View Full Version : Home Music Production
Ian2day
27-03-2009, 05:31 PM
Which package do others use at home to create tracks? I've been looking at the Magix brand of software adn they seem to offer the solution in a box that I am after. Also would you recommend buying the Music maker 15 or the Music studio 15? I've seen the band in a box software called cheesy nad there is another one called fruity loops that I have heard about. I can't afford Protools so need something cheap and easy to learn with. Ideas anyone?
logic bomb
27-03-2009, 05:44 PM
Sony Acid Pro and Ableton Live are both good. I use Spectrasonics Atmosphere for synths.
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Are there any decent free programs out there?
kanetikofopanarise
02-04-2009, 10:56 PM
Hi Ian2day, are you just starting out?
I haven't used the magix software before but acid works really well with loops.
verndewd
02-04-2009, 11:59 PM
nero does multi tracks, and there is another one my brother uses its really simple and free http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ . I use pro tools and sonar there arent many free and good multitrack apps.youd do well to invest so you can have the functionality. At least with an mbox or m audio interface. or line 6 for that matter has a very inexpensive solution for pc. It is true that you get what you pay for in audio paying for nothing means you better have some good outboard equipment.
Audacity is as good as free gets
Ian2day
03-04-2009, 12:18 AM
The Sony product seems to be saying all the right things to get me to purchase. Like having tutorials and other add ons which can expand its functionality. But I'm a sceptic as far as believing all the it even makes the bed for you claims made by reviewers elsewhere.
Yes I am just starting out with home music production. I cant play any instruments and so want something which is intuitive to use and will not overwhelm me with techno jargon to start with. I was really just looking to lay some lyrics over a metronome so I could protect my copyright. However this has now expanded to maybe producing some demos to try and sell my material to artists on sites like hitquarters. Or I may jsut release them myself.
I did have loads of production ideas for beats and melodies but had them all stolen. It shouldn't be too long before I have more though. I'm not looking for a torent of protools. As due to my understandable paranoia, I'll be purchasing the software from a physical shop. This leaves me with a dilema of not wanting to have to download updates. I dont trust any of the companies after my experiences. So hard copies only produced on a computer not connected to the internet ever will be initially made to gain protection of my copyright.
I've also seen something called a vocorder to flatten the tone in voices. Although I'm not convinced that I will be the vocalist for any of the tracks. Even though others have used my voice for the demos thay made from my stolen material. But that is another story altogether.
verndewd
03-04-2009, 12:28 AM
the great thing about entry level protools is how easy it is to use. IMO its the best 3-400 youll ever spend. see if you can find one on ebay for half that. For intuitive recording you cant beat protools.
astrochicken
03-04-2009, 12:46 AM
Protools is the industry standard.
To get up and running fast.. i'd recommend acid. LOL. As in software. ;)
Sent you a PM.
Dunno if you're using a mac, i'm pretty sure that comes with garageband which would suffice for what you intend.
If you're running a pc then you're looking at extra hardware too.. anything M-audio makes is good (i use a fastrack pro USB)
And get yourself a decent mic... you can get a joe meek condenser mic for next to nothing.
relax
03-04-2009, 01:01 AM
None of that awful shit in the OP, try Reason 4.0 or Ableton Live, expensive yes if you buy them. Get them free from a torrent site.
seaweed
03-04-2009, 02:07 AM
None of that awful shit in the OP, try Reason 4.0 or Ableton Live, expensive yes if you buy them. Get them free from a torrent site.
Yes, I have to agree about Reason. I haven't used Ableton yet, but I know many who do. Using cheaper, more basic software is a false economy in the end. Although having said that, I'm lucky enough to get most of my music software free as I work in the industry.
I use Reason 4, and MOTU Digital Performer on a Mac. Also, if you're using a Mac, then Garageband (which comes free with many Macs) can be useful for rough sketches.
You wouldn't believe the amount of adverts and TV programme's scores that use the free sounds that come with Garageband. Lazy so and so's!:D
seaweed
03-04-2009, 02:14 AM
Protools is the industry standard.
To get up and running fast.. i'd recommend acid. LOL. As in software. ;)
Sent you a PM.
Dunno if you're using a mac, i'm pretty sure that comes with garageband which would suffice for what you intend.
If you're running a pc then you're looking at extra hardware too.. anything M-audio makes is good (i use a fastrack pro USB)
And get yourself a decent mic... you can get a joe meek condenser mic for next to nothing.
I use an M-Audio Ozone for Midi and audio input, and a Joe Meek JM47. My favourite mic remains the original Neumann U87, though I don't own one yet. It's on my wishlist! :)
astrochicken
03-04-2009, 11:14 AM
I use an M-Audio Ozone for Midi and audio input, and a Joe Meek JM47. My favourite mic remains the original Neumann U87, though I don't own one yet. It's on my wishlist! :)
The Neumann's probably on everybodys wishlist.
The joe meek still does the business though.
disorder2k8
03-04-2009, 11:33 AM
Fruityloops studio and Reason 3 and the vengeance essential club sounds if you're into that sort of thing
dmt head
03-04-2009, 12:00 PM
Ive heard lots of good things about fruityloops. How its a sequencer and its got sounds in it like reason. Reason gets slagged of a lot but with a bit of work you can get pretty decent stuff. I use reason 4 rewired into nuendo (sequencer), very similiar to cubase, most sequencers are the same right enough. Ive always wanted a shot of that ableton live.
I got a usb tascam soundcard, bloody thing doesnt run on vista which I have on my laptop. Tried to wipe my laptop to put xp on it but its not letting me, ive seriously had it with this soundcard. In saying that it works well with xp, 0 latency just plug in and go. I wanted a mobile studio but my laptop wont let me wipe it, anyone any thoughts? Ive been trying to boot from xp disc and wipe but it wont let me :mad:
Make sure things are compatible before you buy as it can be very frustrating when things dont bloody work! Story of my life tbh :rolleyes:
clozaril
03-04-2009, 12:01 PM
this is useful ian http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
clozaril
03-04-2009, 12:35 PM
also look for deal, tie-ins and bundles for example i bought a soundcard and got reason for £140 think the retail is £300. as well if you by a soundcard you get light versions on ableton and cubase plus others.
audiophile 24/69 http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/1142-m-audio-audiophile-2496.html
emu0404 http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/3844-e-mu-0404-pci.html
btw there is a new softsynth which looks really sweet been launched by a british company it's 3 synths in one and i can't remember the name of it or the company saw the video of the product and the research.
does this ring any bells with anyone ?
glacidtek
03-04-2009, 12:56 PM
I'v a studio, and software wise over the last few years I'm using ableton live.... its realy amazing, intuitive (once you get the basics), and extremely adaptable.....
at the moment, I'v live synked between a laptop and my PC.... mostly use one for midi and one for audio.....
got a lovely soundcraft spirit 12 mixers,
focusright compounder,
microkorg,
echo park,
sherman filterbank,
loads of midi control..... amongst other things.
theres a few pictures and some music on myspace....the link is below.
truthseeker1980
03-04-2009, 01:01 PM
You can never go wrong with fruity loops, as long as you use cool edit or similar for chopping samples.
That's my preference anyway, like Acid pro too.:D
sharpiesix
03-04-2009, 01:30 PM
Have you tried Reaper? Its free, the licence never runs out. There are lots of free plug ins and its quite easy to use.
http://www.reaper.fm/
supertzar
03-04-2009, 02:59 PM
A lot of people love Reaper. I would think that is probably the best choice since it is free and has a reputation of being extremely reliable and highly functional.
truthseeker1980
03-04-2009, 03:03 PM
if you file share all are free, i have had fruity loops since version 3 and not paid for any of them. All work with no problems. :D
astrochicken
03-04-2009, 04:16 PM
also look for deal, tie-ins and bundles for example i bought a soundcard and got reason for £140 think the retail is £300. as well if you by a soundcard you get light versions on ableton and cubase plus others.
Definetly.. keep an eye out for bundles.
this is a good deal for 199 Euros (http://www.thomann.de/gb/m_audio_fast_track_prosc600.htm) as the audio interface on it's own cost 168 euros.
I don't recall what the price was at the time.. but i bought one of those with a bloody good joe meek condenser mic.
Ian2day
03-04-2009, 06:26 PM
Thanks for the suggestions. It may actually be counterproductive me faced with all this choice. I may look at the macbook route as a way to get something to create movies is also included I believe. However too much choice can be overkill at times and end up with distracting me from what I want to do.
I don't have an endless pile of cash to hand so my money has to be spent well. As I said before I am going to avoid things which require me to download the software. I have an eclectic musical disposition so will need more than one soundbank to draw from.
I'm where I am now in life all because they banned my school teacher from teaching me how to read and write music when I was like 8 years old. Who knows how different the world would be if they had not interferred in my life. Anyway thanks for the offers and advice.
relax
03-04-2009, 07:09 PM
I don't have an endless pile of cash to hand so my money has to be spent well.
You dont have to spend any money
As I said before I am going to avoid things which require me to download the software.
Err why?
I have an eclectic musical disposition so will need more than one soundbank to draw from.
"An Eclectic musical disposition" HAHA! thats great sounds like a really pretentious way of saying you like different sounds / styles to me. Programs like Reason provide you with two MASSIVE soundbanks, then theres the entire internet on top of that with free samples of anything you can imagine to make music from, best example bieng http://www.freesound.org
astrochicken
03-04-2009, 07:42 PM
I'm where I am now in life all because they banned my school teacher from teaching me how to read and write music when I was like 8 years old. Who knows how different the world would be if they had not interferred in my life. Anyway thanks for the offers and advice.
I've been gigging on off or about 18 years..10 of those fulltime.
I don't read music. It'll take me about 30 seconds to work out each of the notes in a bar.. but interesting yarn.. i bumped in to a guy at a party who played for the one of the major philharmonic orchestras at a party... take away his sheet music and the guy was lost.. absolutely no improvisational skills.. i mean totally lost. I could tell him "this song's in G and the middle eights in bm".. lost him totally.
supertzar
03-04-2009, 07:50 PM
Which program you want to use depends on how you want to work. Do you want to simply record and mix multitrack audio or do you want to use MIDI? Do you want to use loops?
i pretty much abandoned software, i use mainly a sp 404.
i used to only use reason before i had hardware. now when i sit down at reason i cant do anything at all and i used to be a whiz.
anyway i like fruityloops and cool edit for pc music.
you can get all the pay programs free, but if your using it to make profit, then dont be a pirate.
peace