From Kent Williams Sent Tue, Jan 12th 1999, 17:56
From Kent Williams Sent Tue, Jan 12th 1999, 17:56
After producing tracks for years, this is a question I get asked all the time. So I have a stock answer: Use your computer by itself for a while. Decide what you like, before you spend any major change on the deal. If you have a decent PC (Pentium II + large hard disk) a complete production setup would be: Soundcard : Creative/Ensoniq Audio PCI $45 CDR Kit : (get scsi with some decent burning software) $350 Sonic Foundry Acid Music: $70 Sonic Foundry Sound Forge Xp: $110 So I count that out as $575. For raw source material, start from your own CD collection, and stuff from the internet. Acid allows you to lay out tracks using sample loops and one shot sounds. It allows you to pitch samples, and will time stretch things to the track tempo automatically. Sound Forge XP is the entry level of Sound Forge, which is a brilliant program for editing and mangling sounds. It is missing stuff from the complete version that you may eventually wish you had, but there is an upgrade path from Sonic Foundry. If you really have the bug and want to go further, you can do a ton with Martin Fay's VAZ Modular. It may take you a while to suss it out, but in the end it's really straightforward, and has a killer step sequencer. It's a completely open-ended sound generation and sample mangling tool. He also has a version that is a prepatched monosynth you can use for free. Check on www.software-technology.com. -- Vaz is free, Vaz Plus is $35, and Vaz Modular is $210. Loads has been said about Rebirth, and while it's a cool program, and perhaps worthwhile to get started, I really encourage people to try and explore sound design and sequencing in ways that encourages individuality. Making stuff that sounds like everybody else is an empty exercise. Beyond this 'entry level' setup, you can start thinking about buying other gear, but don't rush into anything. The first building blocks can keep you busy for quite some time. On Mon, 11 Jan 1999, `Pietro wrote: > > I'm sure someone out there could help me out. > I've been thinking about making music of my > own lately, and was wondering what computer > programs i should look into before purchasing > anything. Eventually i'll look into finding a > used keyboard, sampler, synth's and a drum-machine, > but for now, i'd like to screw around with some > sounds on my computer. Just to see where it takes > me... > > I'd like to compose tracks that are similar to Ae, > U-Ziq, MBM, Photek, FSOL, Plaid, SQ, Purple Penguin, > Vibert, and all the digital noise in between. Just > so you know what direction i'm talking about... > > I'm not interested in spending HUGE amounts of > cash on software that i'll never learn (fully), > i'd just like a program that will be able to manipulate > and record sounds that have been floating in my head > all these years... > > ANY input would be GREAT, and PLEASE reply off-list. > Thanks in advance... >