Interested in producing electronic/house music, where do I start? - General

I have been interested in producing electronic and house music for a while, but I have no idea where I should start. I have been considering a MIDI keyboard to use with FL studio but I'm not sure if that would be the right choice. I quite like the look of Deadmau5's setup, but I have no idea what he uses. My budget will probably be £200, since I don't want to be investing too much at first. Anyway, thanks guys.

While I've never heard any of this Deadmau5's music, I can guarantee you that it's most definitely way over your budget. I would normally advise starters to get a MIDI keyboard, but you already have one, so that's great. With the limited information you gave me I can't really help you that much, so I'll just ask you some questions instead: - How much do you know about music production? - Do you know what a vst, or, [I]virtual instrument[/I] is and how it works? - Do you have a (decent) set of speakers, or some quality headphones? - If you really feel like spending some money on a hardware synth, would you prefer an analog or digital synth? (You'll probably wanna take a digital one, as most analog synths lack unison and other "digital" addons which are more or less needed for the genre you want to produce) There's a bunch of other musical-savvy facepunchers who'll probably come and help you sooner or later :)

[QUOTE=healthpoint;20719103]While I've never heard any of this Deadmau5's music, I can guarantee you that it's most definitely way over your budget. I would normally advise starters to get a MIDI keyboard, but you already have one, so that's great. With the limited information you gave me I can't really help you that much, so I'll just ask you some questions instead: - How much do you know about music production? - Do you know what a vst, or, [I]virtual instrument[/I] is and how it works? - Do you have a (decent) set of speakers, or some quality headphones? - If you really feel like spending some money on a hardware synth, would you prefer an analog or digital synth? (You'll probably wanna take a digital one, as most analog synths lack unison and other "digital" addons which are more or less needed for the genre you want to produce) There's a bunch of other musical-savvy facepunchers who'll probably come and help you sooner or later :)[/QUOTE] The only thing I really have out of those is a really good set of speakers and headphones, apart from that I don't have any knowledge at all, to be honest I don't really know how to use FL-studio at the moment either. I don't have a MIDI keyboard at the moment, but I have been considering the Axiom 49 or 61, are there any other suggestions within a £200 budget?

FL Studio is a great start for producing electronic/house music. I read somewhere that Deadmau5 actually uses it to draft out ideas before he moves onto his main DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). I'd really recommend FL Studio. [editline]06:45PM[/editline] [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/nfxbeats]Warbeat's channel[/url] is a great place to learn about different aspects of using FL Studio. Even if he does talk a bit too much.

FL Studio is a good starting place, I started with Reason 4 and Ableton 7, pretty heavy/expensive stuff, but very, very professional. Also instead of an Axiom, get an Oxygen 49, really cheap but utterly fantastic, only about £90 at GAK. [url]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/83509[/url]

[QUOTE=B-hazard;20719132]The only thing I really have out of those is a really good set of speakers and headphones, apart from that I don't have any knowledge at all, to be honest I don't really know how to use FL-studio at the moment either. I don't have a MIDI keyboard at the moment, but I have been considering the Axiom 49 or 61, are there any other suggestions within a £200 budget?[/QUOTE] Whoops sorry, I read your first post too quick, so I thought it said you already [b]had[/b] a MIDI keyboard, my bad. With midi keyboards it doesn't matter all that much what you buy, as they all do pretty much the same thing. I'd recommend getting one that at least includes a set of sliders/knobs and maybe a pitch/automation bend knob.

Straight up midi keyboards (the ones that can't generate any sound by themselves) are dirt cheap, and it's probably all you need if you're going to use FL Studio for your VSTs and sequencing and such. Things will get expensive when you start looking into synthesizers and workstations and the like though.

samplers

[QUOTE=Kai365;20725276]FL Studio is a good starting place, I started with Reason 4 and Ableton 7, pretty heavy/expensive stuff, but very, very professional. Also instead of an Axiom, get an Oxygen 49, really cheap but utterly fantastic, only about £90 at GAK. [url]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/83509[/url][/QUOTE] I like the look of that, but it is missing the small MIDI pad the Axiom has, will I be needing that?

fl studio is alright I suppose to start with I started with it, used it for about a year and a half but then switched over to cubase because I find that the workflow is far better

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjW_WH2dlHs[/media] I noticed how this person was mainly using the controller for this, and I was wondering if I would be better off getting a fully fledged controller instead of the MIDI keyboard.

Any more help?

Listen to a lot of music.

[QUOTE=thisispain;20749460]Listen to a lot of music.[/QUOTE] I don't already? That's why I want to start producing. I'm not sure if I should get a MIDI keyboard or some other type of MIDI controller.

If you want to make House music you're gonna want to listen to as much music as possible, then think about your mixes throughout.

[QUOTE=Kaburorne;20723550]FL Studio is a great start for producing electronic/house music. I read somewhere that Deadmau5 actually uses it to draft out ideas before he moves onto his main DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). I'd really recommend FL Studio. [editline]06:45PM[/editline] [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/nfxbeats]Warbeat's channel[/url] is a great place to learn about different aspects of using FL Studio. Even if he does talk a bit too much.[/QUOTE] I hate warbeats. He makes a 20 minute video when it could be 2 minutes. He talks extremely slow and adds tons of unnecessary details.

Sorry to bump, but I could do with some more help. Me and my friend who both have similar tastes in music are planning on starting a duo together. I will probably buy the MIDI keyboard, but I am wondering what I should get him to invest in, a sampler, a mixer, a MIDI pad, or what?

[QUOTE=B-hazard;23067481]Sorry to bump, but I could do with some more help. Me and my friend who both have similar tastes in music are planning on starting a duo together. I will probably buy the MIDI keyboard, but I am wondering what I should get him to invest in, a sampler, a mixer, a MIDI pad, or what?[/QUOTE] How about you guys just toy around in FL Studio without the expensive hardware first? It's not like you [I]need[/I] that stuff anyway to make house music - especially on a beginner level. Make alot of songs. Learn to write music. Learn to mix. [I]Then[/I] you can start buying all these things because you will know yourselves what to buy, and for what reasons.

We think we might find it easier to get the basic equipment upfront, and then add to it later. So apart from the MIDI keyboard, what will we need? Also, what is the best DAW software to use for live performances?

ableton live

For Windows.

ableton live

[QUOTE=B-hazard;23077659]We think we might find it easier to get the basic equipment upfront, and then add to it later.[/QUOTE] The basic equipment for making this music is just a computer with proper software. Seriously. All the hardware you mention is available in FL Studio, for example, as virtual equipment instead.

Deadmau5 helped make FL studio, and he uses for his own music, Ive seen Joel live on the net making a song, it was sweet. FL Studio is absolutely a must.

[QUOTE=TheRamshankler;23080901]Deadmau5 helped make FL studio, and he uses for his own music, Ive seen Joel live on the net making a song, it was sweet. FL Studio is absolutely a must.[/QUOTE] actually he had nothing to do with making FL studio plus he uses other DAWS , not just FL studio

I already have FL studio(though I'm not that good at using it yet), but I find it really tedious to sit at the computer for hours producing music. I have been looking around Gumtree (UK version of Craigslist) and I have found a Oxygen 49 for £50, A Roland DJ 1000 mixer for £30 (which is apparently worth a lot more than that), an Akai MPD16 drum controller for £30. Basically I'm wondering if it is a good idea to use a MIDI keyboard, a mixer with a MIDI out, and a drum controller/MIDI pad. We are going to be wanting to perform as a duo, so a single MIDI keyboard is not ideal, he needs something to play too. Perhaps dual MIDI keyboards would be a better idea?

[QUOTE=B-hazard;23081303]I already have FL studio (though I'm not that good at using it yet).[/QUOTE] So learn it already! That's where you should start. You're starting in the wrong end. It's like someone trying to learn to draw. And he spends tons of money on exotic paper and imported pencils of all shapes and sizes, when all you really need is a simple pencil and a piece of paper. I know I sound like Mr Boring guy... just saying that it's ridiculous to buy really expensive hardware when you don't even know what they do or if you really need them.

It's just that I think I would find it easier and more interesting to use if I had more physical input. Also, I am going to be doing this with my friend and learn together, so it will be rather hard doing that with just FL studio. Also, were not going to be spending that much in the first place, if you look at the equipment I mentioned in my last post.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPeUM3Fqx6w&feature=related[/url] haha you could check some of this shit out. [editline]01:21PM[/editline] [QUOTE=B-hazard;23081575]It's just that I think I would find it easier and more interesting to use if I had more physical input. Also, I am going to be doing this with my friend and learn together, so it will be rather hard doing that with just FL studio. Also, were not going to be spending that much in the first place, if you look at the equipment I mentioned in my last post.[/QUOTE] Like in the video I posted, you cannot get exactly what you want out of one thing, you have to compile things and collect which is gonna take time, and loads of dolla's, just learn to use what you have, and be content for the time being, and when you have the means to upgrade, DO IT!