I want to mix some songs, but I'm a noob. Good software?

[Juice_Layer]

I'm looking into software, I had an FL Studio demo version, but it doesn't seem to be exactly what I had expected, I want something where I can take sound clips and mix and edit them, kind of like most of Pogo's songs. I know you can do this on multiple programs. What I'm looking for is the following:

Nothing too crazy, but still lets me have a good selection of sounds (I don't know how to use some of the features in FL Studio, that was my biggest problem). Also, I don't have and don't plan on buying a USB / MIDI keyboard, I want to use my mouse and keyboard.

Can anyone suggest anything? It doesn't have to be free.

[PivotDJ]

audacity
[url]http://audacity.sourceforge.net/[/url]

[Juice_Layer]

No, I mean like more advanced than Audacity, I want something nice where I can create music from my computer keyboard, but where I can mix and edit sound clips to make beats. I'd mostly be using other people's work as components for my songs.

[NickNack1234]

I have played with this get fruity loops they have a demo version you can get.
[url]http://flstudio.image-line.com/[/url]
It is a professional mixing software with many synths etc.
There a many tutorials on youtube for it aswell

[Unreliable]

[QUOTE=NickNack1234;22036332]I have played with this get fruity loops they have a demo version you can get.
[url]http://flstudio.image-line.com/[/url]
It is a professional mixing software with many synths etc.
There a many tutorials on youtube for it aswell[/QUOTE]

If you want great sound you should go with

Reason 4.0, demo lasts 20 minutes, but if you buy it prepare to have near-Tiesto grade sound quality.

[backwardspy]

FL Studio is a massive competitor on the music production software scene; you should use that. It's relatively easy to learn, and supports a huge load of VSTs and so on.

[TheGuru]

I use FL Studio to mix my recordings, but I don't use it to generate sounds (apart from using the interface to program drums).

[QUOTE=sam6420;22035846]Hmm, does anybody on facepunch even compose music... :/[/QUOTE]

I do, only recorded one of my songs so far though.

[sp]Shameless plug: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8586854[/sp]

[lemonlimecom]

FL Studio, it's cheap and will leave you some extra money to get one of these:
[url]http://www.vengeance-sound.com/eng/indexes/indexSampleCDs.html[/url]

[editline]10:18AM[/editline]

I use FL, and despite the beliefs of (SOME of) Facepunch, you can produce professional sounding music quite well.

[spyk]

FL studio would be the last thing you'd pick of you knew the whole DAW scene. Try Ableton if you want something nice.

[nubscaper]

Ableton is what I use for all my producing and live gigs.

Reason has some nice plugins and VSTs.

Don't even bother with FL studio

[editline]04:22PM[/editline]

Also, to really get yourself into this line of doing things you really should get some controllers, keyboards, etc.

My live setup is pretty ghetto fab, but I'll be replacing stuff starting soon because of influx of money.

This is a picture, if you're curious
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs312.ash1/27749_1454236162883_1442674462_1626347_3281837_n.jpg[/img]

[backwardspy]

[QUOTE=lemonlimecom;22041995]I use FL, and despite the beliefs of (SOME of) Facepunch, you can produce professional sounding music quite well.[/QUOTE]
I see what you mean.

[lemonlimecom]

Why all the hate directed towards FL? It is rather nice, and has a considerably better interface than Reason (just my opinion - especially the piano roll. I just can't stand reason's piano roll!) Although Reason and Ableton do have some features that FL Studio doesn't, the reverse could be said as well. My setup involves a ghetto midi keyboard that I picked up for 50 bucks (spectrum, 61 key), a KORG NanoKontroller, and an MXL 990 Studio Condenser (USB - NOT XLR!) mic.

[editline]05:10PM[/editline]

Though I do want a power amp and a converter so I can use XLR condensers (power amp for the phantom power).

[Strongbow]

[QUOTE=nubscaper;22048099]
[IMG]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs312.ash1/27749_1454236162883_1442674462_1626347_3281837_n.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

That thing on the right reminds me of Lights Out.

[img]http://www.edcourtenay.co.uk/content/binary/lightsOutHandheld.jpg[/img]

[Juice_Layer]

[QUOTE=TheGuru;22041677]I use FL Studio to mix my recordings, but I don't use it to generate sounds (apart from using the interface to program drums).

I do, only recorded one of my songs so far though.

[sp]Shameless plug: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8586854[/sp][/QUOTE]

Dang man, I loved it. It sounded like it should be on a Go Army commercial hahaha, but what did you use to record? I have a Pod XT Live for my guitar and I'd love to get back into playing electric. The Pod has a USB interface, so I guess I just need to figure out how to set this up with FL.

[makatut]

Try Ableton Live. You can get a free demo which only has disabled export.

[Juice_Layer]

[QUOTE=lemonlimecom;22049389]. My setup involves a ghetto midi keyboard that I picked up for 50 bucks (spectrum, 61 key)

[/QUOTE]

Wanna post a link for the keyboard? I've wanted a small one for a while now, I think that would help a lot as well as a really cheap midi controller pad. My only concern is that I don't have any sort of MIDI jack on my computer. My Pod has a MIDI jack as well, I just don't know how to use it. I've never used MIDI, I've always been a guitar guy so it's just phono jacks for me.

[lemonlimecom]

[QUOTE=Juice_Layer;22049683]Wanna post a link for the keyboard? I've wanted a small one for a while now, I think that would help a lot as well as a really cheap midi controller pad. My only concern is that I don't have any sort of MIDI jack on my computer. My Pod has a MIDI jack as well, I just don't know how to use it. I've never used MIDI, I've always been a guitar guy so it's just phono jacks for me.[/QUOTE]
I used a midi to usb adapter for starters.
Also, linkage:
[URL]http://www.fitsmybudget.com/product.php?productid=26985[/URL]
I bought it locally, likely why I got it so cheap. It's still only 80 bucks though.

[Mokkan13]

[QUOTE=NickNack1234;22036332]I have played with this get fruity loops they have a demo version you can get.
[url]http://flstudio.image-line.com/[/url]
It is a professional mixing software with many synths etc.
There a many tutorials on youtube for it aswell[/QUOTE]

My friend uses this and his music sounds pretty quality.

[Juice_Layer]

I have a fullsized crappy Yamaha keyboard, I guess I could just buy an adapter then.

[Unreliable]

Yeah, ableton is great. When I did a live 12 minute show for the talent contest, I used ableton but I prefer reason over albeton just because I know how to work reason faster and more efficiently, I wouldn't mind learning how to use ableton though.

[Juice_Layer]

I want to make some stuff like this, I guess I'll just stick with Fruity Loops:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPfDjZAct-0[/media]

[Taipan]

I use FL studio to build beats and baselines and then export that to Sonar.
I record Vocals and Guitars in Sonar via a Line6 Pod UX1 and a Shure sm57 mic.(xlr)

Ableton, Reason and Fruity Loops are nice for samples ect.
Cubase and Sonar (or Reaper if you are cheap) are great for Recording.

[FFStudios]

[QUOTE=nubscaper;22048099]This is a picture, if you're curious
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs312.ash1/27749_1454236162883_1442674462_1626347_3281837_n.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

Oh my fucking god you have one of those button thingy's, they cost tons of money what the hell

[TheGuru]

[QUOTE=Juice_Layer;22049564]Dang man, I loved it. It sounded like it should be on a Go Army commercial hahaha, but what did you use to record? I have a Pod XT Live for my guitar and I'd love to get back into playing electric. The Pod has a USB interface, so I guess I just need to figure out how to set this up with FL.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. I'd really like a Pod myself, so you've got the tools you need. I'm using a Digitech RP250 FX unit which has USB out to record with Audacity, then I import the individual tracks into FL Studio. Then I make magic with the mixer and other tools in FL to make my crummy pedal sound half decent :v:

[nubscaper]

[QUOTE=FFStudios;22076748]Oh my fucking god you have one of those button thingy's, they cost tons of money what the hell[/QUOTE]

It isn't what you think it is. What I have is the [URL="http://us.novationmusic.com/products/launchpad?option=1"]Novation Launchpad [/URL]. What you're thinking of is the [URL="http://monome.org/"]Monome[/URL].

Launchpad is mass produced, and thus it's cheaper. Only around $200. Monomes are much more expensive. I just run a Monome clone emulator through Max and route it through Ableton.

[Kai365]

[QUOTE=nubscaper;22048099][img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs312.ash1/27749_1454236162883_1442674462_1626347_3281837_n.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

Hey you gots that Novation Ableton Control Pad.

But I gots the Akai APC40 ;D
[img]http://www.illmuzik.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/akai_apc_40.jpg[/img]

[nubscaper]

[QUOTE=Kai365;22185421]Hey you gots that Novation Ableton Control Pad.

But I gots the Akai APC40 ;D
[img]http://www.illmuzik.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/akai_apc_40.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

Broken link?

I mean, APC40 is great and all, I just wanted the Launchpad because of it's lower price tag. Didn't have money for an APC40 at the time.

Please don't tell me you're still using the Ableton live "apc40 edition" or whatever it's called. Because it's basically live lite. Which sucks.

[Kai365]

I'm using it for the Akai kits, and I'm using Ableton Live Studio 8.1. And yeah I was gonna upload it to my pix storage but was too tired at the time.

I also use Native Instruments Kontakt and Kore Player and Propellerheads Reason 4.