First time producer requiring help, guidance and advice!

Hi guys,

I'm completely green to music production and have just joined the forums as it seems there is a wealth of knowledge I can tap into before spending my hard earned $$$ on products that might not be suited to my needs!

By way of background, I'm a professional DJ and have been bitten by the production bug. I'm naturally musical and already have an idea of how to use the various off the shelf production software; my questions are around samplers/drum machines.

I have been doing some research and have heard raving reviews about the MPC1000/2000 models, but most of the comments seem to be focused around hip hop/RnB production. I'm a house/garage music enthusiast, but am also really into the oldskool hip hop, like Son Doobie and DJ Muggs etc.

With this in mind, I'd be really grateful if you could point me in the right direction for a suitable drum machine/sampling unit that would suit me. I'm in the lucky position where I'm not too worried about price (to a degree; I'm not about to fork out on a full-on studio). I'm also trying to get my hands on a TR-909 as I know these are commonplace with the genres I've mentioned. (Before you say, I know - rare as rocking horse...)

FYI I currently own a Nord Lead 2X which I'm hoping to incorporate into my music too.

I apologise in advance if this question is misplaced on these forums, but I'd rather ask people in the know than go to a store and have them sell me anything.

I'm grateful for your help and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Elliot Marx

Elliot Marx wrote:Hi guys,

I'm completely green to music production and have just joined the forums as it seems there is a wealth of knowledge I can tap into before spending my hard earned $$$ on products that might not be suited to my needs!

By way of background, I'm a professional DJ and have been bitten by the production bug. I'm naturally musical and already have an idea of how to use the various off the shelf production software; my questions are around samplers/drum machines.

I have been doing some research and have heard raving reviews about the MPC1000/2000 models, but most of the comments seem to be focused around hip hop/RnB production. I'm a house/garage music enthusiast, but am also really into the oldskool hip hop, like Son Doobie and DJ Muggs etc.

With this in mind, I'd be really grateful if you could point me in the right direction for a suitable drum machine/sampling unit that would suit me. I'm in the lucky position where I'm not too worried about price (to a degree; I'm not about to fork out on a full-on studio). I'm also trying to get my hands on a TR-909 as I know these are commonplace with the genres I've mentioned. (Before you say, I know - rare as rocking horse...)

FYI I currently own a Nord Lead 2X which I'm hoping to incorporate into my music too.

I apologise in advance if this question is misplaced on these forums, but I'd rather ask people in the know than go to a store and have them sell me anything.

I'm grateful for your help and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Elliot Marx

Well I see nobody have tried to help, so I'll be first to say: Go to a music store near you and just go through a selection of different drum machines, samplers, ect. till you find best what suit what you are trying to do or your needs. To answer your question there no specific machine that I or anybody can point you in the direction to and say that's better for you. It's what you make of the unit.

Cheers mate, I'm on the case with this already. I will let you know how I get on.

Lampdog wrote:they are all blank canvas' waiting for you to paint you audio picture.

Thats deep right there!!!!

Lampdog, thanks for your warm welcome and advice. As it happens, I went to a store on the weekend and checked out the 2500 and I was really impressed.

As mentioned in my fiorst post I will be focusing mainly on funky house and the blank cavass concept is one that really appeals to me, as I had a look at the 909 and 808 grooveboxes; smart bits of kit but too contrived on the pre-sets; i'm looking for originality...

One question I have is with regard to sampling those filtered disco drum/bass loops as is popular in the genre; will this be possible using the MPC or would it be done on production software?

Hope to hear back from you soon.

Thanks

p.s. Sydney is a great place - I'm British but moved out here a year ago and loving it!!!

Elliot Marx wrote:One question I have is with regard to sampling those filtered disco drum/bass loops as is popular in the genre; will this be possible using the MPC or would it be done on production software?

not too sure what ur saying. but I'll try to answer anyway. If you are talking about looping a sample-yes that can be done. If you are talking about filtering a sample on the mpc, that depends. Different mpcs offer different things, or you might need to buy and fx card seperate and install it. Or you can just filter it on outboard gear ,or software.

Nice one juxt, sorry if my question wasn't expressed as well as it could, your answer was helpful...

I'm in the process of getting my 2500 this week and as mentioned, the focus of my work will be filtered funky house. I'm aware of the looping function on the MPC, but I'd like to find out more about the FX card you mentioned; is this something that can be used as a plug in for the MPC or something you would use separately with a computer?

Again, apologies if this hasn't made much sense...

Cheers

Elliot

the fx card is something that is installed in the mpc. I'm not sure if you need an fx card in the 2500 or if you can even install it on the 2500. research the specs. Or hit up the 2500 forum.

The 2500 does come with 2 internal fx processors.

LaJProd wrote:

Lampdog wrote:they are all blank canvas' waiting for you to paint you audio picture.

Thats deep right there!!!!

yup--

thats one of the most realest shht ive heard on this forum since ive been here.. lamp is one point with that one..

what do your favourite producers use? find out, read interviews

try and look at gear that is suited to what genre you are trying to make

be patient and make sure you know what you are buying can and cant do

good luck

Nice one fellas, thanks for your advice... can't wait to get the groove on with my 2500.

Already on the case GHB...