Hey guys. Know this may be an elite world, but this music in my head is driving me nuts to get out.
Any recomendations for a beginner to get started with.Any help would be appreciated
Anything for a newbie
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- KVRer
- 5 posts since 1 Jul, 2003 from Joplin, Missouri
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- KVRist
- 58 posts since 3 Jun, 2003 from Nottingham
Get Computer Music Beginners' Special or the next issue. It's got a more than capable vst compatible sequencer based on Muzys, some above average free synths, a drum sampler, a drum synth and fx. Then download Synth1, Iblit, Triangle II etc from the links on this site and you're away......
More info here:
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/about/aboutvst.asp
If you get on with it you can eventually upgrade to a bigger sequencer and buy more instruments but there's LOADS to be getting on with for now and you can get some really good results.
Have fun!
More info here:
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/about/aboutvst.asp
If you get on with it you can eventually upgrade to a bigger sequencer and buy more instruments but there's LOADS to be getting on with for now and you can get some really good results.
Have fun!
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- KVRist
- 58 posts since 3 Jun, 2003 from Nottingham
Most people are really friendly here.Hey guys. Know this may be an elite world
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- KVRist
- 478 posts since 18 Mar, 2003 from Champaign, Illinois
Welcome aboard! A few questions before we all get to arguing...NightStorms wrote:Hey guys. Know this may be an elite world, but this music in my head is driving me nuts to get out.
Any recomendations for a beginner to get started with.Any help would be appreciated
Do you have any analog instruments (guitars, vocals, drums) that's you'll want to record? If so, you'll need a multitrack audio recording program... Muzys is a great option if you're looking to do midi/synth stuff, but doesn't handle the multitrack audio stuff very well.
Are you on the mac or pc? Is your computer reasonably new? (what's the processor speed, amount of ram, and hard drive size)
Do you already have a midi keyboard or controller of some kind?
-Garret
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 5 posts since 1 Jul, 2003 from Joplin, Missouri
Thank you for the welcome.
2002 Gateway PC with 2.00ghz and 256ram. should be enough as I don't think I'm going full orgestation.
No instrments, although I have Virtual piano 2, but have yet to figure out haow to save the tunes with it.Still fairly new on this computer thing. As a construction worker thought this was all wuss stuff, but man has this been fun the last year!
2002 Gateway PC with 2.00ghz and 256ram. should be enough as I don't think I'm going full orgestation.
No instrments, although I have Virtual piano 2, but have yet to figure out haow to save the tunes with it.Still fairly new on this computer thing. As a construction worker thought this was all wuss stuff, but man has this been fun the last year!
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- KVRist
- 478 posts since 18 Mar, 2003 from Champaign, Illinois
Yah, your computer should be fine for now... don't worry, once you get addicted no computer is fast enough.NightStorms wrote:Thank you for the welcome.
2002 Gateway PC with 2.00ghz and 256ram. should be enough as I don't think I'm going full orgestation.
No instrments, although I have Virtual piano 2, but have yet to figure out haow to save the tunes with it.Still fairly new on this computer thing. As a construction worker thought this was all wuss stuff, but man has this been fun the last year!
Like synthpopkid suggested, getting next month's CM (Computer Music) magazine would be a good start... each issue comes with a CD full of usable software -- usually cut down versions of commercial software or free plugins. You might also get some audio loops too....
There are a couple of approaches you can take to composing music without any instruments... the first way is with a sequencer and a software synthesizer or sampler. For your purposes, a synthesizer and sampler are basically the same thing... they make noises from the stuff you write in midi notation in the "Piano roll" view of your sequencer.
The second way is to use loops. Loop composing gets a bad rap sometimes, but it really is amazingly fun, and heck if it's good enough for Moby it's good enough for me. I use loops all the time for drums... you can search the net for free loops, or purchase CDs loaded with loops of all kinds.
The classic loop composing program is Acid, but it only recently got the ability to add synthesizers to the mix... around here you don't find a lot of people using Acid.
Many of the newer programs combine sequencing & software synthesizers with loop music composition... Muzys, Traction, and Cakewalk Home Studio (which I use) are all cheap and relatively easy to use. Cubase, Logic, and Sonar are high end tools that might scare ya off....
So, you can either get next months' CM and use the limited versions of stuff for a while, or you can take your pick from several powerful packages that sell for $60-130.
-Garret
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 5 posts since 1 Jul, 2003 from Joplin, Missouri
Thank you Garret, I'll use that.
I've already tried some domos, and of course they won't let me save. Right now I'm playing with virtual piano 2.0 which is giving me the melody I want, but again, all I can do is play it, not save.
But it is good to hear the tunes outside of my head, lol.
I've already tried some domos, and of course they won't let me save. Right now I'm playing with virtual piano 2.0 which is giving me the melody I want, but again, all I can do is play it, not save.
But it is good to hear the tunes outside of my head, lol.
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- Hun #3
- 4265 posts since 25 Mar, 2002 from A quaint little village just south of Hamburg, Germany
Hehe...you hit the nail on the head. This is what drove us all to begin with isn`t it?NightStorms wrote: But it is good to hear the tunes outside of my head, lol.
Anyway welcome to the forum!
Yeah, give Muzys a try! It's my sequencer of choice and it certainly got me started way back when.... well 1,5 years ago
Marco
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Muon Software Ltd Muon Software Ltd https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=89
- KVRian
- 1461 posts since 21 Nov, 2000
I couldn't agree more. I think CM is a great resource for newbies, without a doubt. On the CD you'll find a full suite of sequencer software (ComputerMuzys) and a set of plugins (CM101/SR202/DS404 etc.) ready to rock and roll. They've also run numerous tutorials on building full tracks etc. from scratch (heck, I even wrote some of them myself 
) so I don't see how you can go far wrong.
Don't forget to register your CM plugins with us and get some free patches every month in return - and if you come up with some groovy tunes, don't forget to come back and tell us all about them.
Regards
Dave
) so I don't see how you can go far wrong.Don't forget to register your CM plugins with us and get some free patches every month in return - and if you come up with some groovy tunes, don't forget to come back and tell us all about them.
Regards
Dave