Music creation software

The DJ bug is biting me again, and since I have a substantial amount of money coming my way from a relative, It's time to get some equipment to scratch that itch.

So I decided I'm getting a Macbook Pro since I'm not touching Windows 10 with a 50 foot pole. But as far as software I'm not sure, Abelton, Pro Tools, Something else?
I'm not sure what do you recommend?

 

Hi, I am using Ableton, but on a Windows based computer. I won't complain about it. But I don't use all the features. I only use it with my MIDI keyboard, to do some 16 bits sounds and melodies for video games.

 

Custom 3D printed vinyl records and some real turntables!

 

That will only get me SOME of the sounds I want out of my DJing. Eventually I'll be getting sequencers and stuff and trying my best to create house music.

 

You need a house to do that in though.

 

Ambiguous question. You need to state what you want to do with it.

I recommend Microsoft Office for keeping your written notes, spreadsheets etc. in order

 

I think I was clear enough, I'm looking for software to produce Hip hop beats, and EDM on.

 

I still want to try the new MPC software + controller solution. There's something magical about sixteen square pads in front of you...

 

Start with a Roland 303, 808 and 909...

 

i hope this was sarcasm and you are aware of the fact that the retro synth/drum machine/ and so on market is no better than the retro game hype ....

get NI Maschine + a DAW of your choice (Logic for the Apple fanboy , Ableton Live, or if you want cheap but solid - Reaper)
Maschine already has a big standard sound bank which will cover all your basic needs + you also get Komplete Elements, so even more high quality sounds + Massive, Monark, FM8, Kontakt and more.

same as Maschine . the mpc software may have a few features that maschine didnt got, but is still generally less stable and you get much more sounds, synths and other stuff with maschine.

 

By Ni Maschine you mean these?

http://www.zzounds.com/cat--Native-Instruments--3253

 

yes, just avoid the micro. it may be okay for live use, but at home its just limiting you.

otherwise a good alternative would be Ableton push 2, if you go the Ableton live route. its more flexible, but also more expensive and gives you no extra sounds, synths and so on.

 

Hmm, I wasn't even thinking about these until you mentioned them. Things like those I was thinking about more for later on. But I'll have the money for it so....

 

Maschine would BE a good starting point, if you like the "mpc" style concept. Out of the box you will have everything to start making music. Especially if you aim to make hip hop, you want a simple and quickly accessible sampler and drumpads.
Maschine software also runs standalone, so no need for a extra DAW to start up. And for mixing and editing tunes, you can easily drag and drop midi to a DAW or run it as plugin.

Grab Reaper when you need a DAW for start, the free trial version has no limitations and when you decide to buy it, it wont kill your budget.

Beside a decent Soundcard and a used Midi Keyboard (waste of money to buy one new when you just start up, enough offers around of decent used ones for bargain prices) you wont need anything else to get into making music, everything beyond that would be extra.

And if you need more effects, synths and other stuff in the future, its always worth to check all the free ones out first, many damn good plugins are free!


If you are still making music on a regular base with a setup like this in a year or longer, then its maybe time to spend more money on whatever you think you could need, but not before. Beside you like wasting money for nothing .

 

oh, i forgot monitors .......
cant really recommend anything in the lowcost range. but i guess also some KRK Rokits are better than nothing for the start.

Just for me they are a waste of money. Before i cant afford something really proper (aiming for APS Klasik - polish brand, with great quality for damn competitive prices) im better off with the old 80ies Speakers i got for the music i make.

 

Not at all. Do you know the music industry at all, from a software point of view?

Are you looking for a sequencer? An offline editor? A sampler? VST plugins? RTAS plugins? Effects? Virtual instruments? Mastering?

What interface will you be using? Are you using any MIDI? What outboard gear are you using? Will you be using this purely in the studio or live?

What sort of sound are you looking to achieve? And I don't just mean a specific genre, I mean instrumentation.

Without that as a real bare minimum, you can't make an informed decision about what you should or shouldn't buy. I'd say get on a music production course, as the knowledge you'll gain is far more valuable than anything... and then you'll be able to make your own informed decisions. Buying stuff for the hell of it is pretty pointless - like buying a Formula 1 car and assuming you'll drive like Schumacher (did) just because you have the same car.

 

Ah ok, in the case I'm not really sure.

I was told if I wanted to make EDM Ableton was a good place to start. I've also been told Pro tools is good for working in hip hop. I'm going to want to sample too, I have large amounts of Jazz to pool from.

Soundwise, I guess I could point you to what Kanye West did on Life of Pablo, and Bassment Jaxx as an idea for the sound I'm looking for.

 

I would say that knowledge is going to be your most vital tool... otherwise, you're just asking for things because someone's told you it's handy, without knowing what it does. You could spend a lot of money buying things you don't need. Music production courses are common now in colleges, you may even find a night course. That'll be your best investment. Plus, it'll allow you access to educational discounts on software.

Pro Tools is a great software DAW... but that doesn't necessarily mean it's right for YOU. It needs a compatible interface. Avid are good at making nice interfaces that don't work with other programs, so you need to decide whether or not to go third party with your interface. It's certainly not the only DAW... some are free, even.

Ableton Live is a sequencer / DAW. It's not the best sequencer, but it has live functionality (if you trust sequencers live!) including beatmatching.

Fuck all, then!

Or did you mean you want to get real musicians and singers to do all the work, whilst you talk over it and take all the credit?

 

I've always picked the software by picking the hardware interface first. I realize this is backwards for some, but has worked well for me. For me, it's all about the feeling of control.

For example...I picked Serato over Traktor because I fell in love with the Pioneer DDJ SX. Same reason I'm considering the MPC line over Maschine...I like the feel of the MPC hardware more.

TL;DR - Go to a store/studio and touch some knobs.

All I can sensibly afford is a Roland 626, but yes...there's something magical about the workflow of these things. I wish I could justify the four grand it would take to get a decent 909...

 

Well isn't that what Rap producers do? The insrumentation on TLOP is very unique though. It's not all samples.