Expert help needed to finish my set-up
-
Michael-SW
- Posts: 2054
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:05 pm
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Before buying anything, define your needs!. What are you missing in your current setup? What is stopping you from making music now? Is some vital piece missing?
Then go and buy that.
We all succumb to the occasional gear lust, and buy something we don't really need now and then. But then it is usually a case where we have been drooling over a particular piece of hardware for a loong time and [/i]definitely knows what we want.
Then go and buy that.
We all succumb to the occasional gear lust, and buy something we don't really need now and then. But then it is usually a case where we have been drooling over a particular piece of hardware for a loong time and [/i]definitely knows what we want.
Michael-SW wrote:Before buying anything, define your needs!. What are you missing in your current setup? What is stopping you from making music now? Is some vital piece missing?
Then go and buy that.
We all succumb to the occasional gear lust, and buy something we don't really need now and then. But then it is usually a case where we have been drooling over a particular piece of hardware for a loong time and [/i]definitely knows what we want.
I want a hardware sequencer, something for drums and basslines. After everyone's input it seems like most people would agree that I should spend a bit more time with what I have before I make my next purchase and I think thats a wise choice. The MC-303 for $150 just seemed like a really good deal, thats why I wanted to bite on it.
-
Michael-SW
- Posts: 2054
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:05 pm
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
The MC looks like decent machine, but have you really tried making any beats with your current setup? Map your pad control to impulse and bang out some beats. Or just use the pencil tool to "paint" some beats.
The software you have is so much more sophisticated than any USD 150 drum machine. It can do much more and do it easier. In the end, you might still prefer to use the hardware - because you like to work that way or because you like the sound of it.
But you really don't know until you have used what you have enough.
As I said above, if there is anything you need it is a decent sample library geared towards your favourite style. Lots of single drum hits, some loops, some riffs, some vocals, some effects.
The software you have is so much more sophisticated than any USD 150 drum machine. It can do much more and do it easier. In the end, you might still prefer to use the hardware - because you like to work that way or because you like the sound of it.
But you really don't know until you have used what you have enough.
As I said above, if there is anything you need it is a decent sample library geared towards your favourite style. Lots of single drum hits, some loops, some riffs, some vocals, some effects.
-
napalmskatterjazz
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:37 pm
- Location: Portland OR
- Contact:
So I only read the top of the thread...
dont bother with reason... flat sounding dsp, get some real softsynths like arturia, NI, refx. beef up the midi setup, there is always a need for wierd controllers like a faderfox or a bcr2000. Anything with the "akai" style drumpads. Those changed the way we look at percusion loops and their creation. (anyone else remeber hitting middle C for a bass drum and the hihats on F#G#A#...)
If you really want gear, go get some fresh cloths, a lot of how "good" you are is how you look and act. get psyched.. cumon its magnificat!!
dont bother with reason... flat sounding dsp, get some real softsynths like arturia, NI, refx. beef up the midi setup, there is always a need for wierd controllers like a faderfox or a bcr2000. Anything with the "akai" style drumpads. Those changed the way we look at percusion loops and their creation. (anyone else remeber hitting middle C for a bass drum and the hihats on F#G#A#...)
If you really want gear, go get some fresh cloths, a lot of how "good" you are is how you look and act. get psyched.. cumon its magnificat!!
2.0Ghz Coreduo PC notebook, 4GB ram, Overclocked to hell sittin on aluminum extra fans w/ no drivebay or pcmcia...
2.8Ghz Quadcore on Asus MB, 4GBRam, Dual 512MB SLI Graphics both @16x.
2.8Ghz Quadcore on Asus MB, 4GBRam, Dual 512MB SLI Graphics both @16x.
I just turned down an Emu MP7 for $300 from craigslist because Im taking the general advice of stick with what I have and buy some samples cd's. What's a good one for hip-hop?Michael-SW wrote:The MC looks like decent machine, but have you really tried making any beats with your current setup? Map your pad control to impulse and bang out some beats. Or just use the pencil tool to "paint" some beats.
The software you have is so much more sophisticated than any USD 150 drum machine. It can do much more and do it easier. In the end, you might still prefer to use the hardware - because you like to work that way or because you like the sound of it.
But you really don't know until you have used what you have enough.
As I said above, if there is anything you need it is a decent sample library geared towards your favourite style. Lots of single drum hits, some loops, some riffs, some vocals, some effects.
-
Michael-SW
- Posts: 2054
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:05 pm
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
No idea on sample CDs for Hip Hop unfortunately, but two big publishers are:
http://www.timespace.com/
and
http://www.zero-g.co.uk/
Once you find something that looks interesting, you can always try to Google for reviews.
I belive you will find Impulse a little limiting as a drum sampler once you have worked with it a bit, so save some money for a "real" drum sampler like Battery. A professional software synth or two with a big patch library will probably be on your future wish list too (Albino perhaps?), as well as a "pro" software sampler with a big instrumental library like Kontakt 2 for those string and horn parts.
http://www.timespace.com/
and
http://www.zero-g.co.uk/
Once you find something that looks interesting, you can always try to Google for reviews.
I belive you will find Impulse a little limiting as a drum sampler once you have worked with it a bit, so save some money for a "real" drum sampler like Battery. A professional software synth or two with a big patch library will probably be on your future wish list too (Albino perhaps?), as well as a "pro" software sampler with a big instrumental library like Kontakt 2 for those string and horn parts.