New Beginnings

[McKilligan]

Hi. I've been wanting to get into making some of my own music for a long while, but was always distracted by the nearest brightly blinking light so it's been a long time coming.

Anyway, in terms of mixing some simple background beats, are there any decent free programs available, or if not, what programs do you use and I'll just find a way to get ahold of a copy.

And as for voice recording equipment, I assume that I'm supposed to use something better than a standard $6 ventrilo mic, what can I get that won't set me back too much? I don't have much money to throw around.

Thanks for the help.

[Märk]

1) Use Audition
2) Use Audition's vast library of drum loops to make drum beats
3) Play everything else yourself (bass, guitar, harmonica, fluglehorn, etc)
4) ...
5) PROFIT!

[edit] Don't worry about equipment. Only superficial assholes rate songs on production quality.

[deshead]

And as for voice recording equipment, I assume that I'm supposed to use something better than a standard $6 ventrilo mic, what can I get that won't set me back too much? I don't have much money to throw around.

If you already have an audio interface for your computer (i.e. some way to connect a "real" microphone, not just via the line-in connector on your sound card) you should go with a condenser mic. There are a lot of vocal condenser mics in the $50-$60 range. (e.g. MXL 990, Behringer C1, Apex 430). But you need a proper interface because these microphones require power to operate.

If you don't already have an interface, then your best best is a USB microphone. Samson makes a line of inexpensive dynamic and condenser mics: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=usb ... tnG=Search

[Smalltown Mike]

e.g. MXL 990, Behringer C1, Apex 430

And which of these in particular would you recommend? Or would you suggest another (maybe slightly more expensive) one? (Yes, I know I could drop thousands on a mic, and you and I both know I won't be doing that.)

How much are we looking at (roughly) for those three?

[deshead]

I listed those 3 specifically 'cause they're all less than $60.

They're all about the same quality, too. Which is to say, like any budget condenser mic, they sound somewhat harsh, and sibilant if you're not careful.

For you, between the 3 mics I listed, I say go with the Apex 435 (and note, I meant Apex 435, not 430.) They're imported by Yorkville, Long&McQuade's equipment company, so you can find Apex stuff real cheap in L&M. (I told you about that Apex ribbon mic I got last month, brand new, unopened, below cost!)

But if you can spend a few more dollars, I'm a huge fan of Studio Projects mics. The Studio Projects B1 sells for $150ish, and the C1 for $250ish. (Behringer sells mics with the same model numbers as Studio Projects, but they're NOT the same thing.)

[McKilligan]

Thanks you guys.

As for sampling, what's a good program just to grab and edit existing tracks? Can I do that with Audition?

[HeuristicsInc]

Acid would work for that, probably, and it has good looping capabilities.
-bill

[McKilligan]

What's a good program to create unique sounds and beats, like a synthesizer? I've found a list of existing program, but there's about a million of 'em. What are the pick of the litter?

[starfinger]

reaktor!

-craig

[ken]

Hammerhead is a great, simple, and free drum machine.

Ken

[thehipcola]

reaktor!

-craig

Holy crap, Reaktor is a freaking universe of sound sculpting possibilities. I try to stay away from it, or I get sucked in for days on end.

[McKilligan]

In that case, how can I stay away? I'll check out some tutorials.

[starfinger]

Holy crap, Reaktor

yeah.. it was kind of a joke, in that its' about as beginner-unfriendly as you can get, but boy is it capable of creating "unique sounds and beats"

-craig

[thehipcola]

True enough...I can't think of another vsti that I've had more trouble getting my head wrapped around, but on the other hand, even the learning curve is mind-blowing. Almost everything I hear when screwing around with it practically screams for me to try and build on. I don't think any other vsti fires up my muse quite like it.

[McKilligan]

Actually, I tried my hand at Reaktor last night, and thanks to a tutorial I found, managed to make a bunch of god-awful noises. But I think my foot is close to the door, if not quite in it yet.

And other good tutorials or resources for Reaktor that you know of?

[obscurity]

The best way to learn Reaktor is to read the manual, and then look at some of the included ensembles and see how they've been built. Always have the manual in arms reach and refer back to it whenever you don't understand what a piece of the ensemble does or how it links to the others.

My audio wet dream is a version of Reaktor that can host other VSTis or VSTfx units and treat them like reaktor macros.

[McKilligan]

My dream is to one day understand what the hell you just said.

[starfinger]

My audio wet dream is a version of Reaktor that can host other VSTis or VSTfx units and treat them like reaktor macros.

have you messed with plogue bidule? you can route audio and midi between plugins (and it's own internal contraptions and rewire devices, etc...)

and then you can run the whole bidule setup as a standalone, or VST or rewire device. craaazy

-craig

[McKilligan]

OK, now I'm pretty sure you guys are just making up words.

[Denyer]

maybe you should talk to Rone.

[thehipcola]

have you messed with plogue bidule?

I tried the demo and got a migraine. But I got enough of the jist to know that if I could concentrate for long enough to squeeze the whole thing into my brain, it would be awesome!