Can some one please hep me get started!

[Jimmyprice]

Hey I just bought ableton 8 for my mac and I'm finding it really hard to actually make a decent sounding track, ive been djing for years now and I'm really into most kinds of "dance music" (for lack of a better word) but Im finding it so frustrating that i cant make anything that sounds nearly as good as the tracks i love. Obviously it will take a long time to get as good as some of you but i was hoping for a few tips on how some of you got started... maybe if anyone knows a few good synths or plug ins That are good for making tech, prog or electro? or if anyone knows any tutorials i could learn from?

I know its kind of a stupid post but i don't really know anyone else i could ask
Id really appreciate it if someone could take the time to help me out

Cheers
Jimmy

[esky]

Hi, first thing you need is patience, there's a universe of possibilities for you now. I would check the Ableton tutorial videos first, maybe there are some helpful videos on youtube too. You will find very good freeware plugins on dontcrack.com, kvr database or maybe you check the free download package on nativeinstruments.com (kore download pack). But i would say you don't mess to much with third party stuff, get your way through Live 8 first. Good luck...!

[monobeach]

I would suggest, first to watch the videos on the ableton site (e.g. "Beats made easy"), then follow all the inbuilt lessons in Live to get a feeling for what the software can do.
Then, it depends, on how you want to work. Want to compose your own songs? For me, as a keyboarder, it was extremly helpful in the beginning to rely on some sort of loop-based groove instrument, to help composing songs, since I knew nothing about beat programming.
I usually begin with a keyboard idea or bassline, then start building the song from there.
If you want to work in the box, software instruments are the way to go. A synth like Ableton's Operator can take you far for creating any sort of dance music, beats included. You will need a midi keyboard to get the most out of these instruments. Also, there are a lot of free synths and effects to download, that are worth trying - search this forum (e.g. crystal, izotope vinyl).
It's a long way to create a decent sounding track, but in the end, it's not rocket science and Live provides all the features to take you there.

[djsynchro]

Keep it simple! That'll be hard enough, don't go doing really complicated things, try & make something simple-simple-simple first. Start with good sounding sounds, so you don't have to bend over backwards to make it "so".

[UKRuss]

Get down the techno synth shop!

[pepezabala]

Difficult to give advice on a question like yours. There is a illion different ways to get started.

If you are a DJ you will have for sure some favourite beats/hooklines. Sample them, warp them. Then try to rebuild them with the tools that Live provides. Then you will have probably some more specific questions that the people here will be happy to discuss.

[vagelles]

I used to have the same problem. One thing you have to remember is those tracks that you like are mastered (most likely in a mastering facility) therefore really bringing out each element in the track. Like other users have stated-keep it simple, try not have your track cluttered up. Use Compression, EQ to make certain instruments fit in the mix right for example cutting low end or raising the highs. Also add one of Live's mastering presets on the master output, many people will argue against me but I like to do this in the beginning as adding when your done might make your whole mix sound different than before. I'm not an expert but that's how I like to do things. Good luck!