Looking to get started making originals and remixes, which programs?

What do the teach in lessons on that site? Because I'm coming in from a jazz and progressive background playing bass, and know more theory than would ever be needed in electronic dance music. Wanna make sure it's worth it

Meh. I haven't seen that, but whatever.

The KA6 would be a slightly better choice, but IMHO, you don't need a sound card at first.

You're going to be making such worthless crap at the beginning that half-decent headphones and your computer's headphone jack are perfectly good for a long time. Plus…if you start that way and figure out what you actually use and how you actually work, you're less likely to buy a sound card that's different from what you actually need.



That's what Apple says. Unfortunately, they're wrong. Logic is leaps and bounds beyond it in terms of capabilities and complexity. Garageband doesn't have anything like Logic's Environment.


I really need to just write an article about this.

So…here goes, again.

There is no best DAW (digital audio workstation).
There is no best Synth.
What matters is how each one fits the way you work.
As a beginner, you don't know that yet.
So, your choice in a first DAW is likely going to be made basically blind.

Fortunately, most of the big programs have tutorial videos and/or demos. I'm starting to believe that tutorial videos are actually a better way to make decisions than demos……because the first time you start up a demo, even with a basic tutorial, you're going to be so incredibly lost that you won't know what you're doing.

As you learn more (over the course of a couple weeks/months with a few demos) you'll start to realize a few things that are kinda similar between them: what MIDI is, how it's different from audio, how audio files work, the basics of signal routing, what plugins are, etc..

And as you learn that, you'll cope with demos more easily……and inherently, you'll believe the demos you tried later will fit you better……just because they made a bit more sense or did it a little faster.

If you start with tutorial/feature videos, you'll see someone using them who already knows what they're doing. And you'll get an idea of what working with the software looks/feels like……which is the most important part.

So, that's where I'd go.

Here's a short list of things I believe you should look at, with some basic comments.

• Avid Pro Tools: the recording studio standard for ~20 years…I believe it's the most intuitive, but I'm in the minority. With PT 10, it's no longer tied to Avid hardware, but it does require a $50 USB Dongle to run, even the demo. The software itself is very expensive if you're not a student. Avid is really bad about their update cycle: running Pro Tools basically means you'll never be running an up-to-date version of your OS again…and it kinda limits the computers you can buy because it's only guaranteed to run and supported on Avid Qualified Systems.
  
• Apple Logic (OS X only): long-time rival to PT, bought by Apple at some point. It's easily the best value in DAW software at $200 for the full version. There are some weird things about it (the Environment, mainly) that open up a lot of control and creative potential…but it takes a long time to get your head around it.
  
• Ableton Live: Made as a compromise between a recording/production system and a live performance system. Lots of dance producers love it. It's MIDI mapping is very powerful, and Max4Live gives you power that rivals Logic's Environment. The full version is as expensive as Pro Tools, but they sell smaller versions without as many synths and effects for less. I loved it for DJing and would like it for live performance…but I can't stand it for recording or producing. But i'm definitely in the minority on that one too.
  
• Propellerheads Reason: based on emulating a hardware workflow in software. It's a bit wonky when you look at it, but it's actually very cool. The most recent version opened up limited 3rd party development for synths and effects, but it's still a very closed system that doesn't allow plugins (3rd party software…every other system uses them in one way or another). It's got the best metering of any DAW, and it's very cost-effective. But, it is fairly closed on its own. Still, not a bad way to start, and if you end up needing something it can't do, there's always ReWire (read about it).
  
• Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo & Presonus StudioOne: The people that use them love them…I believe they look like cylon control panels and have god-awful workflows where everything gets in your way. Nuendo is the big-daddy and can do a lot more than most of the others, but it's expensive, huge, and actually overkill. Cubase and StudioOne are remarkably similar in workflow…I wouldn't be surprise if StudioOne is just a different skin for Cubase. The full version of Cubase requires the purchase of a $35 dongle to run…StuidoOne's demo is free.
  
• Reaper: It's new to the game and gaining followers. I believe it's back-asswards and hate it. But it's the cheapest of the bunch if you don't consider that Logic comes with more value in plugins.
  
• Cakewalk Sonar (windows only): I know little about it except they've got some cool UI things and people seem to like it.
  
• Imageline FL Studio (windows only): I hated it when I tried it years ago, but it's probably changed a lot since then. If you're on Windows, it's very popular and worth a shot.
  
• NI Maschine: It's based on the idea of a groove box (like an MPC) but done in software with one of two dedicated controllers. Definitely worth a look…though watch the videos on NI's website for an idea of the workflow…it's different from everything else listed above and is hard to work with on its own. There are a few small features missing that kind of require another DAW to do real mixdowns…but you could get away with just Maschine if you needed to. I love it.
  
• MPC Renaissance/Studio: competitors for Maschine. They're not out yet, but they're likely to be very, very good. The Studio is basically a direct Maschine competitor while the Renaissance costs twice as much and also include an Audio and MIDI interface.

Have fun.

Logic's demo/LE would be Garageband.

They would both be fine, just spend as much as you can while staying in budget.

Yea, i found the internal routing a pain if something went wrong...

Trying to get kontakt running in multi out multi in mode was ok... then something broke... OMG evening mare.

Here's everything you need to know:

http://www.spontaneousrhythm.com/how...012-six-steps/

OK, all jokes aside -- don't overbelieve it. Just jump in and start screwing around. I PERSONALLY believe Ableton has the most flexibility and is the DAW of choice for people in my generation or younger (under 30, basically).

Also:

www.sonicacademy.com

I spent 6 months not know what the hell I was doing and making total shit. And then after a month there I really, really started improving. Their tutorials are incredibly good and the value is stupid. I tell pretty much everyone who wants to get into producing to sign up, NOW, because I love it. Seriously.

Meh. I haven't seen that, but whatever.

The KA6 would be a slightly better choice, but IMHO, you don't need a sound card at first.

You're going to be making such worthless crap at the beginning that half-decent headphones and your computer's headphone jack are perfectly good for a long time. Plus…if you start that way and figure out what you actually use and how you actually work, you're less likely to buy a sound card that's different from what you actually need.



That's what Apple says. Unfortunately, they're wrong. Logic is leaps and bounds beyond it in terms of capabilities and complexity. Garageband doesn't have anything like Logic's Environment.


I really need to just write an article about this.

So…here goes, again.

There is no best DAW (digital audio workstation).
There is no best Synth.
What matters is how each one fits the way you work.
As a beginner, you don't know that yet.
So, your choice in a first DAW is likely going to be made basically blind.

Fortunately, most of the big programs have tutorial videos and/or demos. I'm starting to believe that tutorial videos are actually a better way to make decisions than demos……because the first time you start up a demo, even with a basic tutorial, you're going to be so incredibly lost that you won't know what you're doing.

As you learn more (over the course of a couple weeks/months with a few demos) you'll start to realize a few things that are kinda similar between them: what MIDI is, how it's different from audio, how audio files work, the basics of signal routing, what plugins are, etc..

And as you learn that, you'll cope with demos more easily……and inherently, you'll believe the demos you tried later will fit you better……just because they made a bit more sense or did it a little faster.

If you start with tutorial/feature videos, you'll see someone using them who already knows what they're doing. And you'll get an idea of what working with the software looks/feels like……which is the most important part.

So, that's where I'd go.

Here's a short list of things I believe you should look at, with some basic comments.

• Avid Pro Tools: the recording studio standard for ~20 years…I believe it's the most intuitive, but I'm in the minority. With PT 10, it's no longer tied to Avid hardware, but it does require a $50 USB Dongle to run, even the demo. The software itself is very expensive if you're not a student. Avid is really bad about their update cycle: running Pro Tools basically means you'll never be running an up-to-date version of your OS again…and it kinda limits the computers you can buy because it's only guaranteed to run and supported on Avid Qualified Systems.
  
• Apple Logic (OS X only): long-time rival to PT, bought by Apple at some point. It's easily the best value in DAW software at $200 for the full version. There are some weird things about it (the Environment, mainly) that open up a lot of control and creative potential…but it takes a long time to get your head around it.
  
• Ableton Live: Made as a compromise between a recording/production system and a live performance system. Lots of dance producers love it. It's MIDI mapping is very powerful, and Max4Live gives you power that rivals Logic's Environment. The full version is as expensive as Pro Tools, but they sell smaller versions without as many synths and effects for less. I loved it for DJing and would like it for live performance…but I can't stand it for recording or producing. But i'm definitely in the minority on that one too.
  
• Propellerheads Reason: based on emulating a hardware workflow in software. It's a bit wonky when you look at it, but it's actually very cool. The most recent version opened up limited 3rd party development for synths and effects, but it's still a very closed system that doesn't allow plugins (3rd party software…every other system uses them in one way or another). It's got the best metering of any DAW, and it's very cost-effective. But, it is fairly closed on its own. Still, not a bad way to start, and if you end up needing something it can't do, there's always ReWire (read about it).
  
• Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo & Presonus StudioOne: The people that use them love them…I believe they look like cylon control panels and have god-awful workflows where everything gets in your way. Nuendo is the big-daddy and can do a lot more than most of the others, but it's expensive, huge, and actually overkill. Cubase and StudioOne are remarkably similar in workflow…I wouldn't be surprise if StudioOne is just a different skin for Cubase. The full version of Cubase requires the purchase of a $35 dongle to run…StuidoOne's demo is free.
  
• Reaper: It's new to the game and gaining followers. I believe it's back-asswards and hate it. But it's the cheapest of the bunch if you don't consider that Logic comes with more value in plugins.
  
• Cakewalk Sonar (windows only): I know little about it except they've got some cool UI things and people seem to like it.
  
• Imageline FL Studio (windows only): I hated it when I tried it years ago, but it's probably changed a lot since then. If you're on Windows, it's very popular and worth a shot.
  
• NI Maschine: It's based on the idea of a groove box (like an MPC) but done in software with one of two dedicated controllers. Definitely worth a look…though watch the videos on NI's website for an idea of the workflow…it's different from everything else listed above and is hard to work with on its own. There are a few small features missing that kind of require another DAW to do real mixdowns…but you could get away with just Maschine if you needed to. I love it.
  
• MPC Renaissance/Studio: competitors for Maschine. They're not out yet, but they're likely to be very, very good. The Studio is basically a direct Maschine competitor while the Renaissance costs twice as much and also include an Audio and MIDI interface.

Have fun.

Logic doesnt have a demo unfortunately, its pretty daunting for a beginner...

I say try ableton demo whether your on mac OR pc... and then if you have a friend with logic, let them show you around the DAW.

They would both be fine, just spend as much as you can while staying in budget.

Yea, i found the internal routing a pain if something went wrong...

Trying to get kontakt running in multi out multi in mode was ok... then something broke... OMG evening mare.

download the demos of ableton and fl studio (if you have windows) or logic (if you have mac) try them all out and then decide which one you like best and then buy the software. Get a decent soundcard, and good headphones or monitors. And watch plenty of youtube tutorials lol