Please pardon a noobie

[mlegs]

Hey guys My name is Nicu and I'm new on this board.. actually, I am noob in music producing too.

I want to start with a question that crunches me since long time ago, and that is: why do producers still use so much physical devices? when all the effects and other facilities are incorporated inside softwares as cu-base or fl studio...I warned you i am noob xD, though I have played in cu-base a few times, I don't remember much of it .... Now I would like to get a software like cubase but I am afraid I will spend too much $$ on it and will not have time to play in it .. I am a student now, and I have to make up my mind faster as long as I have a dis count for EDU versions of cubase. I really don't know what to do, to buy it or not to buy it.. I'm pretty sure I will take music as a hobby, as I don't have so much knowledge on how to pro-mote myself as a producer in order to make some $

And if I take producing music too seriously, I could find that I need way too much things than just a software, I will like some VST plugins and will start from buying one, and then see another that I like, buy that too, and will get into a dead-end road, getting lost in too many softwares and with money spent, still not having what I like. For example I now like Omni-sphere plug in. (which is 500 dollars, too much for me) Apparently, it has so many instruments, 10 years are not enough to memorize them all, but after a time, I might find that it doesn't really have certain kicks or snares that I want, then searching for another plugins, spend money on those too and getting lost in so many softwares and plug-ins will make me dizzy and will not know where to search for a certain instrument. I don't wanna end like that.

I would like someone with some experience to be kind and have the patience to talk with me, to share some of his experience with me.. do you suggest me starting to view some tutorials to learn all the science behind those synths to be able to create the sound myself and with less softwares? or to get additional softwares and forget about learning all the scientific things so advanced for my brain

How did you start in music? Do you make money with it?

Is there anyone here with some experience in music? I would like a few advices...

Thank you

[Xenobt]

Welcome to KVR and to a hobby you can enjoy and study for the rest of your life!

I'd say get a demo version of Cubase, check out some getting started tutorials on Youtube, and see if the whole thing agrees with you. It won't cost a cent to try! Here's the link:

http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/al ... rsion.html

And just buy things as you need them, mlegs. There's no need to feel like you have to buy everything at once, or have it all to make great tracks. Like any hobby where you collect things, you'll build up an impressive VI and plug in collection over time, and by watching KVR, you can get incredible discounts and even free instruments here.

Don't worry too much about making money with your music. You're a WAYS from that now. Focus on making what makes you happy and if others love it, then you're in very select company. Think of it as a hobby now, and go from there.

Good luck!

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

[mlegs]

Thank you, Xenobt, but I'm going to lose the d1scount of 150 USD (of 400) if I wait too much, because I'm finishing the studies soon and lose opportunity to buy EDU version :-< I think I'll buy it because dunno when I will have the chance to pay lower pr1ce for cubase (almost half)... I shouldn't write these things here, because I know you can't help me taking this decision... I just like to write what I think lol.

[tanabarbier]

Well if you don't want to spent too much money to start, get Reaper instead of cubase ( http://www.reaper.fm/ ), wich also has a really usefull demo to let you see if you clic with it or not.
And as for the synths and effects, you have right here at kvr a big base of old and not so old threads of a variety of people asking for wich free synths and effects are good, so start there!
=> http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9780
=> http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... ti&start=0

[Panphobia]

+1 cuckos reaper- its cheaper and I like it better than cubase (ymmv).

+1 you are in the right place... and endless supply of free plugs available that you can find on these forums.

1. Go get the free synths from Uhe ( I believe there are two of them?) Now before he realizes that they should not be free!!!

2. For some great effects, I would start in the past DC challenges, some really really good free ware in there.

3. Check the Bargain thread often. I have gotten absurd prices in there, like $20 for a $200 product sometimes when there is a sale. Be patient, there is always another sale (except for vendors who don't do sales).

4. Welcome!

[mlegs]

Hi, Panphobia, yes, Reaper seems to be more appropriate for my budget, thank you does it support VST plug-ins? i am interested in making trance and / or ambiental music, do you think Reaper is good for this type? I'm gonna have to do a lot of research of what plug ins I need.

[BertKoor]

[...] Reaper [...] does it support VST plug-ins?

See http://www.reaper.fm/technical.php , third list on the right column

i am interested in making trance and / or ambiental music, do you think Reaper is good for this type?

You can make any style of music with any randomly picked DAW.

[Vintage73]

Before you decide on purchasing any host, be sure to demo it. I'm not saying Cubase is for everyone, but I personally didn't get along with Reaper.

You should try other hosts as well. I know you don't have too much time, but at least give them all a spin before you spend your money on ANY host.

As for VST plug-ins, you can check out the plug-in rankings right here on KVR: http://www.kvraudio.com/plugin-ranks.php

It lists the most popular free and commercial plug-ins, so you can decide what you'd like to try.

Good luck!

[mlegs]

Hi, thank you very much for answers
I would like to have a software that can be easy to understand, but not only for creating basic sounds... Actually I think the most important think is the sequencer and the mixer to be ok, as the synths and instruments aren't enough within none of the DAWs, they all require plugins ... I just feel that everyhing I look for is not enough, I've been through this feeling before when I started learning fl studio and cubase long ago... I was like, ok , I learn it, but what if after I get some experience with it, I find that I can't create what music I imagine only with that program, and then searching continues, I'm going to find something else and will have to get experience with that too to find that it's not capable of my music type, so searching never ends this way.

[Vintage73]

The biggest problem I had in Reaper was manually sequencing. I'm not proficient at playing keys yet, so I need to either play, then edit, or plain enter notes in manually, and I found the piano roll and automation controls in Reaper to be lacking.

I went with Cubase because its piano roll and automation were closest to what I was used to at the time (ACID Pro 7, which I STILL think has the best piano roll and automation controls, but sadly that program is woefully out of date now).

YMMV.

[mlegs]

You mean Reaper has no piano roll and automation possibility? o_0 well that's a problem because it is sort of impossible to make music where no effect is automated.. are you sure it has no automation controls? I don't have a MIDI keyboard, and I would like one because it inspires me a lot when I play music naturally with physical keys than playing in the piano roll. Can you recommend me an affordable keyboard for me ? I'm not interested in all those knobs that much keyboards have.. What i care about is the keys only..
What version of cubase do you have ?

[Vintage73]

No. It does have a piano roll and automation, but I found them to be less than what I was hoping for.

I only have a KORG microKEY, so I can't really recommend a keyboard. I'm sorry.

I use Cubase 7 64-bit Full Version. I'm sure one of the lighter versions would be just fine for you, though. But as I said, try out all of the hosts. You may find that something else fits you better.

[mlegs]

i was looking on the web for a korg microkey that you mentioned and seems to be actually what I want something basic without too many buttons on it. Any ideea how much could that cost ?
I was wondering if Steinberg sells some older versions of cubase at a lower price.
thank you, friend.

[Vintage73]

Where are you located?

Steinberg only sells the latest version of their software, unfortunately, but sometimes you can find older version here in the Marketplace or on eBay.

[BertKoor]

i was looking on the web for a kirg microkey that you mentioned [...] Any ideea how much could that cost ?

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=amazon+korg+microkey

I was wondering if Steinberg sells some older versions of cubase at a lower price.

I guess not. But you can ask here in the Market Place forum for a second-hand old version.

CuBase is one of the few DAWs that don't do demo versions. That's a pita... Please do try some contenders before buying something. It would be a pity if you found out it doesn't click with you.

Some hosts are better with pattern-based compositions, some work linear, some excell at midi, some are better at recording audio. So it's up to you, what you want & need, what's important to you.

And since you claim to be a newbie, you probably don't know yet what you might like best. The best way to find out is just try. For free if possible...