Production on the Cheap

[omen_owen]

I'm wanting to get in to production as I've had my dex for almost a year now and want to make my own stuff as well play other peoples. However, i have a serious problem in that i'm 17 and still at college, and hence a serious lack of money. I think i'm gunna be able to blag a copy of Logic off a mate, but would like sum hardware for sounds. What good stuff could i get 2nd hand at the lowe end of the price bracket.

I intend to be making mainly acid/dark techno (don't suggest a 303, its but a far off dream) and perhaps hardtrance/hardstyle, but i don't really know where i'll go till i get started. I'm just wondering what would be good to get me going?

[massplanck]

I'm wanting to get in to production as I've had my dex for almost a year now and want to make my own stuff as well play other peoples. However, i have a serious problem in that i'm 17 and still at college, and hence a serious lack of money. I think i'm gunna be able to blag a copy of Logic off a mate, but would like sum hardware for sounds. What good stuff could i get 2nd hand at the lowe end of the price bracket.

I intend to be making mainly acid/dark techno (don't suggest a 303, its but a far off dream) and perhaps hardtrance/hardstyle, but i don't really know where i'll go till i get started. I'm just wondering what would be good to get me going?

Maybe a second hand Yamaha RM1X would be the best bet?

[omen_owen]

just realised this is probably the wrong forum for this post...mods, please move this thread if u think its appropriate

[omen_owen]

I'm wanting to get in to production as I've had my dex for almost a year now and want to make my own stuff as well play other peoples. However, i have a serious problem in that i'm 17 and still at college, and hence a serious lack of money. I think i'm gunna be able to blag a copy of Logic off a mate, but would like sum hardware for sounds. What good stuff could i get 2nd hand at the lowe end of the price bracket.

I intend to be making mainly acid/dark techno (don't suggest a 303, its but a far off dream) and perhaps hardtrance/hardstyle, but i don't really know where i'll go till i get started. I'm just wondering what would be good to get me going?

Maybe a second hand Yamaha RM1X would be the best bet?

what sort of sounds will that give me and how much should i be looking to pay?

[dirty_bass]

on a low budget there simply is no better way to start than with a computer based set up.
And maybe a 303 clone as well.

[eyes without a face]

steve's right, computer based is the way to go if ur just starting up

[massplanck]

steve's right, computer based is the way to go if ur just starting up

I think i'm gunna be able to blag a copy of Logic off a mate, but would like sum hardware for sounds

[fatcollective]

yeah computer based production will get you into making basic tracks. i would start off with something like Reason, its very easy to use, but also you can make your own drum patterns, basslines, riffs etc...once you suss this out, i think then you will want to take the next step, which would probably be Cubase or Logic. In the meantime though there is no stopping you from getting a bit of midi tuition because once you understand that, you will be in a position to start hooking up your studio and adding a bit of hardware. just take one step at a time and you will get there in the end. good luck mate ;)

[massplanck]

I reckon get a small all in one box like the RMIX to have by your side just incase you dont like having your head fried by a computer monitor.

And you could actually have fun straight away. Just turn it on, press 'play' and fu.ckabout with a few knobs.

And you will probably feel more commited to a little purpose made box that you forked out money on as opposed to the latest cracked VSTi (Virtual Instrument)

And you could use it as a Midi Controller for the 1,000,000's of bits of software that people are going to recommend that you must use.

And you could always hook it up with your decks.

And if you wanted a change in scenery you could always get a set of headphones and take it with you to your grans.

I think the guy needs a PC and a small bit of hardware so that he can go figure the Hardware vs Software debate for himself.

[crime]

steve's right, computer based is the way to go if ur just starting up

I disagree,
I think you'd do better to get a bit of hardware together, everyone is making trax on computers these days.
you can get some pretty good bits of hardware cheap second hand these dayes, and to be honest personally, I'd much rather hear someone using one or two bits of kit, who've learned them inside out and is pushing that equipment to the limits than something someone has knocked up on a computer..

It might be a bit of outlay, but worth it in the end, and you'll find what you learned with the hardware will teach you a lot more than using software ever could..
Look out for:
cheap MPC 2000s
Electribe - S
Yamaha DX series synth
Casio CZ series synth
you can get an Akai S 3000 sampler for under £200 these days..

I also think buying hardware gives you the added commitment to writing music too.....

[eyes without a face]

i agree with u mark, but the guy stated that he has a serious lack of money. If he had of put "i have a budget of £1500 - £2000 etc etc " id of recommended hardware too, and with him being a student i think some of us presume the guy has a computer, so he cud get started straight away really

to the guy, like above if u got the money get hardware, if u dont have the money then u gotta work round it

[massplanck]

VERSUS

[eyes without a face]

hahahaha

i think we should b careful not to turn this into another hardware vs software war and lets keep the comments practical

[Evil G]

i started with a simple setup of a korg electribe and a juno 106 plugged into my dj mixer. after messing about with those for a year or so i felt i was ready to make the plunge into more serious hardware.

[dirty_bass]

Hardware is very expensive.
You will have to spend laods and laods of money to be able to get pro results.
I`ve been making music for 10 years now, and I`ve been both in a totally analogue and a purely computer based environment.
Quite simply, an investment in a good computer and sound card, can take you from amateur stage to complete pro production, with less limitations than hardware.
One isn`t better than the other, but a computer based setup, is more versatile, and will take you further, than hardware, for the same money.
Anyone who tells you that software cannot do the job, just doesn`t know how to use it.
You can get a wicked PC, Sound Card, and mini mixer Setup for under a Grand. that will be able to take you right up to a level where you can make pro, releasable tunes.
I doubt you could achieve this with hardware for the same money at all.

[Evil G]

the only reason hardware costs more is it's harder to steal.

[massplanck]

the only reason hardware costs more is it's harder to steal.

Imagine being able to steal 15 synths in one night? It would take all week for you to learn how to use them all.

@DB I assumed he had a pc and he asked for some 'hardware' suggestions. All this stuff about pro-results is pointless if you dont even know how to rock a little box that costs 200 quid. I use a computer for production too but everything musical I do comes from a box\ is recorded in and then touched up. I can pretty much sequence a song in the time it takes to play it this way. Sounds more musical too rather than relying on 50 different types of compression/eq automation etc etc to dig you out of the click and drag hole

I dont care if people use software, infact its essential but I get mad when people say that you dont need hardware at all. Its like someone who wants to get into graphic design being told not to go near a set of paints\crayons or something because they wont get pro-results. Its the start of the creative process.

Anyway a drum machine straight through your speakers sounds way more pro than any piece of software routed through a shite soundcard and then through your speakers.

[JE:5]

^ Agreed, I always used hardware since I started out but i've been using the computer recently and I hate it, that's why i'm buying some new equipment again. I just can't find the motivation to finish trax on software. Click, drag click, blue screen, oh bollocks there goes that excellent riff i've just been working on for the last three hours.

[dirty_bass]

Click, drag click, blue screen, oh bollocks there goes that excellent riff i've just been working on for the last three hours.

Get a decent PC, and don`t use so much cracked software..
Also, try saving Ctrl S every 10 minutes or so.

I know what you are saying about the whole hardware thing guys.
I learned the hard way too.
I started making music with an ST, a Juno 106, some guitar effects, a kawai drum machine, and a tascam 4 track recorder. I had to multi track using tape sync and do loads of bouncing down etc.
It was a great way to learn, but not necessary these days.
Most audio PC packages come with a software studio as part of the software package, so you don`t need to use cracked software.
And there are plenty of really pro , free plugins on the net.

Sounds more musical too rather than relying on 50 different types of compression/eq automation etc etc to dig you out of the click and drag hole

Well this is down to the way you work more than the software.
I play guitar, drums, and keyboard. but I don`t consider what I play on a live instrument any more musical than the stuff I program.

And the fact is, you don`t NEED hardware these days. aLthough it is nice to have it, I admit.

Going back ON TOPIC, tell us your budget mate, then we can best advise you.

[massplanck]

Going back ON TOPIC, tell us your budget mate, then we can best advise you.

I think we scared him off...