Does anyone here DJ or create music?

[jmdkodiak]

I was going to buy Logic cause it was on sale for $199.. But I read really bad things about it.

I am green. I've been reading a lot but it's something I want to do at least for fun. I host shows already, but it's basic. Really basic. A mix of music and karaoke and stuff. So, I know my way around a soundboard, but when I am looking at software/hardware to actually CREATE music, I am stumped..

Someone told me to just save up and buy an OP-1, but it looks like a toy? And it looks complicated, really. I'm not even really sure what it "does."

So, then I saw that a lot of people use things like the Serato Reloop, but that looks more like a mixer only? Like something of a modern day turn table set. And it looks cool, and I guess it can be used "live" but, can you "make" music too? I dunno..

Then I saw the Octatrack. Which I think is more what I need? I am not sure..

FWIW I can't play any musical instrument. I dabbled a bit with a piano when I was younger, and learned to read a little bit, but it's been years and it lost my interest. So I want something with a short learning curve (at least as short as it CAN get..), and something that I can be creative with right away.

I guess a standalone piece of hardware that gives the option of interfacing with a computer (or a software DAW) would be awesome, and seems like it would be easier to learn than software alone, or maybe I am just underestimating the intuitiveness of DAWs? I don't know.

I need direction. I'd like to start out inexpensive if possible but it seems like all of this stuff costs hundreds of dollars.

[chadizzy1]

There was a member overseas who does it, has some music out there floating around - I can't remember who it was though

[texasmade]

Everything is free on the internet if you know where to look haha. I have Cakewalk, Fruity Loops, Ableton, Cubase, Sony Vegas Movie Maker, etc. Logic is basically Apple's Pro Tools. Pro Tools is industry standard, but I've never bothered to learn it. Cubase has a nice feel to it and Ableton would be more user friendly. You could check a few of those out and see which one looks like it would be up your alley.

[chadizzy1]

Everything is free on the internet if you know where to look haha. I have Cakewalk, Fruity Loops, Ableton, Cubase, Sony Vegas Movie Maker, etc. Logic is basically Apple's Pro Tools. Pro Tools is industry standard, but I've never bothered to learn it. Cubase has a nice feel to it and Ableton would be more user friendly. You could check a few of those out and see which one looks like it would be up your alley.

This dude makes pretty good music too. ^
Hey bro

[texasmade]

This dude makes pretty good music too. ^
Hey bro

ha thanks man, I tried calling you a few weeks back when i was around your way

[jmdkodiak]

Hey thanks! I found a free trial of Ableton 8. It's downloading now..

I'll be overwhelmed in 5...4....3...2....

I'll play around with it and maybe read some Ableton-specific book or something and see if I should even bother with this pipedream. :-D

[texasmade]

Hey thanks! I found a free trial of Ableton 8. It's downloading now..

I'll be overwhelmed in 5...4....3...2....

I'll play around with it and maybe read some Ableton-specific book or something and see if I should even bother with this pipedream. :-D

It's pretty nice. I use it on occasion, but started with Cubase so it's hard for me to let that go. I know plenty of people that swear up and down by Ableton though. It'll definitely get the job done.

[Frosted]

They use Cubase in schools in the UK. Seems to be pretty standard.

[Twizzler]

I love writing music. It is my main hobby. I know a lot of people look down on it but I use FL Studio. You can get the demo here: http://www.image-line.com/documents/flstudio.html

I would suggest downloading the demos of different DAWs and see which one works best for you. As far as DAWs go, I found FL studio a bit easier to learn and a bit easier on the pocketbook. Check out YouTube for tutorials on your DAW of choice.

Let me know if you have any questions!

[heders]

I'm a producer and have for a long time used Ableton Live 8. Love that program!

[squeezyjohn]

So, I know my way around a soundboard, but when I am looking at software/hardware to actually CREATE music, I am stumped..
.......

FWIW I can't play any musical instrument. I dabbled a bit with a piano when I was younger, and learned to read a little bit, but it's been years and it lost my interest. So I want something with a short learning curve (at least as short as it CAN get..), and something that I can be creative with right away.

If you are going to be creating music - then you will be using an instrument! A computer with samples & loops can be an instrument in every way - but getting good at it takes as much practice as any real musical instrument. Producing recorded music is another skill set entirely. Having said that - in the past 10 years or so the software out there has been a great leveller in allowing "bedroom musicians" to produce a recorded sound far closer to that of a studio sound.

My day job is being a musician - I specialise in the squeezebox (!) - and I dabble a bit with my own recordings - but as a producer I am a complete amateur. I have Logic and I really like it - it's very visual and intuitive and I don't find it any more complicated than Pro-tools, Cubase and the rest of them (I've tried them all). One good thing about Logic is it comes with a great set of plug-ins already loaded up ... with most other systems I have tried you need to buy all the decent plug-ins (reverbs, autotune, EQs etc) - and those come with an unbelievably high price tag!

Learning to create music is not an instant thing. But computers are a great way in - the software does come at a price though. I would jump at the chance of getting Logic cheaply - many great albums have been created with it - as for hardware - you don't need any - but once you're using it you'll soon know what you're lacking. As you've dabbled with piano I reckon a cheap USB keyboard controller could be very useful - the Korg NanoKey 2 is a really neat little thing.

Good luck

Squeezy

[Ansel]

I forget the names of them this minute but there are supposed to be some excellent open source alternatives out there, might be worth researching up on it...

[Twizzler]

Reaper is a good and affordable DAW. It's Comparable in quality to all the major DAWs. The demo version has no limitations and, while it technically expires, one could go ahead and keep using it without any software-crippling. If you do want to purchase it, it's only 60 bucks.

http://www.reaper.fm/index.php

[Ansel]

Reaper is a good and affordable DAW. It's Comparable in quality to all the major DAWs. The demo version has no limitations and, while it technically expires, one could go ahead and keep using it without any software-crippling. If you do want to purchase it, it's only 60 bucks.

http://www.reaper.fm/index.php

Cool yeah that's one for the PC. There's a few good ones out there for Ubuntu too.

[halocog]

I used to do all sorts of stuff a few years ago. DJing, some music production, and a TON of live sound engineering. I just can't seem to find any work at all in it anymore. For production with instruments, I use Pro Tools and lots of hardware. Digital/EDM, Ableton Live. For live sound engineering, there are tons of good options for software and hardware. I like to use Mackie mixers and speakers for small setups (50-1000 people). My all time favorite mixer is the Allen & Heath GL2400-32. I used it paired with 2x Peavey CS 4000s. One to power 2x Peavey horned sub cabinets, and the other for PA.