Making Music
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- 58 Responses
- Popvulture0
You're right - reason's just a synth/sequencing program. Propellerheads has a new program called "Record" for tracking. If I were starting out and wanted to venture outside of garageband, I'd buy Logic or Live. They both have plenty of built in software instruments and effects, plus the general software layouts are well suited for songwriting...
- acescence0
I guess the assumption with "electronic music" is it's all going to be virtual instruments. but even in that case, it's handy to be able to bounce synth tracks down to audio and manipulate them as audio rather than midi.
- M_C_P0
I'm considering going down the Logic road and wondered is it worth the extra bills compared to Logic Express 9? Both seem to share a lot of the same core tech. Any logic/logic express users care to offer insight?
- Meeklo0
I second hobnox
http://www.audiotool.com/100% flash, and super reliable, great sound and the interface makes re-birth look like shit
- acescence0
express doesn't do surround sound, comes with less content and fewer plugins, and doesn't support TDM (protools) hardware
- cheers!M_C_P
- yeah, but if the dude is just starting. he or she, really don't need all of that...yet.akrokdesign
- bored2death0
Don't listen to these people. They just want to dazzle you with their knowledge of obscure music apps. Reason is a SOLID beginners program and is a great introduction to all the basics of electronic music production.
- mg330
Aside from the software, I'll give you some advice: stick with a song when you're working on it.
For me, writing music on the computer and just coming up with stuff is the worst. I send myself off in so many directions. If I find a cool tone and play something, and then come up with something else over that, maybe that will turn into two songs, and so on from there.
I've always been more of a "sit down with a guitar and ideas for lyrics and a melody" kind of songwriter. I'm very proficient at just sitting down and figuring out some verse and chorus ideas and determining the focus of a song. When I sit down at the computer, even to just flesh that idea out, it's so easy to get lost... how should the drums be? what about synth stuff? what about the second guitar part? etc. etc.
STAY FOCUSED, but at the same time, when you have new gear it's a fun free-for-all of just figuring it out. I'm still learning a lot about Logic, I just need to get more dedicated to it. I've got so many ideas for music that I just need to improve my skills for.
- cubanhaze0
Thanks for all the responses, definitely very helpful. I finally got the Roland PCR 300 and i'm really loving it.
As for software I'm still hesitating between Ableton Live and Reason.One question i have is which of these two packages offer most instruments and which of the two sound more realistic? I know that Reason has a shitload of them and Ableton seems to have less, but i've heard that Reason's sound more synthetic in which case i'd go for Live.
Cheers,
P
- akrok0
bump! ;-)
- M_C_P0
damn, you've just described in a nutshell my whole songwriting strategy (or lack of). I thought i was the only one!
I have an ass ton of musical stems, half baked ideas, and experimental starts/stops that have yet to be strung together to form a song. don't get me wrong, i have completed songs but the incomplete ones easily outnumber those.
i think sometimes coming up with riffs and fleshing out the arrangement on paper before going to computer is the way to go.
- inteliboy0
rather then nerding out what software to use - how about some QBN producing tips and advice?
- Noggin0
Sound On Sound is the only magazine you need, the others pale in comparison.
- inteliboy0
TOP GUN SYNTH:
get a polysynth of your choosing - two sawtooths, phase them out of each other, add a subtle pitch lfo & soak in heavy 80's chorus. FTW.
- indian_pole0
electronic music is dead, learn guitar or tin whistle instead.
- that's what they said in the early 80s, look at all the indie rockers learning how to program drum machines nowMeeklo
- WHY SSSOOOO SERIOUSS!?indian_pole
- quack0
sea sick steve ftw
- cubanhaze0
any tips on getting heavy bass sounds?
- JazX0
Start reading this: http://www.computermusic.co.uk
- ckentish0
ignore any reference to fruityloops - reason or ableton or both. works on any decent laptop and yep i also have the oxygen 8 controller akrodesign was talking about - excellent controller.
- JazX0
Made on an iPad: http://www.destroythesilence.com…
Also discovered these guys: http://www.soundtrends.com