What is a good setup for someone looking to get into beatmaking??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Les W
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Les W

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I just need a list of equipment and function. I wanna use my tax return to experiment with beat making.

I am not rich so plz don't list things that are too expensive thx
 
Need more info.

Budget? Computer recording or standalone? if recording on your existing computer,what are your PC or mac specs?, looking to record vocals?Any existing gear that you plan to incorporate?Pepsi or Coke?
 
Akai MPC. The 2000 is a tight one to look into. The later the model, the more expensive. This is a drum machine, sampler and sequencer.

Of course a sound keyboard. I use a Kawai KC-20.

Maybe a synthesizer.

A computer of course.

Some monitors (speakers) A good pair.

goto www.ebay.com and you can find cheap used equipment in excellent condition.


I have an MPC 2000 w/external cd drive, Kawai KC-20 Keyboard, Tascam 488 8-track Recorder, Electric Guitar, Alto S-8 Mixer (that I dont use), a few mics, a computer with cool edit pro, fruity loops, and thousands of sounds and instruments. Im new to using hardware, so I dont have much...yet...

Good Luck
 
If you are serious about getting help, tell us how much you think you'll have to spend. Until you do, you won't get any kind of applicable info, and if you do glean something, it'll be happenstance instead of design...

What you workin' wit? $200? $500 $900?


djfd
 
Flo' Dolo said:
If you are serious about getting help, tell us how much you think you'll have to spend. Until you do, you won't get any kind of applicable info, and if you do glean something, it'll be happenstance instead of design...

What you workin' wit? $200? $500 $900?


djfd
Click to expand...

Stictly on beat making, not speakers, comp, etc...I'd say $500...
I hope this helps cause I am just getting started
 
Les W;
You didn't state what kind of musical stuff (style) you wanna do or what skills or interests you already have. Are you already a keyboard player? A Dj? Do you wanna do loop based stuff?

With that said, you may wanna just use your computer and cop FruityLoops and maybe a USB/Midi keyboard to trigger sounds. That will be very cheap. Maybe you can get some decent computer speakers for $150 too.

That should help you to device if you wanna go for the long run with this.

Peace.
 
^^

That's good advice right there. Don't spend too much until you decide whether or not you're gonna stick with it.

You said before you want a standalone unit, I'd recommend looking into a GrooveBox like Roland MC-303/505/307 or Yamaha RM1x (got one for sale for $350). If you'd rather have a keyboard, then maybe an Emu MPS or Yamaha SY77.

These all vary in price from low $200s to mid to high $400s. They all can create a track from start to finish.

These are all good for composing your own beats with the onboard sounds. If you want to use samples to make your beats these wouldn't be good options.

IMHO though, Fruity Loops would probably your best bet, unless you're really against using a computer or your computer is severely outdated.
 
all i got is a RM1X and a laptop and a lot of plug-ind and Cubase SX 2.0,,but beleive me you will want som studio monitor speakers..cause thats what i need right now..computer speakers just dont do it..unless someone knows so nice computer speaker that will give the monitor speaker sound..just my 2cents


Willie B Boss Recordings
 
bknot1 said:
all i got is a RM1X and a laptop and a lot of plug-ind and Cubase SX 2.0,,but beleive me you will want som studio monitor speakers..cause thats what i need right now..computer speakers just dont do it..unless someone knows so nice computer speaker that will give the monitor speaker sound..just my 2cents


Willie B Boss Recordings
Click to expand...

what about some Edirols?? They are pretty cheap.

Stray after I get my tax return I may buy that RM1X from you, why can't you sample on them??

I have little beat making exp but I am going to stick with it no matter how long it takes for me to get better. I got fruity loops but I hated it. I learned to sample and drum pattern on a machine by punching buttons and I think that is what I want to do. Plus later I may take guitar and piano lessons so I want to get the "instrument" feel if taht makes sense.

Thx for help so far need even more advice
 
So you do wanna sample…. That brings up a couple issues. If you get something like an MPC or an ASRX Pro you’ll be able to sample and sequence, but you won’t have any bread and butter sounds, no pianos, strings, bass, etc. Any sound you want to play will have to be sampled.

Something like the RM1X or the other GrooveBoxes and keyboards I mentioned will have those bread and butter sounds and will be able to sequence, but can’t sample.

You could buy a GrooveBox for your sounds and sequencer and get a cheap rackmount sampler for your samples. Or get the ASRX Pro for your samples and sequencing and add a sound module for your sounds.

Only thing is, you will need a mixer (or multi-input soundcard) in order to hear both at the same time. Also you’ll have 2 devices to learn and you’ll have to work with MIDI.

Do you want pads (like MPC) or keys?

Read some specs and see some pics: http://www.vintagesynth.org/

Read user reviews: http://www.harmony-central.com/Synth/Data/#man
 
if you want an actual box to bang on vs a software setup...

...check these out.

Roland sp-808 & 808ex
(gotta load all the sounds in, but they store on 100 meg zip disks so you get instant access w/no load time - in other words, "all good")

RS-7000
(has plenty of internal sounds you can use for source material to make your own sounds if you don't wanna use the presets as they are).

ASR-X or ASR-10 or ASR-X Pro

look on ebay. I've seen all units sell for prices within 100 bucks south (roland/ensoniq) & north (RS/ensoniq) of your budget.

You can do your thing via headphones until you can afford some studio monitors.

I believe the ASR-X (or ASR 10) and the ASR-X Pro both have internal sounds as well, plus I think you can stick the ensoniq sound cards in for mo' betta noise...


for what's it's worth...

djfd
 
Last edited:
thx everyone I think I am gettin the picture. right now looks like I may just get an mpc or something I can sample and do drum patterns to make beats on. I will just have to wait a lot longer to get the scratch.
 
Why wait?!?

500 bucks could get me into a serious electronic music production vehicle. Besides, MPCs ain't all they're cracked up to be. Just because Ford made the first cars doesn't mean they're the best ones to buy today...

Either way, have fun, and always turn the music up LOUDER...

djfd
 
I've had the roland sp808 for years and I can definitely recommend it at its current ebay price of roughly $300. One warning, the pads are NOT velocity sensitive, so if you're looking to do some serious RJD2/Pete Rock style chopping, it'll be tough. Otherwise, this thing plus a turntable and preamp will take you anywhere you want to go, and it can also record straight audio from a keyboard or etc. A great first machine, though if I had it to do over again i would go software straight out of the box - it's just much more expensive to do right.
 
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