Where Do I Start?

I thought about buying an MPC 1000 about a month ago. After I started doing a little research to see what else could help me make dubstep/EDM, my mind was boggled with all the equipment and software out there.

I'm basically wanting a setup where I can make electronic dance music. I have about $1000 to blow on anything. I already have speakers, but I need to know which instruments and software to buy.

I've already been messing around with Beat Maker 2 on my iPhone, and i'm getting familiar with the beat making process.

Thanks guys.

With the general styles of music that you said you want to produce I think it's best to make a list of the kinds of sounds you will need and then determine what's going to generate/sequence them. (Synth tones/Drums/FX etc.) Software or hardware, although for what you want to do something like Ableton Live and some quality VST's fit the bill.

You could use an MPC to make any kind of music but being a sampler you'll have to fill it with sounds/samples appropriate to the styles you want to create. You said EDM generally, so VST's would give you the most bang for the buck as far as being able to generate lots of sounds from scratch and also have their pro presets at your disposal.

Yeah man, Beatmaker 2 is dope.

If you could give a small list of what you want your setup to be capable of it will be easier to recommend various things. I have an extreme amount of plugin instruments and FX, and I would be happy to give you feedback on any of them or even upload you sound examples, but please elaborate a bit on what specific sounds and capabilities you want.

Sorry man but that is extremely vague. "I have 1000$ and I want to make music" there are endless permutations of what to buy but that dosnt mean it would work for you.

Also the MPC is a sampling workstation, while most dubstep is heavily synth based. So you could either sample the synths in bits and peices or loops into the MPC. Unless you have the MPC sequencing external hardware and synths but that would quickly run over 1000$. But most dubstep you hear on the radio or whatever is made on the computer, and it wouldn't be as efficient to make all your synth sounds and load them into the MPC just to sequence. It would just be unnessecary IMHO, unless you are going for a specific MPC beat/dubstep sound.

If you could be more specific about how you want to make music I'm sure it would help people get more of an idea how to advise you moving forward.

I understand what you guys mean. I'm completely new to the music making scene though.

I'm a fan of heavy bass, drums, 808, and other "electronic" sounds. I think sampling from songs and putting bass drops would be fun too.
I'm also a fan of old school hip hop like pharcyde and wu-tang.

I'm basically looking for a hobby since I have tons of time on my hands after school and on the weekends. I'm into cars right now but they are kind of a money pit after one point. I figure with music, if I decide i don't like it, I can either sell my equipment or pick up where I left off it I want to try it again.

What software would be best if I go down the synth and VST road?

As I mentioned Ableton Live is your best bet if you go the software route. The application is tailor made to do almost every production technique that various EDM genres call for. It's a paradise for working with samples as well so doing any kind of hip hop in it is no problem either.

Trouble is the full version costs almost half your budget. There is however an intro version at $139 USD. You could compare the differences here. https://www.ableton.com/shop?orig_ql=/shop

For synths Native Instruments Massive is used very widely in dubstep, that's about $200. Most any quality VST instrument is usually in the $149-$300 range, but there are cheaper exceptions and alternatives.

How about this. There is a Lite version of Ableton with limited tracks. There are also free VST's that actually sound decent. If you like I'll dig out one of the many extra licenses I have for Live Lite. I'll PM you the serial and upload the installer. I believe after you create a user account at Ableton they will upgrade the 5 or 6 LIte version Iwill give you to the Live Lite 8. I'll also link you to some good free VST's to get started. If you decide to purchase the full version the Lite license you unlock will make you eligible for a discount. (I've had the full one for years so these lite licenses pile up when they are packed in with keyboards as freebies)

Won't cost anything but the time to install and then you can see how you like the hobby and it's learning curve before breaking your bread.

If you're interested in that just tell me if you're on PC or Mac.

First of all let me say that cheap or free doesnt mean low quality in the software world. There are tons of free VST synths sample player drumsynths and effects out there.. Sure, there is also a lot of crap but some of the free stuff is on the same level as commertial stuff.
The good thing is, there are people that aready preselect the "best" vsts for you
Here are two lists I visit from time to time to see whats good.

http://bedroomproducersblog.com/free-vst-plugins/
http://www.delamar.de/musikproduktion/f ... nstrumente


For the WHOLE world of VSTs you can visit KVR and search its database for free stuff but here you'll get blown away by the amount of vsts and have to search the good ones for yourself.

http://www.kvraudio.com/

peace

Yeah man, if I was in that genre of music, I would definitely go the software route. Plenty of programs and VSTs at your disposal. Just find a nice controller. Keys and pads combo would suite you like those MPKs, but find something with quality though. Perhaps a Maschine too or the Mikro would save you some bread.

Nice. I appreciate the input. This probably isn't the best forum for me, but i'm just getting my feet wet with music. Listening is easy but after messing around with ableton live for the past few days, it's crazy how everything comes together.

I'm thinking about an MPK49 and fruity loops and maybe an APC40 depending on how much I get into it.

Thanks again.

Beats22 wrote:
I'm thinking about an MPK49 and fruity loops and maybe an APC40 depending on how much I get into it.

Thanks again.

yeah and FL studio's new live mode makes use of the APC and novation launchpads now.. kind of looks cool though it isn't my thing... gotta love fl studio though with how they frankenstein in every popular feature imaginable.

making music on a hardware sampler is way more fun than using a pc and software.

terry towelling wrote:making music on a hardware sampler is way more fun than using a pc and software.

not when you are trying to buy gear to make dubstep and you only have a thousand bucks.... wtf can you buy for that price to get the job done? the mpc5000?

maybe the octatrack wouldn't be too bad though on second thought...

terry towelling wrote:making music on a hardware sampler is way more fun than using a pc and software.

As a hardware user I call this statement BS. You can say that if you tried both and you like hardware more but you don't know if anyone will like hardware more too. Especially when he never used hardware and learn a softwaree workflow.

peace

terry towelling wrote:making music on a hardware sampler is way more fun than using a pc and software.

Yeah so, I'd have more fun banging on pots and pans than sampling but it's not an efficient way to make the music I want to make.

mr_debauch wrote:maybe the octatrack wouldn't be too bad though on second thought...

I think it only has like 8 polyphony, and is limited in other respects as well. Most people I've talked to enjoy using it a lot in a supporting role, but it would never be the main attraction. Definitely a unique and powerful machine though.

EDM/dubstep is so computer oriented but I think that this does not mean you cannot use hardware for that style. That is me using hardware only and it is a live unedited recording. So you can use just hardware and do edm/dubstep. I mean I have not finished it, for proper complextro I got make a few more kits and resample everything. But its not what ya got but how you use it. Well not entirely but, I wanted to say that it is possible to do that genre with just hardware or just software. Or both, what ever you find easiest to use, and sounds good. Hardware is not outdated as quickly and does not need upgrading every year usually but there is more menu diving, setting up, and cost. Software is immediate and readily available so more options now than ever. I do not use software, only iTunes to make an MP3, thats it. I use a few synths and FX with an MPC to a 4 track hard drive recorder.

bliprock wrote:EDM/dubstep is so computer oriented but I think that this does not mean you cannot use hardware for that style.

Of course, you can make anything with anything. But this a begginer trying to start out with his feet on the ground, I'm not gonna send him down a rabbit hole for creativities sake....

The cheapest most unobstructed option at his disposal is a computer with software. Then after he gets into making music and forging his style he can move to whatever setup his hearts desires.