoke don Lo geek |
| Efrain Scharr 03.02.2010 | I use both Live 8 and Logic Pro, but Live is my go to app for production nowadays, then there are certain things i do in Logic. I started out on Reason, and as others stated before it lacks some things. Don't worry about a mixing board to start. Get a decent audio interface (I like the Presonus Firebox) and get some good monitors with a true sound. Get a midi controller, 25 key will do. Good Luck!! |
| Malvina Zar 03.02.2010 | Thanks for that, I thought Ableton live would do the same as Logic as you can use it to record audio you make in Reason. Is Logic Express quite straight forward? Would you recommend it for a beginner over the likes of Ableton? I don't have much experience with DAWs you see... Cheers |
| Ashirumatic DJ 03.02.2010 | The choice of a MacBook is a good idea. Reason is a great program. However it does lack some options you will probably wanna use like working with audio samples etc.... If you do go the route of a MacBook I recommend grabbing a copy of LogicExpress9 which is approx 200$ Whats really nice is you can ReWire Reason into Logic and send the audio from its synths etc into your Logic Project. As well the millions of VST/Audio Units out there that can be plugged in to extend the functionality of Logic. I myself work on both a 13" MacBookPro and an iMac with these programs. |
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