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Permalink Reply by Ms. BeatKonductah (RyNea Soul) on December 6, 2007 at 11:35pm

In my personal opinion, I think Macs are overrated. I've used them.
I use a PC...a PC with enought memory and storage is good enought to use.
If you get a Mac, same goes for that as well, enough memory and storage.
PC's are not as costly as a Mac.

Software like Protools, Adobe Audition 3, SONAR Home Studio, Albeton Live are good to use.
I use Adobe Audition 3 because it's the next beat thing to Protools, maybe better. I have Albeton Live, played w/ it...not as friendly as I would like.

Decide what type of studio you want (.i.e MIDI, Hardware, or both).
A MIDI studio is basically a studio using alot of MIDI controllers (i.e MIDI keyboards and MIDI beat pads like M-Audio Trigger Finger, Akai MPD 16, MPD 25), the controllers trigger virtual instruments in computer music software such as FL Studio, Reason, Magix Music, Native Instruments, Sampletank, E-MU etc...

A Hardware studio (i.e Mixers, Mbox, Digidesign Digi 003 Factory Pro Tools LE Workstation, Keyboard workstations, Sound mods and racks, etc)

But its nothing wrong with both...I use hardware and midi.
To start building your studio...decide what kind environment you want, like what i listed above.
But the basics for any studio, especially a "bedroom studio" is:

1.) A PC or MAC with enough memory and storage.
2.) Studio Monitors (M-Audio, Makie, and KRK are popular).
3.) Mic Preamp Audio Interface (needed to run studio mics, instruments, mixers, MPC, etc to your studio software like Protools or Adobe Audition).
4.) Mixer (if you need or want to have one, depending on what kind of set-up you decide)
5.) If you're into vocals a studio mic is a must.

check this: give you an idea...to start

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Permalink Reply by Ms. BeatKonductah (RyNea Soul) on December 6, 2007 at 11:59pm

My bad forgot to answer the othe Q's....

Regarding the learning curve, that hard for me to say...depends on how well or quickly you pick up things.
If you learn the basics of the programs and or equipment everything else will come.
I suggest you get demos of programs that you are interested in and play around to get a feel for them.
If you want hardware, go to a music store, believe me, they will show you how to use it because they want you to buy it.

Was in Atanta with a friend at a music store, she was switching out her drum set,\
while she did that I learned the MPC 500 (don't believe the hype) and a MPC 60 (OMG the grandfather of MPCs)...the dude showed me how to use it in about and hour and a half...i didn't buy them though.LOL

Regarding Mbox & Garageband...yes
Open the Digidesign folder , go to Digidesign CoreAudio Setup
Go to the preferences option in Garage Band and pick Audio/Midi and pick Digidesign HW
Change the buffering setting so that it will not sound distorted or filled with static.

Hope this helps.
Peace!

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Permalink Reply by Layla Rutherford on December 7, 2007 at 11:29pm

Hi Maggie,

Hope you're cool. I think PC is totally fine to begin with, and also can help cut down costs as you can get crack software easier which is great for trying out new plug-ins so you can experiment with your sound without blowing the budget. Also I understand that Mac's are supposed to be able to process more information at a time, however there are benefits to PCs and also benefits to Mac so a good in between is to get a Mac which can also double up as a PC.

Also the answer to whether a Mac or PC is better, depends on what programme you are most likely to use. For example the newer versions of Logic only run on Mac.

I find that Logic is good for recording, although to be honest I haven't really tried Pro Tools - I guess both are good.

As for recording - you should check out Russell Elevado's posts of gearsluts. When trying to get a high-end feel to music it's best to start with as best equipment as possible for your particular needs. I think Russell recommends spending a lot on a good microphone. Check out his lecture on redbull music academy too - some good information as to different makes of mics, preamps etc.

As for learning curves, I think the rate at which we develop is mainly related to how much time we spend on it. I know that sounds obvious but if we spent a month solid on developing skills I guess achieving a years progress at a more steady pace is not unrealistic.

I use FL - I think it's great. :)

Happy music making!

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Permalink Reply by Maggie on December 8, 2007 at 12:19am

YOU ALL ARE SO AMAZING! What is soooo funny is that I thought I had an Idea about what I want and now you all have given me such valuable infor and so many different options I have no idea! AND I HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT because as of today my dad said he would contribute some for christmas!!! AHHH! haha, I'm takin the financial help while I got it, this doesn't happen very often. He thinks if he supports my music too much that will be what I want to do with my life and GOD FORBIDDDDDD that happen! haha TOOO LATE! Anyway, you all have really put some major energy into your responses and I really appreciate it - I'm sure many people on here do! so Thanks you all kick ass!

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Permalink Reply by Ms. BeatKonductah (RyNea Soul) on December 9, 2007 at 4:42am

i purchased a 200+ dollar studio mic off ebay brand new it came with the stand and cable...
when i saw the same mic in Guitar Center for that price and thought about the fact that i fot mine for 75.00 bucks...all i could do was smile.

Yeah Maggie, fiqure out what you want.
Having a Midi set up and hardware set up isn't a bad idea, im sure the keyboard you have now has MIDI capabilities, so you can use it as a MIDI controller with software that supports it...

go to Computer Music Software
Software Instruments

There is sooo much...I have alot of stuff and im still getting stuff.
I just love it

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