major n00b question about making beats!

[chris86]

so what is the easiest way? i'm just starting up (got a midi controller, got sequencer software w/soft synths, etc) just wanna make simple beats under my tracks (ambient, gentle electronica, etc) i'd like to not spend a bundle and i'm not really interested in drum loops. can someone recommend a plug-in? what about non-keyboard midi-controllers? i've seen a couple videos on youtube with ppl using them to trigger beats. what makes them so special to do that? is it just preference? is it easier? how does that work? i'd just appreciate some insight from someone helpful and experienced. thanks alot in advance for some guidance!

peace,
chris

 

[ssscientist]

i'm just starting up (got a midi controller, got sequencer software w/soft synths, etc) can someone recommend a plug-in?

Be a little clearer about what you've got right now.

Do you mean that you already own a midi controller? If so, what kind?

What sequencing software do you own? Mac, PC or Linux?

What soft synths do you have now? What is your budget for another soft synth/plugin?

You say you don't want to spend 'a bundle' --- what do you consider a bundle?


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[chris86]

Be a little clearer about what you've got right now.

Do you mean that you already own a midi controller? If so, what kind?

What sequencing software do you own? Mac, PC or Linux?

What soft synths do you have now? What is your budget for another soft synth/plugin?

You say you don't want to spend 'a bundle' --- what do you consider a bundle?


.

oh ok, sorry.

midi controller: edirol pcr 500 ['got a midi controller' doesn't mean own? sorry. but just cause i'm a noob, doesn't mean i'm an idiot ]

sequencer: cakewalk sonar le. so PC.

soft synth i have: just what was bundled with sonar [dimension + dreamstation]

budget for soft synth/plug-in: not over $300 [but maybe i'd spend more if Reason was worth it]

 

[whjr15]

can someone recommend a plug-in?

The Timbaland v3.0.

A plugin that makes beats?!?

But seriously, try downloading the demo of FruityLoops, and see if it's somethin you like... Only thing about the demo is you cant save anything, but at least you get to try it out before you buy it.

http://demo.flstudio.com/

 

[chris86]

The Timbaland v3.0.

A plugin that makes beats?!?

But seriously, try downloading the demo of FruityLoops, and see if it's somethin you like... Only thing about the demo is you cant save anything, but at least you get to try it out before you buy it.

lol @ Timbaland v3.0 (haha, i think?) ;p

yeah i just checked out the FL Studio site. I thought the express version looked ok. it's so cheap! and since it's a drum machine, hey that's just what i was after. but if the producer and more expensive packages come with it anyway, i'll just maybe go for one of those.

yep, gonna try out the demo.

thx!

 

[whjr15]

Haha, yeah I was kidding... But I think FruityLoops is very useful for what you're asking. Play around with the demo and get used to it. Look around online (google is your friend) for tutorials if you get confused, or feel free to PM me.

 

[chris86]

Haha, yeah I was kidding... But I think FruityLoops is very useful for what you're asking. Play around with the demo and get used to it. Look around online (google is your friend) for tutorials if you get confused, or feel free to PM me.

i will, thanks

 

[chris86]

also, i wondered about sample cds too (like loopline from sonivox) and like...i dunno, i don't want tracks that are 'quantized'. just more natural with different beats mixed in (ala boards of canada, etc) but varying and changing and stuff. i know that is an art that you don't learn over night, but i want to know how to do things like that in the future.

 

[ssscientist]

midi controller: edirol pcr 500 ['got a midi controller' doesn't mean own? sorry. but just cause i'm a noob, doesn't mean i'm an idiot ]
budget for soft synth/plug-in: not over $300 [but maybe i'd spend more if Reason was worth it]

Just cause you're a noob doesn't mean you get to post snotty answers.

If you want respect, give respect.

Reason IS worth it. It does so much more than FL ever could. I use it every day, and it's flexible enough so that I can imagine using it for the next 5 years. With all the Refills available it can be many things to many people and can be customized easily to fit your needs and your way of working.

As far as sample CD's go, I've rarely found one with more than a few usable sounds. You're much better off making your own. When I reach a sticking point on a particular composition I look in a folder on my hard drive in which I store four or eight or sixteen bar snips of wav files that sound cool but don't have an anchor. I'll bring up a bunch of them and see if any fit the current song, and more often than not I'll find something inspiring either to use as is or to be remade to add to the current piece.

When you're just starting to use Reason is a very good time to start your own sample loops folder because it's easier to concentrate on a four or eight bar loop than a whole song. Just use the 'Export Loop as Audio' function and keep them in a separate folder. Tag them with a title and bpm and maybe the key they're in. Assuming you back up your data you can have these for years and keep adding to them in slow times or on 'just don't feel creative' days.



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[chris86]

Just cause you're a noob doesn't mean you get to post snotty answers.

If you want respect, give respect.

Reason IS worth it. It does so much more than FL ever could. I use it every day, and it's flexible enough so that I can imagine using it for the next 5 years. With all the Refills available it can be many things to many people and can be customized easily to fit your needs and your way of working.

As far as sample CD's go, I've rarely found one with more than a few usable sounds. You're much better off making your own. When I reach a sticking point on a particular composition I look in a folder on my hard drive in which I store four or eight or sixteen bar snips of wav files that sound cool but don't have an anchor. I'll bring up a bunch of them and see if any fit the current song, and more often than not I'll find something inspiring either to use as is or to be remade to add to the current piece.

When you're just starting to use Reason is a very good time to start your own sample loops folder because it's easier to concentrate on a four or eight bar loop than a whole song. Just use the 'Export Loop as Audio' function and keep them in a separate folder. Tag them with a title and bpm and maybe the key they're in. Assuming you back up your data you can have these for years and keep adding to them in slow times or on 'just don't feel creative' days.



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it wasn't a 'snotty answer'. it was a tongue-and-cheek response to your condescending-toned response. if you're looking for someone to bow down to yr post-count, don't look at me

thankyou for yr help and advice tho. it means alot cause i'm so anxious to just start making music and stop reading/thinking about it

ps. and if YOU want respect, i suggest you do the same as well. my first post...you didn't even respond with 'hi, welcome to the forum' or anything. just a curt, aloof response. what do you expect?

 

[liv_rong]

i make beats as well, though im really a guitar player/drummer.

i have been using fruity loops for many years and i find it very simple to use. i will use this in conjunction with any other program, i use acid to cut up my samples, then edit import them to fl.

most of the stuff i do is sampled stuff, meaning i sample small musical parts from actual songs, then just trigger those samples in fl.

i usually try to sample drum sounds, then tweak them to my desire until i get a sound i want.

i very rarely use any of the pre-packaged samples or loops from anything.

though, sampling from real songs is illegal, if you are just making music for fun or to make beats for friends, like i do, than I think its ok. now if you go out and try to sell many of these, then you may run into a problem.

the stuff that i use synths for is priamrilly just little projects that i do for fun that most will never hear hahaha.

i have used reason a few times, even had it once, but i didnt like it. i guess im stuck on old ways using fruity and acid haha. hell, i now use acid 6.0 for tracking and dont plan on using anything else for a while, but i just use those because thats what i learned on and thats what i am comfortable with.