Next Steps with a Midi Keyboard

Hi there, I’m a big fan of Propellerheads Reason (since ver 2.0), which is a self contained DAW but can be combined with other DAWs via Rewire. Others worth a look at are Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, ProTools, Logic et al, there are quite a few and all have their + & -‘s as well as cost. Then you’re in to the world of VST plugins (again depending on the DAW), check Native Instruments, some great stuff there.

I suppose I’m slightly biased but Reason is great in that it contains everything you need to produce music to a high standard. Some may question the quality of the instruments but like any thing you get out what you put in, and it’s mainly people who are slightly lazy and want big sounds out of the box and never venture further than factory presets. Check BoyInABand and DJLucky for some really good examples of what can be achieved in Reason.

It’s all about what you can afford but if money is not a very big deal you should get:

A Midi keyboard, an MPC (Machine or simular) a Mac Pro 8core, a studio soundcard, Genelec studiomonitors or simular.
Reason, Ableton, Cubase and Logic + A lot of soundpluggs fo reason and a lot of VST Instruments/plugg ins.

That besides the MPC is what I do my musik on. (I considder getting a Machine this year)
Besides the MPC I lack the time as I have only made one tune last year.
(That was a riddim I made for my son who tostes as a hobby…..
It was based on a loop from Eek A Mouse – Ganja smuggeling and I ´named it “Smuggle Riddim”
and I made it in 2 hours without using MIDI keyborad I used the computer keyboard.)

If money is a problem I suggest you get a MIDI keyboard and Ableton to get started….
And then Reason…….

Because Ableton is easier than Cubase and Logic to learn and is great for
Mash ups and remixes of existing tracks.
Reason is only a sequenser but a very good one.
IMO you will need a producer program in combination with reason
but I know it is possible to make music with Reason alone……

Most of the programs has downloadable testversions so you can try before buy 🙂

backtothefront, post: 15221, member: 1433 wrote: I tend to agree with most of what Hessler says, good advice, however just to clarify Reason is a complete DAW, contains multiple synths, samplers, drum machines, check out Kong (, loads of fx modules, handles audio, mixing and mastering, everything you need to make music.

http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/

An example is much of the last Prodigy album was penned by Liam using Reason.

That is all correct!

If you’re just starting out, I’d suggest you to go with Fl Studio its one of the best production software out there on the market. Personally I had used Fl for about three years before moving onto Live, I just found that Live was a better program for me and allowed me to be more creative. But that’s just what I think, like I said you can’t go wrong with Fl Studio or Live for that matter. I also like to use my DJ midi controller when it comes to producing, I know it seems weird but I just find it helps me get things done faster.

N

James Downes, post: 15414, member: 1352 wrote: i just got fl producer edition yesterday, i have NO! idea what to do i so wish i knew where to start learning about it i looked at youtube and all that but as a step buy step ( from 1 to pro ) i cant find anything , do i need a keyboard

Nope you don’t need a keyboard at all, which is the good part! Do you know what the drum sequencer is? Well if you do, you can start by dropping the sounds you have into each of the channels in it, you can also assign each of those tracks to their own free mixer track. Try reading the manual it’ll help you a ton I know its boring but in the long run you’ll be happy you read it, if you need any more help feel free to ask me.

James Downes, post: 15441, member: 1352 wrote: WOW thanks ^ =]

i know what the sequncer is yea, so any sound starts in there and then on to the full track ( f5 )

so all these wierd machines that make sounds is where it all happens

No problem man! And yeah that’s the way to do it, that’s how I always made my tracks whenever I used Fl Studio. Usually when I work on a track I start with the drums and then move onto the basslines, synthlines and what not. I find that if a track doesn’t have a good drum beat then the rest of the track won’t be good but that is just me.