Producer Equipment
 

Hey what's up guys. Lateley I've been looking in getting together a studio for making music. Now, I'm just starting out so I don't really know, well... anything about this stuff. I have been looking at a music production message board, http://homerecording.com/bbs/index.php?. I admit to reading the stuff on there but hey, I'm loyal and I came back to TFP first cuz you all will always be my #1 source of information. Anyways, I've been really inspired with what I've read and seen. The other day I bought a drum machine (Boss Dr-880) at Guitar Center for $250 cuz it was a pretty good deal. After about a day of messing around with it I decided I needed something more advanced because I want to include sampling in my music, so I put it up for sale on E-Bay. With that thing gone, my options for a new synthesyser are open. I budgeted myself to around $1000. I have been considering a Korg Triton keyboard, but I'm not sure how I load samples onto it. I'm guessing through MIDI wires via the computer. I've also been considering an akai mpc1000 seems like other producers are using 'em, but they don't have the feeling that a keyboard does. I also am guessing that I need a new card for my computer that will adjust for MIDI as well as software like cubase or those other ones.

What are all you producers out there using and do you guys have any thoughts on new equipment.

Try the music forum.

My favorite production software is Adobe Audition. So so easy to use, and it does everything.

I agree ... you'd get better answers in the Music forum.

You would probably not load samples on the Triton through MIDI. MIDI transmits control data to and from your computer and synth. It basically says, "Play this note, this loud, for this long." There's a LOT more to it than that, but MIDI doesn't transmit much else.

I'd bet you either record your own samples or load them via CD or some other type of connection on the Triton.

What kind of music are you trying to produce? That is going to really define what sort of equipment you need. Techno/Rap don't require as much in the way of "live" recording equipment. You still need a decent microphone and preamp and audio interface ...

What quality do you want? Are you just trying to do something to capture your ideas or are you going for semi-pro quality? For $1000 you probably aren't as interested in pro sounding vocals and live instruments.

As for software ... the best thing to do is download demos and try them all out. <b>Opinions vary on what software is best.</b> Anyone who says their software is the best to use is wrong. Only YOU can decide what software is best for you. I use a combination of Acid Pro and Sonar Producer Edition. Of course, you'll also need other components as well; effects; softsynths; etc.

For instance, I don't use an external synthesizer anymore in the studio (live is a different matter). I use a product called Colossus; which is a VSTi Softsynth ... it's basically a Triton in the computer. I use an M-Audio Keystation Pro (88 key keyboard) to trigger Colossus and other softsynths. As for samples ... Sonar comes with a sampler that I can load various things into. Although I don't use it. It's simpler for me to just insert the sample on the timeline.

Beats/Loops can just be drag and dropped in Acid or Sonar and then painted onto the timeline.

I do mostly live sounding music. In other words, the beats are sometimes looped but everything else is played by humans. Most of the time I get a live drummer ...

Thanks guys. I'll repost this in the music forum