Original Message                 Date: 25-Jul-00  @  07:06 AM   -   help for a hobbyist

ddeshetler

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I have been reading through the different topics in this forum and have seen that mostly there are arguements and disagreements. If some of you could, without cursing at one another, please help me out, I would be much obliged. I have found a great interest in music, more specifically trance, drum and bass, remixes, etc. I am interested only in doing this as a hobby but, as a hobby am willing to spend a pretty decent sum (by my inexperienced standards) to have fun doing this. If you could, let me know some good equipment and/or software for doing this. Im not interested in doing clubs, or live gigs, just screwing around at my house.

thank you.

-David.

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Message 11/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  04:57 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

Jasper

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you've got to think about the sound you want to go for too. hard edged or layed back or what? you don't want to spend 500 quid on a synth only to find out it's in completely the wrong direction for you.. (it's really demoralising).

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Message 12/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  05:34 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

ddehetler

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Jasper, I bet it is demoralising. heh, and as for both your and Defectorz comments.

My PC is about ot get replaced, by what, Im not sure at the moment. The computer I am using right now is a temp replacement for the one that got hit by lightening a couple of weeks ago. I want to get a pIII, but Im not sure what processor Im going to get. Atleast 64 meg, I want something more, but most likely an 8gig HD, CD?CD-r, etc.

well...as for the type of music I want to make, something fast, hard and pounding. But, I dont want to block my self in there. I still would like, (when mood permits) to make something a little more on the quiet side. I have a fascination with all music styles, so forgive me if I cant exactly pinpoint the style I want to lock myself into.

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Message 13/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  08:07 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

Jasper

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well the reason I asked is because certain synths are better at certain things.. I aint going to comment on stuff I haven't owned though.. so..

the microwave2 - around 400 or cheaper 2nd hand.. it has tons of depth and the tonal character can be nice to evil.. it's digital so it has that sort of sharp edge to it.. however it can also be flabby and loose it depends on your preference..

in comparison to the yamaha an1x.. I couldn't get anything but trance out of this.. I tried and tried and gave up and sold it.

honestly... go for fruity loops pro.. at 100 quid.. I am dead impressed with this.. download the latest (save disabled) demo to check it out.. but I'm considering buying it to work along side my sampler etc.. it's great for creating loops quickly and tidily.

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Message 14/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  08:19 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

Defector Z

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The first thing I would do is go to the Logic Audio, Cubase VST, Cakewalk websites and download their demos. Or borrow(!) a copy of any from a friend, and play around with it.

Do you have a soundcard attached to your current pc? Will you be getting one? Would you prefer hardware over software?

Do you have any music background?

Honestly, grab a PC, a soundcard and get as much freeware (synths, drum machines, etc.) as you can and play. Consider investing in Rebirth and learn to use that. It's $150 (new, I think) and will give you good exposure to programming rhythms and such. There are lots of softsynths out there as well. Use those. You won't be spending much early, but it sounds like you have a long to go. Especially if you have no musical background.

good starting h/w synths are Yamaha CS1X, Yamaha AN1X, any of the Roland XP synths. Check out the RM1X, too. It's a good an all-in-one as you can get, and you won't want to replace it. Ever. The sequencer is top-notch and the synth in it is a nice bonus. You can always expand, as well. Actually, do that. Get an RM1X. You'll learn sequencing, you have a few options for programming synth sounds, you can expose yourself (heh-heh) to fx (as it has fx built in and you can route the fx in different ways) and the sounds are decent. Once you've learned that, you can add on.

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Message 15/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  08:28 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

ddeshetler

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musical background. Well, I have VERY limited pianist experience and a little more in the guitar (bass and 6-string) nothing else though Im afraid, and not good at all in reading music.

yes, a have a soundcard, and will be getting a better one in the next computer hopefully. Any suggestions on that?

as for the hardware, software thing, I like the idea of the software as you both seem to have agreed on it. now if you can both agree on a program for me to buy. I will be downloading demos, I already have several...(about 300 megs worth) I have yet to try them out though as they are still here at work.

which do you two prefer? hardware or software? and which do you two think is best for some one in my situation? Ive never had any experience in either, so, Im quite the blank when it comes to trying to decide. Pro's and Con's?

thanks, and keep posting.

-david.

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Message 16/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  08:43 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

ddeshetler

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question:

some one I know, that I mentioned I was looking into music making, wants to sell me a Korg X5 synth. Now, neither of you mentioned Korg in the machines tou recommended to me, but, it appears to be in pretty good shape, and he swears its a good price. Ofcourse, being the careful (sometimes..) person I am, I decided to ask you two. he wants 250 for it. dollars that is. let me know.

thanks

david.

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Message 17/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  08:49 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

Defector Z

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I don't have any experience with the X5. Check out the synths I mentioned. And look used. But go to a guitar center and look at the RM1X. You will thank me for that advice. Eventually you will.

I prefer hardware, it is more immediate, it is more stable, it is more portable (I can bring my RM1X on trips with me but I can't bring my PC). But don't listen to us. Go to a music store and hear for yourself. Of course this person you know if going to tell you the X5 is good - he's trying to sell it to you!!!

But s/w is cheaper. If you like cracks, it can be free. Use those a little before you buy anything else. get used to putting music together this way.

Listen to any of the Roland XP's. They have sequencers and can be considered workstations. Try the MC505 as well - taht is a synth/sequencer. You get that instead of the RM1X - they do the same thing in different ways.

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Message 18/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  09:00 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

ddeshetler

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*coughcoughcough* cracks...*ahem*
arent those "Illegal" ?? heh...

I will do that, and yeah, ofcourse he is trying to sell it to me, but some salesmen actually tell the truth. But I will go by Mars or Music Central and check out those synths and see what I think.

Not much where I live, I have to travel an hour to Raliegh to look.

up a bit early arent you? If I had my way, Id still be asleep.

-david

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Message 19/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  09:22 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

Defector Z

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Some people work for a living... :-)

Go to the store and try the synths. Don't trust a salesman, especially in a bigger store. Chances are he doesn't know the difference between a sampler and a smapler. :-) The guitar center dude tried to tell me the RM1X didn't have any drum kits in (I knew it had 46 because I read the brochure, unlike him) and he tried to tell me I couldn't write my own music on it. So no, don't listen to the chain store sales people. Unless you know them from outside the store. Trust me on this one - I have no vested interest here.

If you have to travel so far (I have to travel even farther to get a decent store...), make a day of it. Take a note pad, (with notes on it already - specs and such), play and take notes. Have fun. Spend the day. Before hand, d/l the manuals from the stuff you want to try, and call ahead to make sure they have the instruments on display. No sense driving all the way there to play an RM1X when they don't have one on the floor to play with.

But before you do that, download the manuals, and if you need to, bring a section with you. And don't listen to the sales people. Chances are, they don't know what they are talking about.

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Message 20/23                 Date: 27-Jul-00  @  09:36 AM   -   RE: help for a hobbyist

ddeshetler

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sounds like a plan. and yes, sadly...working is something we must do. *s* but getting up at 5 am every morning is beginning to wear on my nerves. ugh! I need sleep!

I will do that, maybe this weekend. to bad some one like you doesnt live around here, could go and help me with picking out the right thing, and discouragin the wrong.

well...Ill get to downloading...kinda pathetic...I have nothing to do at work but talk about life outside of it...heh, shows you how active my job is.

david.

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