Making your own music - ultra beginner

[ebi brain]

i would like to start messing around with making my own songs...
but I have absolutely no idea where to start.
i'd like to make music like in the link below, but what would I need to for that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCWYNJDbSIs

1. computer
2. midi keyboard ?
3. Software (which? I use windows)
4. Cables to connect stuff?
5. music theory 101 :p
6. soundboard mixer thing???

halp a noob in need （-人-)

[redeyesblackpanda]

Do you play an instrument? It helps. Piano is probably the best instrument for a composer (I can't handle it though, so I play violin).
If you want to write up actual music with notes, Sibelius and Finale are the two most popular ways of creating sheet music. You create the note on the page and it will play it for you. These sorts of software accept attachments (I don't know much about that though, because I can't play piano anyway). There's always the casual people who use Garageband too. When it comes to creating music entirely digitally though, I'm not too sure. Sibelius can create sound files, but the instruments sound a bit artificial.

[Kindred87]

Excluding mental material, here's what you'll need to create music like that in a similar quality.

-MIDI Keyboard (Including power supply and USB cord)
-DAW (FL Studio is best for this kind of music)
-A dual-core computer with 2GB of RAM, and 100GB of storage. (I recommend a quad-core with 6 GB of RAM, and 750 GB of storage)
-Kontakt - http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/ ... kontakt-5/ -
-Komplete 8 - http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/ ... omplete-8/


Haha, music theory for dubstep/electronic? Unless you plan on using a lot of melody and orchestration in your works, then the most you should need is exposure to the genre and a good sense of rhythm.

[ebi brain]

Kindred87: Well, eventually I might want to use actual instruments (I have a guitar and bass, but because of RSI I can no longer play them.... But hopefully by the end of this month I'll finally get some treatment that will work).

But thanks for all of the suggestions!



Though, am I supposed to get all three of those programs 0_o? Or would 1 suffice(especially since I'm a beginner)? Because I mean, that's a whole lot of money><



redeyesblackpanda:

I can't really play the piano:/
I wanted to pick it up again, but then RSI happened
But, I'll take a look at the programs you suggested.

[Kindred87]

Yes, it is very pricey, and large expenses stand in the way when it comes to serious music production (Serious doesn't mean professional!). Though the software I recommended all depends on each other, especially since Komplete won't function without Kontakt. However, my recommendations are based off of creating high quality dubstep (and similar types of) music. So there are many many many alternatives out there, just not as high in quality xD

[yummy]

I think that investing into software might be best if you take into account that it's an investment for your future creations.

You should, however, know that they fit for specific uses. I use Reason, which is great for creating your own patches, keyboard emulation and overall, good for multi-purpose tasks, but being so, it's hard to generate something that does not sound too "half baked windows MIDI".
It also depends how you input the original data: using a MIDI device or your mouse, the number of processing devices, etc.

I agree with Kindred, you don't need that much music theory for electronic music. What you need would be inspiration, to like to create surprises, a good sense of rhythms, and a good management of sliders
If you are able to picture how your work fares along the way as you are discovering where it goes or where it is going to go, step by step, you will likely create something you can be proud of.
Maybe the only music theory would be about chord progression and that would be all you need.

You might want to know how to use flangers, phasers, vocoders, and maybe vocaloid programs since you might want vocals (or someone who wants to sing). Flangers and phasers work around a sound envelope and modify its play speed, pitch, frequency... Well lots of parameters. vocoders are famous because they give a robotic feel to a voice. Generally, vocaloid users tend to use vocoders because the output voice is too mechanic.

You won't necessarily have to recreate a high end studio in your room though, a single computer can handle all these programs pretty good.
It's just that having the solid device near you will make you use the alt+tab less. I recommend you to get a MIDI keyboard though, it's very useful.

[Kindred87]

Take into account though, that good sound libraries require replacement/upgrading in order to keep up with the advancing industry o.O So purchasing good music production tools is an investment, don't get me wrong there, but it's an investment that requires future investment xP

[DaFool]

Garageband is for casuals? I think Garageband by itself is worth getting a Mac for.
A sampled sound is a sampled sound. I couldn't really make any heads and tails out of the more complex systems that often require separate add-in cards.

I used to compose entirely in MIDI where I directed every single cymbal hit so I haven't been 'cheating' by using the default Garageband loops. I think even Garageband sounds better than a 10-year-old hardware solution.

[Kindred87]

Garageband is generally an entry-level DAW, albeit one that can create professional works. Though I of course never recommend Apple products

[Kindred87]

Alright, I've been building up my shopping list and I've come across some alternatives for you! Here're some companies that have great-sounding loops in genres ranging from orchestral, to indie rock, to house and trance. (These are much cheaper than my recommendations)

Note that some of the listed companies may not carry the genres you're looking for. I can't possibly recall which companies sell what, there's just so many! xD

________________________________________
Big Fish Audio
Fixed Noise
Bunker8
Loopmasters
MVP Loops
Hollywood Loops
Industrial Strength Records
Mosh Loops
Diginoiz
Katana Bits
Motu
Bluezone Samples
Sounds/To/Samples
Sample Magic
XLN Audio
Dieguis Productions
Producer Loops
SoundVibez


There are many more that I have yet to find. I can update this post as I find more, if you wish.

[icecheetah]

As a skint student who dabbles in music, I have learned how to get a cheap start. Linux Multi Media Studio http://lmms.sourceforge.net/ is a free DAW, and you can use google to find any VST or VSTi (read: instrument) you want (here's a start point http://brycecoulson.com/tutorials/vstinstruments/ ) and even samples (short files usually intended for basslines), but finding free ones that are decent AND not so large that they crash the programme can be difficult.
I also don't think it can handle plugins that can alter the sound after you make it.

You'd also need something that can do mixing separetly. Audacity is the usual thing, but I only reccomend it if you don't want to add recordings you made or you have a REALLY high quality (read:expensive) microphone. Its noise removal sucks.

Another good resource is magazines for digital music makers that come with disks containing VSTs and samples. One I can get here in the UK, "Computer Music", even provides a free startup kit with loads of tools and tutorials in each issue and once came with a free (yet complete) version of Cakewalk Z3ta+, which was a 'legendary' synthesizer.

http://warbeats.com/ Is a good site for tutorials of the kind you may be looking for, and you might just find a good deal on proffessional software there.
And if you ARE serious about this, you probably want to invest at some point. However, if you want to get started right away without breaking the bank, these cheap resources can help you build up your skill.

Edit: And since someone mentioned Vocaloid, may I mention a free alternative, UTAU? It works differently and can sound more robotic if that's what you want. Though installing it is a bit of a pain, as you really want Japanese locale. Not neccesary, but it will work better. There are over 1500 of voicebanks in a variety of languages and experimental formats to choose from, and I know of a few good ones.