I need help!! Please.

[WhiteSongBoy]

I am interested in creating music and stuff, and I was wondering if any of you musical guys/girls out there could give me advice on what to do/buy to start my own little project thing. I've got a Microsoft computer and that's all, so I need a complete little set of what I should look for to make music. I don't really have much money, so I'm looking for cheap.

Help me out?

[phlegm]

Assuming that you want to make synth oriented music by your post on this forum, the cheapest way to start is to search for free softsynths (software synthesizers). One of the more advanced but freely available ones is Jeskola Buzz. The only downside is that it's not super user friendly, so you need to be willing to figure it out.

If you want something more user friendly and accessible for a beginner, you might try Fruity Loops. You can download the demo for free, and full versions with varying feature sets start at $49. There are lots of tutorials and user forums available on their site to help you learn to use it.

[Dave]

Get a Mac with Garage Band and a M-Audio midi controller.

[WhiteSongBoy]

Thanks Phlegm. I'm not currently able to use the program because I'm at a summer program, from what I see, it's what I wanted though!! I'll get it installed as soon as I can.

[Nikmis]

yah, jeskola buzz. it has a steep-learning curve, but it is quite capable. just avoid the mdk pimpom and don't give up. then you will learn the power of peer-control and achieve enlightenment.

[Dave]

You are such a fag.

[Nikmis]

that hurts dave. all i said was true. you're just jealous that he ignored your advice and took phlegm's

[Dave]

MAYBE I AM!

[WhiteSongBoy]

Not that there was anything wrong with your advice... I just said I wanted cheap. Macs are not cheap, but a free program kinda is...

[Nikmis]

but even if you had the money, jeskola buzz is better. this is a highly debatable topic, of course.

[Dr. M]

Whatever you do, start out with a computer program. I started out completely with hardware, hardware synth, sequencer, and digital recorder, and I got no where very fast.

[Module]

any program you want: torrents
midi controller: 200$
total: 200$ for a sweet setup

[Dr. M]

Actually you could probably sneak the midi controller out of the store and then you'll have your sweet setup for free.

[Dave]

You watered down the word steal.

[Dr. M]

Hey, if you're going to steal the software you might as well steal the hardware, unless you're one of those cowards who believes stealing is only okay if there's no chance someone will catch you.

[Dr. M]

Also, the dollar sign goes before the number. At least if you believe what the "system" tells you.

[Dave]

You said "sneak the midi controller out of the store" instead of steal, which to me has more negative connotations.

[Robbie]

midi controller: 200$

This is a little ridiculous anyway. I just got an M-Audio Ozone from a craigslister for $40. Sure, it's crap, but the only non-crap MIDI controllers are the Novation ReMotes and for what they cost you could have a real vintage synth.

Never. Buy. New. Equipment. (When you first start out anyway.)

[Dave]

Never eat singing food.

[Dr. M]

Trust me, old equipment is more fun. Little whines where there's supposed to be silence, distortion when it's cold outside, vintage analog synths are like grouchy old men... if you can tolerate them, they're a lot of fun (and there's a lot you can learn from them).