Sample based recording help

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CEM

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I am looking to start sample based recording projects. I have been cutting my teeth on an old version of fruity loops on a laptop(not enough power). So I am looking for hardware or hardwae software combo. There are many terms I do not understand - do I need a groove box, sampler/sequencer, sampling workstation, arranger? Are some of these terms synonymous?
Anyway the type of music I am looking to do is in the vein of NPR's Echos if anyone is familiar. Ambient, electronic/worldbeat sometimes just worldish pop
I will do mostly instumental with some vocals. So I want to do entiresongs on whatever equipment. Also I wish to experiment with other tuning systems so I may need to take a sample and assign specific pitches per key/pad in cents.
So I have no idea what I want or need. I have no specific budget right now - I just want the right equiptment - I don't want to buy a new laptop so I don't want it to do much work if I use it in my setup (use as a sequencer?)
Any help will be greatly appriceated.
BTW - I have been reading some on this forum but since I don't understand all the terms I was a little lost.
 
For hardware, A solid midi sequencer like the Yamaha QY700 and a decent sampler like an Akai S5000 would fit the bill (plus any synths). For software, I would look at Ableton Live as both a performance and production environment. Should be an easy crossover from FL and it has VERY good sampling/looping tools (best I have seen actually)
 
Ok - i did look at the Qy700 and thought it looked like something I might use. So help me out here...THe Qy700 is the composer/arranger (with built in sounds) and I can use it to play my samples with the Akai? Do I need software if that is the case?
Can I just use the laptop as the composer/arranger?
Sorry for my ignorance...
 
Yes, the Qy has its own sounds but being a midi sequencer, it will also control external gear
 
Well there are plenty of samplers and sequencers out there and also full blow workstaions like the Motif
 
Roland SP-606!
USB conections so you can use it with the supplied software(control editing ect.) plus you can import and export samples by the USB or Compact flash.

-Blaze
 
Akai MPC 1000 or the Akai MPC 2000. Highly recommend the MPC cause it has a user friendly interface and can be used as a sequencer, drum machine, and sampler. I currently own the Akai MPC2000 and I love it. The Akai MPC1000 has the CF Card Reader, USB, and alot more other options that i think u would enjoy.
 
My solution was to invest in a powerful desktop computer that I keep just for music, and I strongly second Altitude's Ableton Live recommendation.

I suggest you give Propellerhead's Reason a look too - between the two applications you can't go too far wrong, and they're both deep, stable and user friendly...
 
You can just use a laptop for everything.

Dont really need external gear at all.
Just get some decent sequencing software,
Along with a midi interface, ($40).
But you need some kind of midi based external gear.
Which can get costly.

unless you just want to do it all with audio.
Sampling, Looping, Multitracking
Which i recommend.
Then learn Midi stuff later.

Inwhich you should upgrade to a 24bit soundcard.
(you can get a 24bit external USB sound card for $40)

Ive been recording for years.
Never really even bothered with Midi.


What are the specs of your laptop?
(you may not even need a new one)

Processor speed
RAM
HDsize
USB port?
 
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