Wanting to start writing my own music

beatnik · Post by **beatnik** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:38 pm

I've been using Live since 4 and it's mostly used for live djing and performances.
I've never actually made my own music before and am really getting serious about starting out. I've never used Ableton for this, but feel I could pick it up and get to work with it.

However, I have tinkered with Logic Express in the past and was fairly happy with how the software works. Now with the release of Logic Studio - I'm quite tempted to go down the Logic route. (I'm in a position where I am able to get a substantial discount off Logic Studio which would negate the reason to go for Logic Express

.

Bare in mind that I am just starting out, what would you recommend? Begin using ableton or start off with Logic? Of course, with this being an Ableton forum I am expecting some flack - but I know there are plenty of people on here who prefer to use Logic to Ableton or vice versa.

Thanks

RibbedSauce · Post by **RibbedSauce** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:16 pm

go with ableton at first, dont splash out your cash straight away because if it doesnt work out then you wont have lost money etc, make some songs in ableton first as you already know the program it will be easier for you to get along, and once your confident enough to know you want to continue making your own stuff then think about buying other software

Homebelly · Post by **Homebelly** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:09 pm

let us know what kind of music you want to have a go at making.
will it be mostly, or exclusively made in the box,, ie,, just using softsynths,,
or do you envision your self wanting to record entire orchestras?
Will you be wanting to write your own drum beats or work from loops?

If you have LIVE 6 then you probably have most of what you need to get you going right in front of you,, if your on a mac then add a very cool free ware synth called Automat into your kit and your almost golden,, I'd also recommend you take a look at what the Covert Operators and puremagnetic both have to offer.

Once you get a feel for whether or not computer music making is for you, then you could make the choice to move up to Logic Pro,,
On the other hand, if you want to work entirely from prerecorded loops and just use Live as an arrangement tool then logic studio is almost unbeatable value in this respect as it comes with an almost stupidly large library of apple loops that you can build into an arrangement in Logic with very simple drag and drop, then export them as real audio and import them into live to jam out new arrangement ideas.
My Logic session folder has been raided a couple of times for some of my Live sets,, i basically deal with any audio on my HD as raw material for my Live compositions,,

beatnik · Post by **beatnik** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:29 pm

Homebelly wrote:let us know what kind of music you want to have a go at making.
will it be mostly, or exclusively made in the box,, ie,, just using softsynths,,
or do you envision your self wanting to record entire orchestras?
Will you be wanting to write your own drum beats or work from loops?

If you have LIVE 6 then you probably have most of what you need to get you going right in front of you,, if your on a mac then add a very cool free ware synth called Automat into your kit and your almost golden,, I'd also recommend you take a look at what the Covert Operators and puremagnetic both have to offer.

Once you get a feel for whether or not computer music making is for you, then you could make the choice to move up to Logic Pro,,
On the other hand, if you want to work entirely from prerecorded loops and just use Live as an arrangement tool then logic studio is almost unbeatable value in this respect as it comes with an almost stupidly large library of apple loops that you can build into an arrangement in Logic with very simple drag and drop, then export them as real audio and import them into live to jam out new arrangement ideas.
My Logic session folder has been raided a couple of times for some of my Live sets,, i basically deal with any audio on my HD as raw material for my Live compositions,,

I'm actually looking to make some minimal techno, but also some electro and breaks. It's pretty broad really but all electronic.

To start with, I'd be happy working from loops for some of the composition until I can get to grips with more stuff. One of the things I was so interested with logic studio was the stupid amount of loops available.

Pasha · Post by **Pasha** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:51 pm

Don't be fooled by the massive amount of loops.
Think about the way you want to use them.
Live is unique in the industry. You can play with loops in a different way
than in any other DAW. Compose and test your composition, arrange on the fly,
record your changes into the Arrangement view. It's perfect and will give hours of fun.
You can use Garage band loops if you're on a Mac and there are many more free loops on the internet or some you can download with a small fee.
I made the choice two years ago when I was in your position with Live 4. I left Cubase for Live, no regrets. I don't make Techno or Electronica, I'm a mix of genre of more 'old style' music like Funky, Jazz, Ballads, Rhythm and Blues. This kind of music is somewhat based on loops and Live gave me a composition boost that goes far beyond the $$$ spent. Think what you can do with loop based music in Live. Happy Live!

- Best
- Pasha

brunob · Post by **brunob** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:58 pm

You should definitely leverage the experience you already have with Live. I don't know Logic but I'd think with both the learning curves of creating songs and learning the software you'll be spending a lot of boring time just working on technical aspects. On the other hand Live seems like a pretty decent platform to start with, I do some recording myself.

I don't know yet how far you can go with it, it does seem limited in a few areas where more professional recording features are required but then again wtfdik I'm learning this myself...

laird · Post by **laird** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:13 pm

You will most likely outgrow loops. Making your own is just too easy and so much more malleable.

Nothing wrong with Logic, I'm sure, but if you already own Live and know how to use it... well...

if a guitarist asked me how he/she should go about learning to write their own music, I wouldn't tell them "you need to buy a saxophone and learn it first".

Just start.

j0shu@ · Post by **j0shu@** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:33 pm

just start tinkering with live, download some free softsynths and vsts and off you go.