Electronic music production

waximus

Hi,

Im just looking for advice on what equipment to get for producing electronic sounds. I have been thinking of buying an Apple Mac Book Pro. I suppose what Im asking is, is this the best laptop for the job. And if anybody knows where I can get them cheaper than what the Apple store are selling them for. Any advice you can give will help. Ill just give you the history behind this thread. About ten years ago I got a PC. Funny enough Im using that PC now. But the poor old puter isnt able for any music applications anymore. But back in the day I had a copy of Fruity Loops Pro. I had hours of fun with the PC and the software. And I would really like to take up the hobby again. But Ive read so much crap that I would nearly need someone to hold my hand and say " right buy this this and this and in a about a year youll be making good sounds" Again any help would help.

Thanks.

Anima

I'd just get a new PC if I were you and get the latest version of FLStudio (previously called Fruity Loops). Its got everything you'd need. Its the cheapest route but by no means a bad route. You've got everything from synths to drum machines and a full mastering set. Comes with samples as well.

-jethro-

id have to advise getting a mac, theres a reason most audio engineers / producers use them - they dont crash, they dont freeze...etc. the macbook pro should be perfect, if your looking to get it cheaper then import it from america. as for software, it depends on how long your willing to spend learning it. id recommend reason 4, but its a steep learning curve.

empirix

you should check out the faq in the music production forum. But just to say, for electronic music - Reason 4 is your man and preferably rewire it into Pro tools or cubase etc(more options better sound engines) but Reason 4 alone would be a good start, its handy enough to pick up and theres a lot of stuff out there to help you learn, official website, youtube, books, magazines etc.
As in regard to mac or pc, personally i use a pc and am happy, macs are cool and you could use logic pro then which is excellent. You will also need good studio monitors(apecialised speakers), also i recommend 2 pc monitors, and a good soundcard. I use a core 2 duo dell xps, tannoy reveal monitors, maudio firewire 410 sound card, 2 pc monitors, reason 4, protools, audacity, liveslice, also havestudio headphones, midi keyboard, total cost = about €5000 -€6000. Better off buying some good stuff if you think youll like it and see it as a long term hobby etc. check out Thomann.de for good deals too.

deevey

And I'f your going for a macbook pro, buy from the refurbished shop, full apple warranty with them and you save a bundle.

Spend the extra 500 odd euro on upgrading ram to 4gb, and 7200 200gig hard drive (from memoryc/ komplett / dabs) and still have 250 odd in spare change for some monitors and decent headphones.

I just bought a set of Sony MDR v6's from the us for $50 they really are nice for monitoring for long periods.

Personally I think Reason is yer man for staring off, the learning curve is'nt too steep. If you do get it i'd join "www.reasonstation.net" as there are loads of tutorials and reason tracks you can download and dissect.

Also think about a midi keyboard or controller, some of them have a copy of reason lite / ableton lite(i think its called) which has alot of the funtionality of the full version, but for starting off and getting to grips it would save you a bundle on software, and the controllers aren't all that expensive compared to the price of the software packages. (thomann.de or turnkey for these)

Oh and there's someone selling logic pro for 350 euro on adverts.ie at the mo.

Helix

waximus wrote: »

I have been thinking of buying an Apple Mac Book Pro. I suppose what Im asking is, is this the best laptop for the job

if you dont need portability do NOT buy a laptop

run_Forrest_run

Helix wrote: »

if you dont need portability do NOT buy a laptop

agree 100%.

*Tripper*

Yup this is correct I have a MBP its fupping brilliant but if I didn't need portability(which I do!) I would have gotten an iMac.

Dragan

If you end up going the FLStudio route i would suggest you get your hands on the POI and Toxic plug ins.

Both very, very useful tools.

empirix

with no disrespect to anybody intended but FLStudio just aint got it, more of a hobby than anything else, whilst with Reason(sound engine bit iffy), cubase, abelton, logic, protools, waves, renoise - can produce top quality professional stuff -if ya got plans that is and if you do got plans to maybe producing and releasing tracks your gonna have to spend some cash on various other software and decent hardware, such as software plugins and sample cds etc

Helix

you can produce top notch stuff with fruity too, it just takes longer to get results

its grand for a beginner to start off with for the first year or so tho, before moving onto cubase or logic

Sunn

empirix wrote: »

with no disrespect to anybody intended but FLStudio just aint got it, more of a hobby than anything else, whilst with Reason(sound engine bit iffy), cubase, abelton, logic, protools, waves, renoise - can produce top quality professional stuff -if ya got plans that is and if you do got plans to maybe producing and releasing tracks your gonna have to spend some cash on various other software and decent hardware, such as software plugins and sample cds etc

you don't need to spend any money on software at all.

There are plenty of well made sequencers vsts available for free. Some of the best sounds I've ever made have been with free software.

Its a pity so much emphasis has been placed on the quality of productions rather than the creativity of them.

Helix

good point re the legit free stuff

look at james holden for example, he uses jeskola buzz which is freeware

booooonzo

LMAO!!! @ "they dont crash, they dont freeze"

Entec

empirix wrote: »

with no disrespect to anybody intended but FLStudio just aint got it, more of a hobby than anything else, whilst with Reason(sound engine bit iffy), cubase, abelton, logic, protools, waves, renoise - can produce top quality professional stuff -if ya got plans that is and if you do got plans to maybe producing and releasing tracks your gonna have to spend some cash on various other software and decent hardware, such as software plugins and sample cds etc

theres nothin wrong with FLstudio..it has every thing you need for production