I need help from DJ's and techno producers!

[technogeeky]

I really want to start producing music. I think I have enough instinct and musical ability to get started. I've always been good with beats and what not.


But I don't know what a lot of stuff is. What I need is:

Someone who I can talk to directly who doesn't mind me asking questions.

or

A guidebook of some sort to help me along the way.


Also, I want to know what kind of stuff to get. I think I want to go the software route, since it's cheaper - but I'd like to get a few hardware things too. I don't really want to spin and mix songs, but rather produce music.

If you have any software / hardware reccomendations, please LMK and post a link or ten!



I really appreciate it!

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Try Pming Deeko. He thinks he's a musician.

 

[Paulson]

Don't be ragging on deeko...

Though he may be into music I can't stand, he was very helpful to me for when I needed equipment, he hooked me up...

don't be such a smartass :|

 

[LordMaul]

<< Don't be ragging on deeko...

Though he may be into music I can't stand, he was very helpful to me for when I needed equipment, he hooked me up...

don't be such a smartass :| >>




Birds of a feather fuc...err....flock together!




(JUST kidding! )

 

[WageSlave]

5000+ posts... thats just sad..



sorry



it really is :-(


hopefully someday ill be that sad

 

[technogeeky]

Well.... that's all good and well.

But Deeko ain't got nothin' on techno, as far as I've heard.

Anyone? I find it hard to believe that there isn't a huge DJ / techno crowd here.

 

[Paulson]

Actually there are quite a few here that DO enjoy techno and trance...

I can hook you up with one of my friends who produces techno music...

But then again, none of his work has went public yet...

But I'm sure there are a lot here that are into it, I just don't know how many make their own techno.

And no deeko doesn't know much about this, but fsckers like some of you really piss me off by judging someone for one thing. He's actually very damn good at choosing equipment and is very helpful, not like I see many of you trying to be :|

 

[technogeeky]

People,

I am usually a really kind-hearted guy and I enjoy people being funny.

But please, find somewhere else to bicker if you want to. I am very serious about what I want to do...

Thanks

-tg

 

[sohcrates]

<< Anyone? I find it hard to believe that there isn't a huge DJ / techno crowd here. >>



speak for yourself!

actually, i guess there's really not that many

 

[MaxDSP]

I started using Acid Pro 3 a couple of weeks back but it's got a huge learning curve, unless you're intuitive with all kinds of software. I also used Traktor but I mainly use it for fun, since it allows virtual scratching and whatnot. Acid Pro, as the name implies, gives you control over all aspects of your tracks and how they mix together.

 

[technogeeky]

<< I started using Acid Pro 3 a couple of weeks back but it's got a huge learning curve, unless you're intuitive with all kinds of software. I also used Traktor but I mainly use it for fun, since it allows virtual scratching and whatnot. Acid Pro, as the name implies, gives you control over all aspects of your tracks and how they mix together. >>



I'm not quite sure that's what I'm looking for.

I have used FruityLoops 3.xx and I really thought it was easy to use, although I obviously couldn't touch it's power.

I'm looking for someone who *produces* not *mixes*.

I want to make my own techno from scratch, not mix other people's songs.

If that's what Acid Pro 3 is, LMK.

 

I have a friend who does just exactly that; and that is in fact his profession. However, I haven't been in contact with him for a long time now. Besides, I'm not sure if he's of the personality that would be patient with you, for he's somewhat pompous.

I hope someone eventually offers you help. And best of wishes with your music interest.

 

Feel free to PM me with questions.

 

[MaxDSP]

<< I want to make my own techno from scratch, not mix other people's songs.
If that's what Acid Pro 3 is, LMK. >>



Well, Acid lets you make anything you want, mixes or "original" tracks. By original, I mean that you can download sound clips and put them together to create your own tracks, but I don't know where to download clips that have techno/trance betas to them. Ummm, besides that, tehre's not much else I know about it. Download my mix from my friend's links page

or

direct HTTP link

 

[technogeeky]

That music was... interesting.

Very bassy. I think I made my parents angry.

I don't know what the original sounded like. But if you made it, that's freaky.

I'm not sure. Fruity loops... has... wave editors and sound morphs and stuff where you take a simple beat or something and change it... I suppose mathmatically or something? (waveform editors?)

 

[zeon]

Allright then, first off feel free to pm me with any questions too.

First off, what's youre budget? this is gonna determine alot of factors. Checked youre rig, is definatly more than adequate for production, although youre probably going to want to get a better sound card before long (check out echo,m-audio, the korg oasys), having good quality i/o and some on board dsps can go along way in the quality of youre tracks.

The first thing youre gonna need is something to generate sounds, theres alot of software programs to do this, but most have very steep learining curves and are not as powerful as their hardware counterparts, standouts in this lot are Reaktor and Reason, check Reason out for sure, it's an all in one software production package with a mixer, sample, sequencer and virtual analog synth. Theres alot of pretty good vst soft synths out there that can be really useful, but you don't really want to rely on them exclusively.

The other route to go is with a hardware synth, depending on youre price range and what you want to produce you'll want to check out the following: Yamaha an1x about $450, good for trance, definatly low endish, but will certainly get you started. Korg MS2000, good for trance and darker stuff, about 700$, good middle of the road synth. Roland Jp-8000, overpriced crap, do not buy this. Nord gear, three levels, the nord 1,2 and 3. The nord lead 2 is a good entry level high end synth, can be had for about 800$, good for most any type of music. The super high end stuff can be split between waldorf (the xt, microwave ect ect) Novation and access. All have good gear in the 1200$ plus price range, if you've got the money i'd go for the access virus b, it's god like.

Secondly youre gonna need a sequencer, you can do this hardware, but no one does. Get youreself either a program called cakewalk or Cubase. Both are good sequecers that support dsps for synths and effects.

You'll also need some effects, theres alot of good hardware effects units that people swear by, but i'd recomend saving youreself the money at first and using software effects modules. If you get youreself an adio card with some good dsps there are some really good dsps effects out there.


If you could tell me what youre interested in producing more specifically and youre budget i could give alot more specific recomendations. Check out Future Producers and their forum for some more good info.

 

[technogeeky]

I like a lot of breakbeat stuff (actually, mostly Adam Freeland. If you don't know who he is, you need to. He is god!)

The usual Orbital, Oakenfold, BT, Crystal Meth, Aphrodite, Aphex Twin, RiTM, Sasha and Digweed, DJ Icey, DJ DB.


Not necessarily in that order.

But I like breaks a lot. I'm not into real trancy stuff.

Hmm.

Keep them comin. I'm PMing people, too!

 

[dohyun]

are you gonna use hardware or software, both? im gonna be starting off produciing soon myself, hardware first, i think its a yamaha, its a sequencer, for newbieishshs.

Ive played around with fruityloops, but theres so much out there, cubase, soundforge, reason, logic, i dont know, a grip of software, sequencers, synthesisers ,samplers blah blah all so confusing, all so expensive.


you said you like beats, you said you like breaks, check out jungle and dn'b , specialization in those areass. I've got an abundance of beats and breaks in my head that i desperately want to make tracks out of. You like Bass to? Why is bassliness so hard to make , anyways bye bye.

 

[weezergirl]

Oh i also have a question. have u guys seen that commercial where it's that mixing table u can hook up to your computer? is that ok for some cheesy fun? it's only 99 bucks and it's not like i want to be a "real dj" or anything but it looks like something fun to do on the side.
does anybody have experience with it or know if it's just a piece of junk not worth the 99 bucks. the fact that its' so cheap makes me a bit weary too but considering it's not something i want to do seriously it might be fun just to try it out. know what i mean? thanks for any info. oh yeah and the link for it it is here i think

 

[sohcrates]

<< Oh i also have a question. have u guys seen that commercial where it's that mixing table u can hook up to your computer? is that ok for some cheesy fun? it's only 99 bucks and it's not like i want to be a "real dj" or anything but it looks like something fun to do on the side.
does anybody have experience with it or know if it's just a piece of junk not worth the 99 bucks. the fact that its' so cheap makes me a bit weary too but considering it's not something i want to do seriously it might be fun just to try it out. know what i mean? thanks for any info. oh yeah and the link for it it is here i think >>



i've read a couple of reviews of it. i guess it's a fun toy, but definitely not a very quality built product. also, until recently, there was NO win2k driver support, but they've apparently fixed that

anyway, i think i'd rather put that 99 bucks towards some other new gear..though it IS tempting

search google and you'll find the reviews

 

[weezergirl]

Actually I just got done doing that! heh. in fact, every review i've read is giving it a thumbs up. i think i'm going to buy it for my brother for his x-mas/birthday present. and meanwhile i'll play around with it. heheh

here are some links to some reviews for people who are interested:
cnet
amazon customer reviews
techtv

 

[technogeeky]

Yeah - that could be a fun toy. But it's not applicable for my situation, unfortunately.

That isn't quite to the level of control I need :0


-tg

 

I responded to your PM.

And I suggest making.... TECHNO!

There is basically 3 major good electronic sounds out there.. House, Techno, and Jungle. And you can subdenominate them all you want.
The rest you really should not waste your time with.. ie Trance. :disgust:
Many names you dropped were very mainstream electronica. Not sure if you have been exposed to the underground or even know its there.

 

[technogeeky]

I know it's there.


I'm not sure I know much about it, but I supposed I could be enlightened.


I'm not the kind of person that actively goes after music. I listen to what comes to me or what I can find, and if I like it, I listen to it. It actually applies to all music, not just techno. I don't like any one genre or anything.


I listened to something recently called London Underground - but I think it was mainstream artists. It was really smooth.

-tg

 

[eliteorange]

get reason, use a midi keyboard if u know how to play em, (look for USB midi interface or a midi to joystick port to connect keyboard to ur pc) and read the reason manual....


whoever said there were only 3 good electronic music types is a m0r0n!