Anyone here into DJing/production?

[scott916]

I've always thought about toying around with beats, but never messed with it because of the high initial cost and the fact that I tend to hobby-jump.

 

[DangerAardvark]

If you just want a toy, get some production software like FL Studio. It's like $100. It's easy enough for making remixes and Hip-Hop beats and powerful enough to be used for professional production.

 

[QueBert]

yes, if you own an iPod Touch or iPhone BeatMaker's $20 and one of the coolest apps I've ever used for making beats. PC wise I own an M-Audio Axiom 49 Midi Controller + Reason 4. The Board + Reason ran me about 499, kind of a lot for a hobby maybe. But I have a lot of fun with it and suspect in a few years I'll be ready to start selling my beats. The Axiom is fricking awesome, Reason is good and not super hard to use. There are free Midi software's out there but I haven't tried any so I can't speak on them. You can use Audacity for Multitracking, and if you want to be ghetto you can use a Midi Keyboard emulator program that turns your PC keyboard into a controller and you can make music without spending a dime. M-Audio has their entry level controllers for about 60 bucks, no knobs or MPC pads, but you can get the keyboard. It's definitely a lot easier to play on a midi keyboard over a PC keyboard with an emulator.

 

[scott916]

yes, if you own an iPod Touch or iPhone BeatMaker's $20 and one of the coolest apps I've ever used for making beats. PC wise I own an M-Audio Axiom 49 Midi Controller + Reason 4. The Board + Reason ran me about 499, kind of a lot for a hobby maybe. But I have a lot of fun with it and suspect in a few years I'll be ready to start selling my beats. The Axiom is fricking awesome, Reason is good and not super hard to use. There are free Midi software's out there but I haven't tried any so I can't speak on them. You can use Audacity for Multitracking, and if you want to be ghetto you can use a Midi Keyboard emulator program that turns your PC keyboard into a controller and you can make music without spending a dime. M-Audio has their entry level controllers for about 60 bucks, no knobs or MPC pads, but you can get the keyboard. It's definitely a lot easier to play on a midi keyboard over a PC keyboard with an emulator.

See that's where I'm trying to figure out where to start with. I've toyed with FL Studio for years, but I'm not sure if I would get more use of a keyboard or MPD pads. I'm sure it will be quite a while before I get either one, my skillset will have to get to the point where it's necessary. Why don't you have an MPC?

 

[QueBert]

See that's where I'm trying to figure out where to start with. I've toyed with FL Studio for years, but I'm not sure if I would get more use of a keyboard or MPD pads. I'm sure it will be quite a while before I get either one, my skillset will have to get to the point where it's necessary. Why don't you have an MPC?

Even if you can't play the piano, having a 24 or 49 key ones, just messing around with it you'll probably end up playing something. Obviously nothing Mozart complex. But I banged out some catchy baselines. The MPC pads on my keyboard are also great, when I do drum patters strictly in Reasons drum sequencer I kind of have trouble getting the sound I want. But with the pads I can tap out my drum patterns much easier. But even if it takes longer, there's nothing you can do with pads you can't do directly in a sequencer. I just like the creative feel of doing everything myself and just touching shit up in the sequencer. FL Studios is good (never used it though) and interfaces with M-Audios stuff flawlessly from everything I read. M-Audio makes good products, I have their USB studio mic, it sounds pretty damn amazing. I didn't want to deal with XLR and having to buy a pre-amp to power a condenser mic.

But like I said, you technically could buy a $15 generic mic and use freeware programs to create beats. FL Studios is what 9th Wonder uses (or use to use any ways) and his beats are top notch.

I don't have an MPC because they're expensive, and I can do everything I need to directly in Reason. I do want to get an Akai MPD-32, my Axiom only has 8 pads which just isn't enough to do complex patters without a lot more work. 16 pads would be heavenly.

Youtoob is a good source for free tutorials, there are a lot of very adapt people who post tutorials. I've learned a lot. Reason is very intuitive once you get the hang of it though.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

One of my best friends started DJing for the hell of it. We used to make fun of him because we always thought it was such a stupid idea. Now he's amazing, playing in clubs in Vegas and is resident DJ in a few clubs around here in Orange County. We use him for all of our parties now =P

 

[KingGheedora]

One of my best friends started DJing for the hell of it. We used to make fun of him because we always thought it was such a stupid idea. Now he's amazing, playing in clubs in Vegas and is resident DJ in a few clubs around here in Orange County. We use him for all of our parties now =P

How old was he when he started, and how old now?

 

[scott916]

Even if you can't play the piano, having a 24 or 49 key ones, just messing around with it you'll probably end up playing something. Obviously nothing Mozart complex. But I banged out some catchy baselines. The MPC pads on my keyboard are also great, when I do drum patters strictly in Reasons drum sequencer I kind of have trouble getting the sound I want. But with the pads I can tap out my drum patterns much easier. But even if it takes longer, there's nothing you can do with pads you can't do directly in a sequencer. I just like the creative feel of doing everything myself and just touching shit up in the sequencer. FL Studios is good (never used it though) and interfaces with M-Audios stuff flawlessly from everything I read. M-Audio makes good products, I have their USB studio mic, it sounds pretty damn amazing. I didn't want to deal with XLR and having to buy a pre-amp to power a condenser mic.

But like I said, you technically could buy a $15 generic mic and use freeware programs to create beats. FL Studios is what 9th Wonder uses (or use to use any ways) and his beats are top notch.

I don't have an MPC because they're expensive, and I can do everything I need to directly in Reason. I do want to get an Akai MPD-32, my Axiom only has 8 pads which just isn't enough to do complex patters without a lot more work. 16 pads would be heavenly.

Youtoob is a good source for free tutorials, there are a lot of very adapt people who post tutorials. I've learned a lot. Reason is very intuitive once you get the hang of it though.

Interesting perspective. I figured I would get more out of something like an MPD-32 with the touch and velocity sensitive buttons than moving away from an on-screen keyboard when I can't even play. It's also an issue of space. A KB is huge, and I could easily rework my desk to fit an MPD.

QueBert... you use monitors or headphones? I've already got an EMU 0404 -> Presonus HP amp -> Grado SR80's combo that I'm super happy with, but I think monitors would be less obtrusive.

 

[QueBert]

Interesting perspective. I figured I would get more out of something like an MPD-32 with the touch and velocity sensitive buttons than moving away from an on-screen keyboard when I can't even play. It's also an issue of space. A KB is huge, and I could easily rework my desk to fit an MPD.

QueBert... you use monitors or headphones? I've already got an EMU 0404 -> Presonus HP amp -> Grado SR80's combo that I'm super happy with, but I think monitors would be less obtrusive.

my Axiom has touch sensitive pads and keys, I don't have enough desk space for both a keybvoard + a MPD unless I got a 29 key board (which I didn't want) I'm going to buy a stand and a MPD though, 16 pads is where it's at. I use headphones currently, I have Logitech speakers which don't exactly produce super accurate sound. If I had enough money I'd move somewhere where I could have a entire room for studio equipment. One day I hope to have a full set up. The MPD-32 is super slick, the Korg PadKontrol is pretty nice too, BB even sells it, the one by me any ways. They have a pretty nice musical instrument center in the back of the store. The people who work there tend to be pretty knowledgeable when I have questions.

Your thread has inspired me to save up and get an MPD now. Akai has a keyboard that has 12 MPD pads, pretty damn sick. I almost bought it but it was too expensive. I know you said you don't have room, but this even looks bad ass IMHO

http://www.akaipro.com/mpk49 You ever consider a stand? You could push it away in the corner when you're done.

 

[scott916]

http://www.akaipro.com/mpk49 You ever consider a stand? You could push it away in the corner when you're done.

That right there looks bad ass. I think that's really the best of both worlds, and the price really isn't that bad at all. I think that's almost exactly the same keyboard Trent Reznor uses in one of the NIN videos on vimeo. I can't search for it because streaming media sites are websensed, but search for "burn" in Australia. I think it's either in Sydney or Melbourne. It's an official on-stage video and he has an Akai keyboard that looks dead on like that.

If anyone wants to check it out for me, that'd be bad ass.

So did you buy a book on Reason or just play with it until you figured it out? I've got a history of toying with and figuring out complex 3D modeling programs like Lightwave, but a book makes it SO much easier. If you have one, which?

EDIT: looks like I was dead on. http://www.akaipro.com/nin

 

[Saint Nick]

Pirate Fruity Loops off of the internet, or Ableton Live 7. Live 7 is a lot harder to interface with, but works great for live performance.

I have made many a song in Fruity Loops, some of which have been played in relatively decent size clubs!

 

[QueBert]

That right there looks bad ass. I think that's really the best of both worlds, and the price really isn't that bad at all. I think that's almost exactly the same keyboard Trent Reznor uses in one of the NIN videos on vimeo. I can't search for it because streaming media sites are websensed, but search for "burn" in Australia. I think it's either in Sydney or Melbourne. It's an official on-stage video and he has an Akai keyboard that looks dead on like that.

If anyone wants to check it out for me, that'd be bad ass.

So did you buy a book on Reason or just play with it until you figured it out? I've got a history of toying with and figuring out complex 3D modeling programs like Lightwave, but a book makes it SO much easier. If you have one, which?

EDIT: looks like I was dead on. http://www.akaipro.com/nin

Akai makes a 29 key version with the same 12 MPC style pads. You really don't need more than 29 keys with the octive shift nob. I downloaded some Reason tutorials and watched a bunch on Youtube. I hope Santa brings me a nice fat Reason book for Xmas. I'm decent enough in it after playing with it to make some so so beats. But I know with a better book I could be a lot better with it. Depending on your dedication and brain power you can do a lot without any books. Look up Nef The Damager, I think Nefarious is what he goes by on Youtube. He uses Reason and some of his shit is AMAZING. he's all self taught. Taurusbeats is another, they don't have tutorials but listening to the shit they do on Reason always inspires me to step my game up.

 

[scott916]

Pirate Fruity Loops off of the internet, or Ableton Live 7. Live 7 is a lot harder to interface with, but works great for live performance.

I have made many a song in Fruity Loops, some of which have been played in relatively decent size clubs!

I've messed with the Live trial just a little bit because of NIN's remix site having Live files. I think I'll just start by getting a FL book and see if I actually have any talent to begin with. :awe:

 

[Saint Nick]

I've messed with the Live trial just a little bit because of NIN's remix site having Live files. I think I'll just start by getting a FL book and see if I actually have any talent to begin with. :awe:

Live was really hard for me to understand. I'm still having problems using it "correctly". It has a really different interface. There are a few people around my area that know how to use it really well, but I haven't gotten in touch with them, a few of them are pretty big regional DJs.

I think you'll pick up FL quickly. Very easy interface. The Sytrus synth is very powerful, if you can get your hands on it. The 3xOsc works, but you will need to put a lot of plug-ins on your bus to tailor your sound, since 3xOsc is only oscillators...no real built in effects or filters.

 

[scott916]

Live was really hard for me to understand. I'm still having problems using it "correctly". It has a really different interface. There are a few people around my area that know how to use it really well, but I haven't gotten in touch with them, a few of them are pretty big regional DJs.

I think you'll pick up FL quickly. Very easy interface. The Sytrus synth is very powerful, if you can get your hands on it. The 3xOsc works, but you will need to put a lot of plug-ins on your bus to tailor your sound, since 3xOsc is only oscillators...no real built in effects or filters.

I started watching FL tutorials over the weekend. It makes a lot of sense, but I have a lot of work to do before I'll consider myself even a novice. I think I just need to get a book. What kind of hardware do you use with your band? Do you use FL or Live during recording or performances?

 

[Miramonti]

I don't know about DJ'ing it, but you'll probably find plenty around here JD'ing it.