Gathering more ideas, more questions!

  • Thread starter Thread starter East Villian
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East Villian

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I'm not as educated as I should be, but I'm hard at work to learn more about production. Well, heres the deal. I'm 15, I'm trying to get a job to save up money to put into music. I'm not at all sure what I want to save up for, so thats why I'm here. I'm not heavy into recording bands, I'm into composing instrumentals. But, its a big chance that after I learn how to do things & get an idea of what I wanna do, I'm anxious to start production of bands. But, for the time being, I'd like to be an instrumentalist.

I'm not sure just what I need to start making instrumentals. I'm here to ask some questions about that, what exactly do I need to start doing this? I know I need a workstation or modules, but like I said I'm not educated about this stuff. I need to know what else I need to do this (recording, amps ETC). So if someone that knows more than I do, could help me out I'd appreciate it very much. Thanks again HR, Peace.

East Villian
 
I'm a newbie, I don't own any piece of equipment. I use to play piano a couple of years ago, now I'm getting back into it.

East Villian
 
So you will be writing / recording primarily piano instrumentals?
 
Yo Villain of th East:

First of all, stay in school; go to college; go to Juliard or USC music school; get your piano chops into high gear; then, go for a career.

I once went to concert by Maynard Ferguson. At mid-show, he introduced the band; there were no members under 26 or 28 years; and, he also gave their music educational credentials. All were graduates of a college with music background/major.

After you do this, I picture you on stage at Carnegie Hall.

Green Hornet:D :cool: :p :p
 
East Vilian:
Do you have a piano or not? If not, you could probably go for some basic computer set-up (assuming you have a computer), and a basic MIDI controller keyboard which would allow you to play the sounds in your computer via the MIDI ins and outs on your soundcard...you can pick-up some cheap recording software as well, so you can record the stuff you play...and when you just want to practise playing, just turn your computer on and....off you go....
This whole set-up (again assuming you have the computer already) probably wouldn't cost you more than couple of hundred dollars...
Good luck:)
 
Hmm..

Emeric - Yeah, primarily piano/workstation instrumentals.

TGH - Big ups man, thanks for the help. Thats what I'm planning for my future, your totally right about the college & music school. I have to wait that out though, I'm still in 9th grade.

Axis - I'm not on a budget. I'm willing to spend all my work checks on music stuff. I wanna pursue it fully.

Roker - Yes, Ive got a PC. But I'm eventually gonna invest in one in the future so I can keep it in my room. I dont have a controller yet, but I'm looking into a Kurzweil SP. I'll buy a soundcard once I get a job (which I'm hoping is very soon). The soundcard I have in the PC I'm on now isn't very good, I know its all about latency, and the card in here now isn't very good.

Thanks HR, Peace.

East Villian (The Newbie) :)
 
oh thats awesome another 9th grader on the boards (i'm one also)

its going to be more than a couple hundred
you'll need at least:
midi controller
workstation
cables
soundcard
recording software
monitors
amp for monitors
and something to mix down to


thats all going on the asumption that its all going direct into the soundcard.

If your recording a piano w/ mics it will be a couple hundred more.
 
my sugjestion to you would be to look into VST instruments. how VST works, basically, is you plug in a midi controller to your computer, you open a program like Cubase, get a track ready to record, open a VST plugin (it will look like a window on your computer with some sliders or knobs), when you press a key on your MIDI controller the plugin will make a noise, you can control the sound by moving the faders and knobs on the plug-ins window. there are hundreds of VST instruments raning from pianos to synths to strings, even drum machines. you can also get a step squencer program like Fruityloops to program things like drum beats, or sequencial synth or bass noises. considering you have a decent computer 500mhz+ with 164ram+, I would look into

-Cubase

-Fruityloops

-and a MIDI controller

Reason is another great program that you should look into, it kind of does everything all in one (tone generation, drum machine, virtual mixers, recording, mp3 mixdown), but it's more electronica/dance oriented. but you definatly need to get yourself a midi controller. and although Reason is electronica oriented, it's all about what you do with what you have.

also, all that stuff about monitors and mixdown, i dont' think you'd have to worry about until you started bringing in actual instruments, like acoustic guitars or physical pianos. as long as you keep it all in the computer, you could easily get by with just a good computer and a midi controller.

here's some stuff to look at:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...82098864072/search/g=key/detail/base_id/51659

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=021020210628012236182098864072/g=key/search/c=4707

http://www.propellerheads.se/
 
Thanks.

I think I'm gonna need the monitors. I wanna invest in a acoustic & electric with an amp. But that wont be for awhile, but I still am gonna choose to buy some monitors. I'm new, and I know its not a good idea to buy something I wont like or that I find out doesnt work for me. But, I'm just like that, Ill take the chance.

Heres what Ive thought about so far:

- Triton or Motif and/or Nord Lead 2/3 (I like the concept of VA).
- Studiologic MIDI controller (I want the weighted keys so I can train in piano, for the dexterity)
- Mackie HR824 Monitors (2)
- Mackie 1402 VLZ ProMixer
- PC (2.4 mghz, 40 Gb, burner & 512 Mb)

None of them are for sure, but this is the equipment Im reading about & I like what I hear. Ill find out if I want them after I research more about them. I know thats alot of money, but I'm sacrificing it. Even if this dont work out for me, I know it will though. Whew, so much to do & so much little time to do with it. I know it'll be worth the while 'cause Ill choose what to with that lifetime. Thanks HR, (enough of the cliches). Peace.

East Villian
 
Re: Thanks.

East Villian said:
..........
- Triton or Motif and/or Nord Lead 2/3 (I like the concept of VA).
- Studiologic MIDI controller (I want the weighted keys so I can train in piano, for the dexterity)
- Mackie HR824 Monitors (2)
- Mackie 1402 VLZ ProMixer
- PC (2.4 mghz, 40 Gb, burner & 512 Mb)
.........
Click to expand...

What type of job do you plan on getting????

Your unfinished list is already expensive. :eek:
 
Good luck E V.

Don't let my last post (to you) get you discouraged. :)
 
Yeah..

I know its expensive, but to me its irrelevant. I'm willing to spend money on something that can benefit me, and take me away from what I'm involved in now. Thats why I plan to spend such a huge amount of money on it. Because I'm tired of doing the same shit everyday, I wanna spend time developing something like music to benefit me & hopefully take me away from drugs, alchohol & all the stuff like that. Not because I cant settle for nothing but the best equipment, because I know it'll help me, for me & not just to make amazing instrumentals to sell them for who knows what or how much money. Thanks for the encouragement Spinster, I dont think it matters what kind of job I plan on getting. Its just about the time I have to earn & save the money to get what I want. I'm not worried about the hours pay, as long as I know I'm getting paid. Y'know what I mean? Peace.

East Villian
 
East Villian said:
...hopefully take me away from drugs, alchohol & all the stuff like that.
Click to expand...

Then stay away from Dragon Cave.


...I dont think it matters what kind of job I plan on getting.
Click to expand...

Man, there's a Lightsaber for Jedi... and a Swiss Knife for Mac Gyver. If you know what's your goal, at least for now, you don't have to spend that much at once for your weapon. It can be developed after.

Its just about the time I have to earn & save the money to get what I want. I'm not worried about the hours pay, as long as I know I'm getting paid. Y'know what I mean? Peace.

East Villian
Click to expand...

'Been there before... when I was...:rolleyes: yup... ;)
Keep goin' son... May the force be with you.
And we'll be here anytime you need. :cool:
 
Thanks Argo!

I know man, but Ive been developing since I was 13. Now is the time to advance, every pawn is a possible queen. I realise all that your talking about, we all start somewhere & turning into one of them top-notch cats isn't gonna happen overnight. I know it'll be awhile before things move along, but I'm here for the time being & ready to wait it out. Thanks James, Peace.

East Villian
 
Hey EV - I've been thinking . . .

I've seen a bunch of posts from you all over the site. You seem like you really are serious, so I've got a suggestion for you.

If you live in or near a decent sized city, go and check out the professional recording studios.

Don't be a pain in the ass, but go and tell them you want to come and work there. (Don't laugh, they all have someone who goes for sandwiches, sweeps the floor, moves amps and pianos, answers the phones when Suzie Q is off, etc etc.)
They're going to tell you 'No' a lot - we don't have any openings. Be very polite and say ' Can I give you my phone number and if you have anything, can you call me?
And keep trying - eventually, someone's going to have a spot come open, and if you're nice to them, polite and friendly, they'll say 'Hey, wher'es that kid's phone number?'

Once you get in, choose your time carefully, but start asking questions like 'Why do you use that mic instead of this one for the drum overheads' and 'what makes the bass sound like that?' etc etc

Pretty soon, you' ll begin to be getting free lessons from guys who doi it for a living.

And eventually, you'll know a whole bunch of stuff.

Good luck,

foo
 
Wow!

Beleive it or not, Ive heard about people doing that. But its weird, Ive never actually considered going through with something like that, but now I'm going to. You are right foo, I'm serious about all of the stuff I talk & ask about. I know that if I wanna do all what I want I cant sit on my ass & let the TV leak into my brain. Ive got quite the plan, in fact I think I have a close-to-genius plan of how I can get things going for my music. But Ive got a bit of personal issues to deal with first before I start all of this. I appreciate all of the help I get here, its really helping me out my mental game. I'm so anxious to start making beats, everyday more & more ideas I think of pour out of my thoughts. I gotta start writing them down soon because alot of them are neat. Well, I think thats enough of the opening up, I'm sure we all dont want me to ramble on. :)

Skye "East Villian" Hunter

I'm editing this in for foo, this is the studio in my area.

www.platinumgoldstudios.com (Quite amazing studio, I think!)
 
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