| The greatest gift bestowed upon us is the ability to | | | | when you start collecting the bits and pieces which |
| create. Whether it be in creating a painting, a model | | | | you'll know will be of great use to your musical style. |
| car, or a song that drifts in and out of your | | | | If all this looking up stuff sounds like a complete pain, |
| mind.Often though, you may find getting your ideas | | | | in recommendation, download a starter demo (for |
| to flourish into a realistic assemble becomes one of | | | | free) of any of these packages mentioned |
| the most complex tasks you had to face. The point | | | | above,(and there are more), and see which one you |
| is, are you finding it impossible to get your ideas | | | | like! Recommendations are made here for you by |
| working due to the complex technical details you | | | | Wesley.What am I doing?You're not in a race (I |
| believe you need to know and learn?In this | | | | hope). Do you have a deadline to produce great |
| discussion, I am going to guide you in how to | | | | tracks? (hopefully not too). You're aiming to get that |
| separate the nonsense from the necessary in the | | | | stunner of a track outside your head and inside your |
| very beginning, and far from being a tutorial full of | | | | PC. Yes, you need some basic decent tools, but only |
| jargon, I will try to give you some ideas, hints, and a | | | | you can bring to life the energy and value of your |
| framework in which to begin your creative journey. It | | | | work. So don't fuss, obsess or panic about all the |
| will un-clutter your mind from what you really need | | | | technical "doo-daa's" thrown at you in magazines. |
| to know and what you don't. It's | | | | Concentrate on the music! A lot of musicians actually |
| simple.KnowledgeWithout it where would we be? | | | | lose inspiration and/or creativity by ending up |
| Whilst undoubtedly you will need some talent, some | | | | collecting or reading about all the gear available; after |
| determination, you will also need some knowledge | | | | all there really is not enough hours in the day to learn |
| about the tools you need to use to perform your | | | | how to competently use all the different pieces of |
| task. A painter will study different colours, textures, | | | | software/hardware on the market. What happens to |
| canvases, types of brushes in order to evaluate the | | | | them is they end up with tons and tons of gear, but |
| different working methods, study other artists work, | | | | very few quality tunes! You must get familiar with |
| and also the effect his tools will bring to his own | | | | your chosen tool or package. Figure out the functions |
| creations. Similarly, in producing music, we need to | | | | and read your manual that comes with the package. |
| know the availability and variety of programmes and | | | | Play with it, and you'll begin to understand what it's |
| equipment, how they work, what they offer in value, | | | | doing and which functions may be very useful to you |
| and which particular ones we need.To begin at the | | | | now or useful to you later! This time should be about |
| beginning, (as they say) is to look at the facts. | | | | getting to know your tools.Are you aiming for |
| You're new to the game. You will have to face the | | | | Dance? Pop? Electronica? You know how the music |
| fact that you are not going to create a Rembrandt | | | | sounds, sure, but can you do it yourself? Yes, you |
| painting, or a Beatles number within your first week, ( | | | | can!I hear people saying (and I myself have said this |
| if you do please let me know). Therefore, you only | | | | too) 'this sounds rubbish', when starting out. Try |
| really need the most simple of tools to get you | | | | building a house without any experience, is it going to |
| started. There is only so much you even need to | | | | be a palace? No. Neither is your song. Patience (lots |
| know at first, or even that you brain will be able to | | | | of it), regular breaks. Do not spend hours and hours |
| digest, so walk slowly.HardwareIn computer music | | | | at the screen either, you will end up frustrated with |
| making terms, you're going to need a PC or Mac, | | | | tired ears and a total lack of enthusiasm. Always |
| obviously. I presume you have this already? Ok, then | | | | remember, at this stage you are learning, you're a |
| you will need to make sure it is running efficiently and | | | | student!Listen to a song similar in style to what you'd |
| that you have a large amount of RAM (at least 512 | | | | like to do yourself. Take note of the structure, and |
| MB, preferably 1 GB) to be able to cope with all | | | | try to separate the instruments in your mind, this is |
| those large music files you intend to use. Along with | | | | difficult at first but gets easier with practice. You are |
| this you'll probably want a simple sequencer | | | | not expected to know exactly how everything is put |
| (something like a word processor for music) and a | | | | together. In the beginning a lot of the 'effects' |
| keyboard (the musical type if possible) capable of | | | | applied to instruments are indecipherable. You will |
| sending midi information to and from your PC. The | | | | learn with time how a compressor, EQ, reverb, |
| soundcard you have installed will express the quality | | | | chorus and other effects sound. Try not to worry |
| of the sounds you hear. A cheaper soundcard will | | | | about it all at first. Next, on your chosen song, how |
| likely have your basic GM soundset giving you at | | | | fast/slow does the song seem to be going at |
| least 127 midi instruments to play with. The sounds | | | | (tempo)? Does the speed change in the song itself? |
| from an inexpensive card may not be wonderful and | | | | How many frequency ranges can you hear?Is it |
| you will probably want a better one. You can get this | | | | mostly deep and low or high, or does it vary, what |
| now or later on. It's up to you! It could take some | | | | effect on you is the song trying to have? Figure out |
| time for you to research as there are hundreds of | | | | which sounds appear to be more 'up front' and which |
| soundcards available.SoftwareWhat you really want | | | | are 'pushed' further back in the song. Try to describe |
| to be focusing on at the beginning is sequencing, i.e: | | | | the sounds you hear, are they metallic, clangy, |
| composing your song with an arrangement or | | | | thuddy, sweet, deep? Yes, there is some learning of |
| structure. The complexity of sound and its varying | | | | sound here, and you'll later be manipulating those |
| frequencies and forms you should definately not | | | | sounds yourself, but for now you're grasping the |
| worry about at this stage. Remember, at first you | | | | structure, what you're actually hearing, and how it is |
| need to familiarize yourself with your tools. For an | | | | all fitting together. What is usually very handy for |
| idea how to get started with sequencers check out | | | | understanding the structure of a song, in a very |
| the 'getting started' music making tutorial also on this | | | | simplistic way, is grabbing a copy of E-jay or some |
| site. Read up on the various price ranges on different | | | | type of 'drop and drag' pre-made music samples into |
| websites or music magazines. What do you think will | | | | the main page.You don't actually have to create the |
| work for you in the long run and what kind of music | | | | sounds themselves too much in this type of package, |
| do you intend to make? There is no point buying a | | | | but use the ones they provide. This way you can |
| fully comprehensive dance music-making package if | | | | mostly practice the arrangement and structure. Bring |
| you intend to produce classical tunes in the end. | | | | in a chorus where you think it should go, and the |
| Think about it. Get a software package that suits | | | | breaks or build ups etc. You may not find it to be the |
| you.The Power of TechnologySince the advancing | | | | most serious musical production package, but it will |
| power of technology in all areas of computer music, | | | | help you later on. Try different instruments on your |
| companies have been falling over each other to | | | | menu's and see what sounds good with what. What |
| produce the 'next best thing'! There are literally | | | | clashes with what. Play with the levels, usually strings |
| thousands of software/hardware tools now available, | | | | are very nicely set panned and at a lower velocity, |
| many promising to do much the same thing, | | | | play with beats, bass and basically just get stuck in! |
| promising to be the only thing you need to create | | | | Doesn't really matter what you come out with its all |
| that 'killer track'! Don't be fooled by marketing | | | | a learning process at first.Music To My EarsSo! You |
| strategies and tactics. Just because something looks | | | | have a PC, you have a sequencer or music package |
| good and costs a lot doesn't necessarily mean a | | | | of some kind, you have sounds, and you're figuring |
| smaller, less comprehensive package can't produce a | | | | out your first track. Excellent! At this point you may |
| similar result, and also, is it what you really need? | | | | like what you are hearing or you may want to take |
| Some things you'll just have to work out for | | | | up gardening! Fair play! Still today, after three years |
| yourself.When I started producing, I was always | | | | composing, I still threaten to take up knitting instead, |
| tempted to buy top end tools (and great some of | | | | but I'm not giving up without a fight! Why should |
| them are too), but I just didn't have a clue how to | | | | you? One day it'll make you really smile and by all |
| use all the complex functions at first and what if I | | | | means, or just for now, try to keep it fun. Play, play, |
| didn't even like it? Spending all that money may have | | | | play!Even though I'm not a very 'artistic' person in |
| been disheartening. Cubase vs Sonar vs Logic vs | | | | terms of works of art, paintings, sculptures etc, I do |
| Reason, it doesn't really matter until you read up on | | | | happen to very much like Michaelangelo's work and I |
| each one and find which one appeals to you the | | | | have a couple of his paintings hanging right over my |
| most. Bear in mind the type of music you are hoping | | | | studio. I bought a book on the guy and found him to |
| to create, the availability of future upgrades (if you | | | | have the most remarkable will I ever heard of. (You'd |
| ever want one). (Emagic discontinued Logic for the | | | | need it to spend 12 years painting a ceiling). I draw |
| PC, disappointing to many logic fans, myself | | | | some inspiration from him in the fact that I realised |
| included).Check the prices between the latest | | | | that even he must have had his 'off' days, or |
| versions, and how it will integrate with your current | | | | moments when he thought, 'Why oh why did I |
| system. How much technical support is offered by | | | | volunteer to do this?' and most interesting of all was |
| the company? Is it reliable? (A good place to find out | | | | that he never kept much of his reward but rather |
| how reliable a product is, is to visit forums on user | | | | gave it away to family and friends.So what inspired |
| groups on the internet; manufacturers seldom boast | | | | him to spend so long doing something so hard?I |
| about how unreliable their software is!) Check for | | | | guess it was his love of art, his talent and the fact |
| incompatibilities between your units, (again on the | | | | that he was creative. He wasn't intending to become |
| internet), and read reviews too. What have other | | | | a legendary artist, he just was, and I believe his |
| people who bought the products thought? Don't let | | | | greatest reward remained deep inside him!So don't let |
| fantastic offers be your deciding factor. You may not | | | | the jargon, the confusion, the downright bothersome |
| like the product once you have used it.Don't worry, | | | | technology put you off your real intentions......... which |
| this initial choosing part is the worst. Trust me, it's all | | | | is making the music you love!If you love it that much |
| very confusing and there is too much conflicting | | | | you'll get there!Carla Acheson is a musician, and |
| information available. You'll have a much better idea | | | | freelance writer for a variety of subjects, mainly the |
| what you really want at a later stage, and that's | | | | independent music industry. |