Absolute beginner's questions about NI's Komplete and general music production

[tsukeyomi]

Hello KVR community.

I'm an absolute beginner in fact of music and I had some question on getting started.

First of all I have a quite advanced knowledge in the computer and IT field (both hardware and software), but I have a little knowledge in music production. For example, I know how to use Audacity and I have a good ear for putting together music pieces but other than that there's not much.

The problem is I don't have/don't know the tools to produce music and I would like to know and learn something about it. My goal is to slowly start creating different types of music such as trailer music (epic, cinematic, dramatic), advertisement music (happy or motivating tunes), maybe a bit of Hip Hop and soft rock and other genres too if I feel I have the creativity for it.

I saw Native Instrument's suite for music production called Komplete 9 and it looked quite interesting to me. Here's the begginer's questions:

1) How do you use Komplete? I'm not looking for a tutorial but I was more curious about the workflow, like how do you record/put together music with that suite and so on (Only with Komplete? Only with your computer? With a MIDI Keyboard? etc.).

2) Does it take a long time to learn to use/master softwares like Komplete?

3) Do I need external softwares such as Audacity or other DAW's in order to work with Komplete or can I do everything from inside Komplete? (this connects to question 1)

4) What hardware would be recommended to have in order to use Komplete/create music? I guess a MIDI Keyboard is a must? I dont' know how do you record music with Komplete (see question 1) but I guess a MIDI Keyboard is used in the process... Anything else I would need? Looking answers in this project.

5) What are the computer's requirements in order to run everything flawlessly? I guess an Audio Card, a strong processor and lots of RAM are ideal right? And probably and SSD would help a lot, but I'm looking suggestion from more experienced people. If you want to share your setup it would be great!

It would be a huge help if you could answer these question clearly, and give me an insight of what I need to know. Remember I'm a total beginner, so please don't take too many things for granted.

Thanks a lot in advance, hope to receive answers!

[neverenoughfunk]

to be honest with you Komplete is overkill for someone who is just starting out... you have a background in computers (hardware/software) but just starting out with music... before spending major bucks on software you should start with understanding the concepts of making music and you do not need Komplete to do that... you should focus on a DAW first and learn/understands the concepts of music making with the DAW you choose and the included instruments... once you get familiar with the concepts of making music then it will be time for an investment into Komplete... Komplete is overwhelming for a beginner... just my thoughts...

[angelinni]

Komplete has a lot of stuff inside, therefore a lot of stuff you can do with. Search at youtube some scoring done with komplete, you'll got a good taste of how it can be used. I like this one () done with an earlier version. You can expand it with tons of samples and presets, you may need it for specific tunes, but just learning to use the sw included will take a while...
Regarding you question: Komplete gives you samplers, synths, effects. To create a song, you'll need a DAW which may handle MIDI properly. Is not the scope of audacity, I'm afraid. There's other freewares, but documentation could be a problem. DAW there's a lot, different prices, different versions. If you can try demos, the best daw actually will be the one that fits better for you, there's no rules about it.
You can't compose inside Komplete, you'll need a DAW.
Some people work incredibly fast with mouse/keyboard. Check this guy:
If you can play, a midi controller is a good investment. And if you don't... problably it does worth to learn
Actually, since you are working with samples, you may work with an regular audiocard. However, for mixing stuff, you need to listen accurrately, so you need a good sound card and good speakers. Which are expensive.
Notice that Komplete allows you to install in 2-3 computers, so you may have your main monster machine to render/mixing songs and install in your laptop to work as well.
I have an old notebook Lenovo i5 with 8GB and it works fine.
Due to huge amount of data you may use an external drive. USB3 should be enough, and a fast drive (I use a portable and it's ok, but if you use a powered-one, better). It depends how many tracks you use
Finally, check groove3 or askvideo (macprovideo I think is now the same). They have a lot of tutorials about composing, Komplete, each of the components, DAW's and so on...
Best luck with your music

[Panphobia]

1. Komplete is not one thing, but a collection of instruments and effects. Generally speaking you use them as vst inside of a host program. like others have said it is perhaps overkill, but every major component in it is top notch. I get the feeling that you would love fm8 being a tech nerd. Reaktor too Kontakt is one of the most used samplers, so for cinimatic stuff it will be useful. However much of the included library is not really that great so don't expect to buy this and be able to do cinematic scores that sound as good as the pros.

2.Yes a very long time

3. technically speaking most of the NI stuff works in stand alone mode, but to record it you will pretty much need a host program. I suggest you check out cuckos reaper which is a really cheap and powerful option. Also others such as sonar have good demo periods, so just check them out and you have to decide which one you like best, as all of them have strengths and weaknesses. Just fyi if you are looking for an interface, every now and again presonus ships the 22 vsl with their host program, Studio One and a free upgrade to the 'producer' version. This is a pretty economical way to get into some software. Studio One feels a lot like cubase, since some of the same people are involved.

4. At the very least I would suggest a midi keyboard, a good sound card/interface, good monitoring system (including some good room treatments/ positioning of speakers). You can also get things like a mixer or other controllers like maschine deepening on your workflow, but best is to start simple and build up from there.

5. best processor and ram you can afford. SSD may be overkill, 7200rpm or better HD should be fine. I use 3 HD: one for OS, 1 for samples, and one for projects. I have i7 930, and it works pretty well. I could use more power though especially on bigger projects with lots of efx. You can also get dsp like UAD, but best to not buy such expensive things at first. I would start off with whatever computer you already have and then upgrade later if you decide you need to, so you don't blow too much money on something that may or may not be a part of your life in a few years.


Anyway it will be an adventure, there is a whole world to explore. You may want to check out gearslutz for hardware related things, as KVR is more geared towards software. Good luck, welcome, and have fun!

[Syncretia]

1) How do you use Komplete? I'm not looking for a tutorial but I was more curious about the workflow, like how do you record/put together music with that suite and so on (Only with Komplete? Only with your computer? With a MIDI Keyboard? etc.).

From the way you are asking that question, I would say don't buy Komplete. Komplete is a pack of instruments and effects. Make sure that you are understand what instruments and effects are before you buy Komplete.

2) Does it take a long time to learn to use/master softwares like Komplete?

Nobody really ever masters Komplete. It doesn't take a long time to jump in and start using the presets.

3) Do I need external softwares such as Audacity or other DAW's in order to work with Komplete or can I do everything from inside Komplete? (this connects to question 1)

Komplete comes with a set of standalone instruments. You could theoretically plug a midi keyboard in and start playing with the instruments, but what really would be the point? You will need a DAW. If you have a Mac, Logic is a good starting point at $210 USD. But, Ableton is the best if you can afford it. Maschine is also a good option. Either way - I'd go as far as saying that the instruments inside Logic and Ableton shit all over the instruments inside Komplete.

4) What hardware would be recommended to have in order to use Komplete/create music? I guess a MIDI Keyboard is a must? I dont' know how do you record music with Komplete (see question 1) but I guess a MIDI Keyboard is used in the process... Anything else I would need? Looking answers in this project.

Do you want to program your music on a piano roll? Or do you want to perform on the instrument and record what you play? If the answer is the former, do not buy any controllers. If it's the latter a midi keyboard is a good starting point. Or, you could look at Maschine, or Push. BTW: If you buy Maschine it will integrate nicely with Komplete and you can write music with it as mentioned above.

5) What are the computer's requirements in order to run everything flawlessly? I guess an Audio Card, a strong processor and lots of RAM are ideal right? And probably and SSD would help a lot, but I'm looking suggestion from more experienced people. If you want to share your setup it would be great!

This is an open ended question. Some things in Komplete will run on the crappiest old laptops. Some things (like a few Reaktor patches) will make the most powerful desktop chug. I have an old laptop (Intel Core Duo) and I can run a lot of the stuff in Komplete no problem.

[Jrace]

As said before. You should do this:-

1. Buy Logic
2. Learn how to use it and download the demo's from Native so you can try out parts of Komplete and see if it is for you
3. When you are confident make the leap and enjoy!

Komplete is a great package, I'm still on 8 and I use parts of it on every project but you need to have a DAW going before you can get into it.

[xybre]

One more voice for the chorus

1) How do you use Komplete? I'm not looking for a tutorial but I was more curious about the workflow, like how do you record/put together music with that suite and so on (Only with Komplete? Only with your computer? With a MIDI Keyboard? etc.).

You don't. Komplete is just instruments and effects. Unless you want to record the output of your computer on reel-to-reel tape or something ridiculous like that, I'd recommend getting a DAW/sequencer/VST Host software of some sort.

In fact I recommend not buying Komplete at all at this stage.

2) Does it take a long time to learn to use/master softwares like Komplete?

Absolutely. Komplete is a suite of loads of different things, learning all of them intimately would probably take years. There are easier (and less expensive) options to learn on.

3) Do I need external softwares such as Audacity or other DAW's in order to work with Komplete or can I do everything from inside Komplete? (this connects to question 1)

You need a VST host to run the Komplete plugins together. Some of them allow a "stand alone" option, but you won't be able to record or anything without the aforementioned reel to reel.

Some random hosts are:

• Ableton Live

• Apple Logic

• Cockos Reaper

• Presonus Studio One

• Renoise Tracker

• FL Studio

• Zynwave Podium

I've played with most of the ones above, but I use Studio One the most right now.

4) What hardware would be recommended to have in order to use Komplete/create music? I guess a MIDI Keyboard is a must? I dont' know how do you record music with Komplete (see question 1) but I guess a MIDI Keyboard is used in the process... Anything else I would need? Looking answers in this project.

A MIDI keyboard is a good investment, but not required. I spent a couple of years working on music before I bought my first. You can get little inexpensive ones like the Akai LPK25 before blowing $600 on one of the big ones. If you're a classically trained pianist the big keyboard might make you more comfortable, but electronic music isn't about the keyboardist as much as the sound design and composition.

5) What are the computer's requirements in order to run everything flawlessly? I guess an Audio Card, a strong processor and lots of RAM are ideal right? And probably and SSD would help a lot, but I'm looking suggestion from more experienced people. If you want to share your setup it would be great!

You can get by with very little. ASIO4All will let you do low latency audio with any shitty sound card. I use a cheap $99 Traktor Audio 2 for 3 years, and it did the basics. The SSD and RAM won't help you much to be honest, except as much as it helps the OS. If you're using a lot of large samples they could come in handy, but its not required. If you're going to do a lot of live synthesis or effects you'll need a strong CPU, but a lot of people get by with not much there too.

Remember, people were making great electronic music on Ataris and shit. So its possible to do a lot with very little. I personally started out with some old hardware and a few softsynths, mostly free. It's not a bad route to take. today I've spent untold fuckloads of money on stuff, but I wouldn't recommend it for a noob. Money won't buy skills, this isn't Skyrim.

I'd recommend for modern software a decent i7-class CPU though, it'll give you room to grow.

[psychoxkps]

ok.. u need maschine.. it a daw.. in that daw u install komplete.. there is its start and never end cause there is a reaktor.. infinite capabilities.. and must its BOTH interface and keyboard.. buy komplete audio 6 and m-audio oxygen 88....:DD

[Lode_Runner]

I'm going to repeat what a lot of other people have been saying, but maybe I've got some new info. that'll help.

1) How do you use Komplete? I'm not looking for a tutorial but I was more curious about the workflow, like how do you record/put together music with that suite and so on (Only with Komplete? Only with your computer? With a MIDI Keyboard? etc.).

As others have stated Komplete is a collection of virtual instruments and effects (programs that act as musical instruments). You can run many of these stand alone on your computer, or as plugins that run within a host recording/sequencing/editing program which I call a host not a DAW (a DAW is actually a Digital Audio Workstation - your working environment - consisting of a computer, a sound card/audio interface, a host program and any input devices such as a Midi keyboard, although many other people do use the term when referring to the host program alone). While you can run the instruments and effects as stand alone, in order to chain them together, sequence (record MIDI) and arrange them into a composition/recording, you need a host program. Think of it as Komplete being the instruments and effects, while the host program is a recording studio. As an individual person, you're not going to be able to play the bass, drums and pianos at the same time, so you need to take the instruments into a recording studio, and record them one by one onto a multitrack tape recorder. Then you can do all the mixing together using your effects plugged into the mixing desk which is also part of the recording studio.

Popular Host Programs include FL Studio, Cubase, Sonar, Logic (Mac only), Ableton Live, Protools, Orion, StudioOne, Reaper, Podium and others. Which host you choose is a matter of personal preference, the work flow and learning curve varies for each, and they all have their strengths and weaknesses (some more than others). Don't take the "X is the best" advice as gospel when it comes to Hosts.

In relation to what Komplete includes as instruments there are a number of virtual synthesisers (FM8, Absynth, and Massive); a virtual synthesiser construction kit called Reaktor which also acts as a player for further virtual synths (Spark, Prism, and I think Monark also runs inside it); a sample library player/creator called Kontakt (which plays sample libraries - virtual instruments consisting of recorded sounds from real instruments that can be triggered with a MIDI controller such as a keyboard, or by clicking a mouse to trigger notes at particular times inside your host program's sequencer); a number of sample libraries to use in Kontakt covering pianos, electric pianos, electric organs, more synthesisers, bass guitars, drums, and West African instruments (note there are lot of very high quality third party libraries that can be purchased separately later to expand your instrument range - Kontakt currently being the most popular sample library player on the market); there's also a virtual drum machine called Battery (not part of Kontakt) for playing more electronic music oriented drum sounds.

In terms of effects - there is guitar rig which allows you to plug a real guitar (or any other instrument/virtual instrument) into a range of virtual guitar amplifiers and effects units; a convolution reverb called Reflektor which allows you to take an instrument and make it sound like it was played in real hall or church or a small room etc; and the solid EQ, Bus Comp and Dynamics, which are mixing processing tools (equalisers, compressors, noise gates etc), designed to help instruments sit well together in a mix.

As others have stated, most Host Programs come with instruments and effects, enough to keep you busy for a while when you're starting out. However, Komplete is excellent value for money and covers a lot of ground and is definitely an excellent second purchase. If you're interested in film scoring etc, you'll also need to get better orchestral virtual instruments down the track (unless you're interested in more electronic/abstract/contemporary film scores). Komplete is more rock/electronic music focused, although many of the options for orchestral and cinematic music will require Kontakt to run, so Komplete is still very useful to have, and the kontakt factory library includes some older orchestral sample libraries as well - good enough to start learning.

2) Does it take a long time to learn to use/master softwares like Komplete?

It doesn't take long to get to the point that you can start having fun with it, but to learn and get to a professional level with the more advanced aspects of Kontakt, Reaktor, mixing and synthesis, can take many years.

3) Do I need external softwares such as Audacity or other DAW's in order to work with Komplete or can I do everything from inside Komplete? (this connects to question 1)

See answer to question 1

4) What hardware would be recommended to have in order to use Komplete/create music? I guess a MIDI Keyboard is a must? I dont' know how do you record music with Komplete (see question 1) but I guess a MIDI Keyboard is used in the process... Anything else I would need? Looking answers in this project.

A MIDI keyboard isn't a must have. For example you can sequence music using your mouse and typing keyboard. However a good MIDI keyboard allows you to be a lot more efficient and makes the process more organic and fun rather than tedious. Of course there's also having to learn to play keys to use a MIDI keyboard to its full potential.

5) What are the computer's requirements in order to run everything flawlessly? I guess an Audio Card, a strong processor and lots of RAM are ideal right? And probably and SSD would help a lot, but I'm looking suggestion from more experienced people. If you want to share your setup it would be great!

The more powerful the processor and the more RAM you have, the more your computer is able to handle. How much you actually need varies - if you're running multiple instances of Kontakt (with big sample libraries) at the same time, then it can require a lot of processing/memory as well as fast hard drives to stream from. If you're working with just 2 or 3 virtual synths, it can be a lot less resource intensive.

You would also benefit from a good audio interface/sound card and a pair of studio monitor speakers to get your mixes to the best audio quality you can in a home studio. You don't actually need these things to start out learning, but they do help and become essential when you start getting serious.


Also, just a small tip - look for tutorial videos on Youtube - they'll really help you make sense of software that initially looks very complicated and daunting. Also hang around here at KVR and read the forums, but be careful - it can lead to GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). All the best.

[snugglepuff]

Same as above:

Music-making is something that you can go a long way with before you start investing in it and it's a great idea to do it a bit before you determine your level of interest financially. I'd say start with Reaper as your DAW ($60), and pick up some quality free VSTs like Synth1 and anything by TAL. You can work with MIDI without even having an audio interface, but you'll want one at some point to record audio.

So basically you can get started tonight for free and take it from there.

[hansba]

If I didnt have any synth or effects Komplete 9 would be my choice number one. You get so much for not that much of money. Starting Daw would be Studio One maybe. Didnt like Reaper at all. Even I have synths I probably crossgrade to Komplete 9 or maybe 10. Synths are incredible in it and everything is so good. Recommend really that one.