Just trying to get started

[TEE-PULSE]

Can someone please help this man out? I have an Akai MPD16 USB/MIDI Pad controller, FL Studio 7 , A Casio CTK900 61 Full-size key MIDI keyboard, A sampler, Steinberg Cubase SE 3,M-Audio Pro Tools M-Powered 7.3 M-Audio Compatible World-Class Production Software. No cords or anything yet. I want to get started making beats on my own gear. I plan to get a MAC or something, some monitors, earphones (Good Quality) and some good quality mics for down the road. I got introduced to this art of making beats while in Iraq where a buddy has been doing it for a while, but I been writing songs for a long time now off and on just as hobby, more of a personal thing. I enjoy it big time and it blends my love for music, my computer skills, and my ear for what I think sounds good with my ability to write. I've always had a serious passion for beats and have made about 20 beats on my partners FL studio program. Nothing elaborate but it's clear my talents have expanded greatly from since I first started about 6 months ago. I know I have a long way to go and am soaking up any peice of knowledge I can about the whole business. For now it's a hobby because I love doing it, but who knows where it will go from here? Any advice on what else I need considering what I already have?

[ssscientist]

For a start, FL7 is PC only or Intel Mac running Bootcamp, a program that will run PC only software on an Intel-equipped Mac. Cubase is crossplatform meaning it runs on both PC and Mac as is ProTools to a point. The upshot of this is if you want to stay with what you know best --- FL --- you will need to switch your focus to buying a fast PC.

You have most everything else you need to get started except, as you say, cables and monitors.

At home I use these --- LINK --- powered monitors, and can recommend them without any ifs or buts. If you can get to a place that has a good stock of monitors listen to the Wharfedale 8.2's and the Samson Rubicon series as well.

The other thing not mentioned in your post is a computer interface. At home I use this --- LINK --- and again can recommend it without reservation. It's well built, sounds great and I've had it for almost 2 trouble-free years. I recommend taking zzounds up on their kind offer of free headphones.

You may also need a small mixing board just to monitor the outputs of your soundcard --- LINK.

Zzounds is also a good place to buy the cabling you'll need. By my count, if you go with the small mixer you'll need 6 tip-ring-sleeve balanced 1/4" cable to go from the interface to the board, a midi cable to hook up the Casio and a USB cable if the MPD16 didn't come with one.

Good luck and come back if you have any further questions on hooking it all up.


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[TEE-PULSE]

Wow, thanks for your expertise. That helps a great deal. Can you elaborate a little on your first sentence about FL. I want to go with what's most compatible. Sounds like Cubase. I'm definately in the my newbiness so I figure I can learn a new program. Hope it didn't sound like I'm a computer whizz when I talked about my computer skills. Let me rephrase that I am computer literate as far as working on a computer but in the sense of knowing the types and all and which is best with which... Not there yet. Like I said I'm trying to soak up anything I can about this. Catch me a few months down the road I'll be smarter, I promise.

[TEE-PULSE]

Wow, thanks for your expertise. That helps a great deal. Can you elaborate a little on your first sentence about FL. I want to go with what's most compatible. Sounds like Cubase. I'm definately in the my newbiness so I figure I can learn a new program. Hope it didn't sound like I'm a computer whizz when I talked about my computer skills. Let me rephrase that I am computer literate as far as working on a computer but in the sense of knowing the types and all and which is best with which... Not there yet. Like I said I'm trying to soak up anything I can about this. Catch me a few months down the road I'll be smarter, I promise.

[TEE-PULSE]

Wow, thanks for your expertise. That helps a great deal. Can you elaborate a little on your first sentence about FL. I want to go with what's most compatible. Sounds like Cubase. I'm definately in the my newbiness so I figure I can learn a new program. Hope it didn't sound like I'm a computer whizz when I talked about my computer skills. Let me rephrase that I am computer literate as far as working on a computer but in the sense of knowing the types and all and which is best with which... Not there yet. Like I said I'm trying to soak up anything I can about this. Catch me a few months down the road I'll be smarter, I promise.

[TEE-PULSE]

Wow, thanks for your expertise. That helps a great deal. Can you elaborate a little on your first sentence about FL. I want to go with what's most compatible. Sounds like Cubase. I'm definately in the my newbiness so I figure I can learn a new program. Hope it didn't sound like I'm a computer whizz when I talked about my computer skills. Let me rephrase that I am computer literate as far as working on a computer but in the sense of knowing the types and all and which is best with which... Not there yet. Like I said I'm trying to soak up anything I can about this. Catch me a few months down the road I'll be smarter, I promise.

[Slowrider]

Could you say that again?

[ssscientist]

Until Macintosh came out with Macs w/Intel processors earlier this year, FL was a PC-only program, meaning no Macintosh version was available.

Since the Intel processors are the ones used in PC's, FL has come out with a version of FL that will run on a Mac provided it's an Intel-equipped Mac and you are running a sort of PC emulation program called 'Bootcamp'.

That's why I say you might just as well refocus on a well specified PC. There's very little difference between the two --- with the Mac you pay a premium price for user friendliness and with a PC you get access to many more programs and applications and software in general, but are more vulnerable to viruses if you go on line.

I have a desktop PC with no modem at all that I keep for music only --- you should strongly consider doing the same.


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[ssscientist]

Originally Posted by Slowrider

Could you say that again?

LOL.

His internet connection must be wonky --- or something...



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[TEE-PULSE]

Sorry bout that. I'm in Iraq and these computers are jacking me up.

[TEE-PULSE]

Originally Posted by ssscientist

Until Macintosh came out with Macs w/Intel processors earlier this year, FL was a PC-only program, meaning no Macintosh version was available.

Since the Intel processors are the ones used in PC's, FL has come out with a version of FL that will run on a Mac provided it's an Intel-equipped Mac and you are running a sort of PC emulation program called 'Bootcamp'.

That's why I say you might just as well refocus on a well specified PC. There's very little difference between the two --- with the Mac you pay a premium price for user friendliness and with a PC you get access to many more programs and applications and software in general, but are more vulnerable to viruses if you go on line.

I have a desktop PC with no modem at all that I keep for music only --- you should strongly consider doing the same.


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Loud and clear. Any other advise you can give would be appreciated because I don't know a whole lot thus far. Venturing off into foreign territory here, big tyme.

[ssscientist]

Feel free to send me a private message via this BBS...

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[TEE-PULSE]

Originally Posted by ssscientist

Feel free to send me a private message via this BBS...

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Already done, you the SHi*!

[TEE-PULSE]

If anybody else got something to add on this do ya thang. I wanna hear the good the bad and the ugly. It's all good shizz.