Just Starting

[I_Go_Hard_32]

What it do.... I know yall probably get this every day, but I am new and dont know where to start. I want to make hip hop beats but dont know how to do it. After watching T.V., I see that many hip hop producers, like Lil Jon, use the AKAI MPC machine (i dont know the official name, I just found it today). I from Texas and I want to make beats mainly to cater to southern artists. My questions are:

1. What is ALL the equipment that you need?
2. Do you need a computer? If so, do I need any software to put on it?
3. If I make a decent beat, is there any legal stuff you must go by to sell the beat? Im asking that question because I see that many people sample voices or songs.

If anyone can help me out with this, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Jae Little]

What it do.... I know yall probably get this every day, but I am new and dont know where to start. I want to make hip hop beats but dont know how to do it. After watching T.V., I see that many hip hop producers, like Lil Jon, use the AKAI MPC machine (i dont know the official name, I just found it today). I from Texas and I want to make beats mainly to cater to southern artists. My questions are:

1. What is ALL the equipment that you need?
2. Do you need a computer? If so, do I need any software to put on it?
3. If I make a decent beat, is there any legal stuff you must go by to sell the beat? Im asking that question because I see that many people sample voices or songs.

If anyone can help me out with this, I would greatly appreciate it.

What's up neighbor (From Oklahoma City)? When it comes to getting started don't rush it because you're going to want to start small and learn each piece of equipment you plan to get. If you just jump into buying a lot of equipment you won't really know what it's capable of doing. But what you need all depends on you. Some start off with programs like Fruity Loops, Acid, Live or Reason and they get themselves some VST Plugins with a midi controller and trigger finger and call it day. But you can also do that and then upgrade piece by piece that's what I'm doing.

1. But things you can get are: Monitors, PC, Headphones, Soundcard, Mixer, Midi Interface, Synth,Drum Machine (MPC), Software, VST Plugins and may be a Turntable. But getting things like them are only if you're interesting in using all hardware. A lot of producers just use software with a controller like I said before. It's all about what you want to do.

2. Yes, you'll need a computer. It's best to have software for looping and sequencing but you can do it in some of the hardwares.

3. Only time you'll need to do legal things are if you're selling the beats. But it's a MUST you get the track cleared if you're doing some sampling. I stay away from sampling because it cuts into publishing. But it's really up to the producer rather you're a sampler or composer.

 

[FALKEN]

yes you can't sell a beat that you ripped part of without paying for the rights to it....you'll end up with a lawsuit. are you going to mix beats off of turntables?? (you did say 'hip-hop') if that is the case, you really dont need much to record your beats at all. get a usb 2-channel interface and some tracking software, and possibly a mixer. I believe the AKAI is a sampler, which would also be useful for sequencing little sounds and stuff that you would play off the tables, or other sources. you can make beats with just that akai, if you know where your samples are coming from. also, get a decent pair of studio monitors. don't use a home stereo.