I want to start making electronic music. Where do I start? - General

The title pretty much sums it up. I've recently been really hooked on electronic music. House and dubstep in particular, but also more relaxing ambient electronic. So, where do I get startet? I'd love to work with known samples, where do I get those? Which programs should I begin with? I should probably mention that I have been making some really crappy stuff in Fruity Loops, so I know a little about how to use that. And I'm also naturally into music, been playing the guitar for 5-6 years. [editline]20th January 2011[/editline] Im sorry if this is considered a fast thread, but I doubt that I will be getting any help there..

I'm quite sure you need some electricity :downsrim: [editline]20th January 2011[/editline] Also, a midi-keyboard is a fucking must-have. Trust me. Makes pretty much everything a LOT simpler.

[QUOTE=Kalkka;27541708]I'm quite sure you need some electricity :downsrim: [editline]20th January 2011[/editline] Also, a midi-keyboard is a fucking must-have. Trust me. Makes pretty much everything a LOT simpler.[/QUOTE] I believe you. Nothing too fancy necessary ?

youtube tutorials lots of youtube tutorials

Samples are pretty simple really, download an audio editor such as audacity, highlight the bit in a song where the sample is playing and save it, then you can bring it into whatever DAW you're using and adjust it to however you want. You can also use sites such as freesound.org and search for whatever you're looking for. The way I learned was by experimenting, i've barely touched youtube tutorials because I always get bored watching them but they are a good way of learning all the things you can do with your DAW. Get a MIDI keyboard, an ideal one will be 25 keys or above and have a few knobs so you can manipulate effects and parameters on synths while playing which is so much easier.

Which programs are good though??

This should be very useful. [url]http://mos.futurenet.com/pdf/computermusic.co.uk/A_to_Z.part1.pdf[/url]

FL Studio

[QUOTE=Gumpen;27544296]Which programs are good though??[/QUOTE] You can't ask that question because different programs are better for certain styles of workflow. A lot of electronic producers seem to like FL Studio. I'd recommend something like Mixcraft because it's very beginner friendly and the focus will be more about making music. Once you start getting comfortable with making music and then need to the extra capabilities or other DAWs, then it'd be good to upgrade. If you want something cheap then go with Reaper. [editline]20th January 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Stizzles;27541850]youtube tutorials lots of youtube tutorials[/QUOTE] Youtube tutorials are typically filled with a huge amount of misinformation and I would not recommend then as a place of learning. There are likely some good tutorials on how to use certain DAWs, but I don't suggest the tutorials about making music unless it is from a credible source.

[QUOTE=Pepin;27556824] Youtube tutorials are typically filled with a huge amount of misinformation and I would not recommend then as a place of learning. There are likely some good tutorials on how to use certain DAWs, but I don't suggest the tutorials about making music unless it is from a credible source.[/QUOTE] yeah, but once you find some that are good, you CAN learn quite a bit. you'll most likely learn more just by trying shit out yourself though, but YT tutorials can still teach you some things

I've said this in every thread I've seen regarding this. I don't want to sound like a cunt, but it is the most logical and blunt answer. If you really dream to become an electronic artist then you would've been able to do enough research, fueled by your passion, to figure out what exactly you need to do to get started.

[QUOTE=Ca5bah;27560470]If you really dream to become an electronic artist then you would've been able to do enough research, fueled by your passion, to figure out what exactly you need to do to get started.[/QUOTE] Hehe it really sounds silly, but I also think this is somewhat true. I know dozens of people who have wanted to, out of nowhere, start making electronic music. They assume that it's easy because "you don't have to know how to play any instruments". And it always ends the same.. said people download some DAW, get really confused, don't know how to do anything, immediately give up. They bite more than they can chew. Making electronic music isn't a cakewalk. You will need to know how to [I]write[/I] songs and how to [I]produce[/I] them. Two arts which usually require atleast a year or two to become sufficient in. I usually tell people to start with learning an instrument before pursuing composing in any genre. But since you already play guitar (awesome!) you most likely know the basics of music theory (chords, basslines, harmonies, etc). If I were you, I would get me some DAW (for example FL Studio) and begin making covers. Since this is your first time producing music, it helps tremendously to just ignore the "writing" part and focus only on the "production" part (that is of course unless you feel you are an experienced composer). By making covers, you can in your own pace learn all the features of the programs. You will also learn many useful tools for making that signature electronic sound by looking at what others have done. There was some chit chat about YouTube tutorials. They can be really good imo. Look for the ones with most views! It's even better if you have a friend who can guide you through the programs. Also look for guides on Equalizers, Compressors, and the VSTs of your choice. MIDI Keyboards are not a must. First of all, they are not literally [I]required[/I] (you can just manually enter everything with the mouse w/e). Your PC Keyboard also acts as a music keyboard keys if you want it to. So decide if you want one yourself. I use a really small and cheap one (2 octaves) and I only use it for playing with chords and quickly finding cool sounds. I almost never play/record with it, so 2 octaves are perfect for me. Hell, I only bought it because I had some extra cash to spend. :3: Best of Luck bro! Ask again if you need help with something specific.

If you're going to try and force something you might as well grab a MicroKorg and get going.

Virtual DJ

Buy a synth and play with it.

[QUOTE=Jiggmin;27556773]FL Studio[/QUOTE] I get a good beat and fuck EVERYTHING UP so I uninstalled the demo because I got frustrated in under an hour :downs: but yeah, FL Studio and a keyboard.

Don't make dubstep.

[QUOTE=Ca5bah;27560470]I've said this in every thread I've seen regarding this. I don't want to sound like a cunt, but it is the most logical and blunt answer. If you really dream to become an electronic artist then you would've been able to do enough research, fueled by your passion, to figure out what exactly you need to do to get started.[/QUOTE] That is not true, you could start out following tutorials and making very generic music just to learn how it all works and then use those skills to make something of your own.

[QUOTE=Rad McCool;27560709]Hehe it really sounds silly, but I also think this is somewhat true. I know dozens of people who have wanted to, out of nowhere, start making electronic music. They assume that it's easy because "you don't have to know how to play any instruments". And it always ends the same.. said people download some DAW, get really confused, don't know how to do anything, immediately give up. They bite more than they can chew. Making electronic music isn't a cakewalk. You will need to know how to [I]write[/I] songs and how to [I]produce[/I] them. Two arts which usually require atleast a year or two to become sufficient in. I usually tell people to start with learning an instrument before pursuing composing in any genre. But since you already play guitar (awesome!) you most likely know the basics of music theory (chords, basslines, harmonies, etc). If I were you, I would get me some DAW (for example FL Studio) and begin making covers. Since this is your first time producing music, it helps tremendously to just ignore the "writing" part and focus only on the "production" part (that is of course unless you feel you are an experienced composer). By making covers, you can in your own pace learn all the features of the programs. You will also learn many useful tools for making that signature electronic sound by looking at what others have done. There was some chit chat about YouTube tutorials. They can be really good imo. Look for the ones with most views! It's even better if you have a friend who can guide you through the programs. Also look for guides on Equalizers, Compressors, and the VSTs of your choice. MIDI Keyboards are not a must. First of all, they are not literally [I]required[/I] (you can just manually enter everything with the mouse w/e). Your PC Keyboard also acts as a music keyboard keys if you want it to. So decide if you want one yourself. I use a really small and cheap one (2 octaves) and I only use it for playing with chords and quickly finding cool sounds. I almost never play/record with it, so 2 octaves are perfect for me. Hell, I only bought it because I had some extra cash to spend. :3: Best of Luck bro! Ask again if you need help with something specific.[/QUOTE] Awesome response. Thanks a lot :) Generally good feedback from this thread, I love it :)

Ableton Live is an underrated and extremely powerful software.

[QUOTE=Matix;27713391]Ableton Live is an underrated and extremely powerful software.[/QUOTE] It's also fairly more complex than FL studio.

I use Reason 5 a bit. It has plenty of samples to use and different virtual instruments so you can decide which is best.

[QUOTE=ChrisDom;27714458]It's also fairly more complex than FL studio.[/QUOTE] It was my first DAW and I didn't find it all that hard to get the hang of. I still have a [i]lot[/i] to learn but it's been pretty long time since I was overwhelmed by any of it.

Ugh. Just get Fl studio to start with. if you can't play keyboards, don't expect a midi keyboard to do much for ya. If you CAN play keyboards, expect it to make life a whole lot easier. Fl studio is SEVERELY underrated, and Has all the capabilities you ever want for producing. If you want to do something live, get ableton Live, it's great. Watch tutorials. Lots of them. And don't give up.

Ask sporkfire He seems to think he knows everything

[QUOTE=En-Guage V2;27746667]Ask sporkfire He seems to think he knows everything[/QUOTE] What gives you that impression? Don't worry I still like you though even you don't like me :) <3 I'd actually really like to see some how-to tutorials on amateur music production.

Try Acid Xpress, you just get 8packs with (funnily enough) eight tracks in them, that you can mix together and make shit awesome. It's kinda fun, but you wouldn't be able to publish the song (i think, I'm unfamiliar with the policy on that matter) But it's great, you can make countless songs with only a couple of 8 packs.

Mario Paint.

[QUOTE=Monty Pie-thon;27764516]Mario Paint.[/QUOTE] That's an good idea.

fruity loops does seem to be the best option though. I'm new too and the only program so far I've been able to grasp is FL. It's basically the sequencer that makes it much easier than everything else. Just press the steps you want to play and there you go, when I look at the UI for ableton I just DURP. I'm sure it's not that overwhelming in reality, but when you're new it pretty much is. I wonder what kmart squirrel uses..