Hey all, well I finally decided to start learning Ableton. I picked up an Akai APC40 controller. I love this thing, Ableton is so much easier to use. I couldnt imagine it without it. But what other equipment might I need?
My goals is to DJ and Produce; dubstep, progressive and house. I was thinking about buying the Akai mini midi controller, though im not sure what else I should get. I love Ableton so much, ive been thinking about going to school and learning to use it to its fullest.
Learning Ableton...some questions...
Re: Learning Ableton...some questions...
you've got a soundcard with 2 inputs and 2 outputs plus a headphone socket?
other than that... make music for half a year as continuously as possible, play live as well - at the end of that time you'll know what would make your life easier/more productive. What you have not got is a velocity sensitive input device; like a drum pad or a keytar. You might not need one, it depends on how you make music.
other than that... make music for half a year as continuously as possible, play live as well - at the end of that time you'll know what would make your life easier/more productive. What you have not got is a velocity sensitive input device; like a drum pad or a keytar. You might not need one, it depends on how you make music.
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jestermgee
- Posts: 4500
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 6:38 am
Re: Learning Ableton...some questions...
Newcommer + Lotsa Of Gear = Mega Producer 
Seriously though, as many would, have and will say, the hardware is great in some instances, but doesn't make better music. Shit, back in the "old days" when I was 17 and just getting into computer tracker software I created about 200 tracks using the PC keyboard and some free headphones they hand out on planes (headphones, not the earbuds you get now).
Granted, these were pretty average since there was no such thing as VST or DSP effects etc, just raw WAV samples mixed and tracked but it was good fun and the software ran off floppy disk.
Now I am surrounded by hardware but I didn't even get a MIDI keyboard until I was about 22 years old. Too much hardware can be distracting as you spend a lot of time learning hardware, memorising knobs and controls and you CAN USE THE MOUSE AND KEYBOARD... Don't think that's any less important. In fact I see so many people doing everything they can to get away from the monitors and honestly a lot of what I see ends up limiting what they could do.
Take Oddsteps advice and set a goal to create so much with what you have, get very intimate with the process and then think along the lines of what could make your process easier. Everyone has a different process and most will recommend what they use and everyone is different.
If you are new to the world of music creation just take it slow. A lot of people get very excited when they string together a few loops and some chords and think they have something going on. If you still have that same buzz after 2 years, then go nuts. But if you finish work and you find the time you spend with your production becoming less and less important then it was probably a passing phase.
Seriously though, as many would, have and will say, the hardware is great in some instances, but doesn't make better music. Shit, back in the "old days" when I was 17 and just getting into computer tracker software I created about 200 tracks using the PC keyboard and some free headphones they hand out on planes (headphones, not the earbuds you get now).
Granted, these were pretty average since there was no such thing as VST or DSP effects etc, just raw WAV samples mixed and tracked but it was good fun and the software ran off floppy disk.
Now I am surrounded by hardware but I didn't even get a MIDI keyboard until I was about 22 years old. Too much hardware can be distracting as you spend a lot of time learning hardware, memorising knobs and controls and you CAN USE THE MOUSE AND KEYBOARD... Don't think that's any less important. In fact I see so many people doing everything they can to get away from the monitors and honestly a lot of what I see ends up limiting what they could do.
Take Oddsteps advice and set a goal to create so much with what you have, get very intimate with the process and then think along the lines of what could make your process easier. Everyone has a different process and most will recommend what they use and everyone is different.
If you are new to the world of music creation just take it slow. A lot of people get very excited when they string together a few loops and some chords and think they have something going on. If you still have that same buzz after 2 years, then go nuts. But if you finish work and you find the time you spend with your production becoming less and less important then it was probably a passing phase.