OK, this is what I want to do. Start making music. I think there are packages that I can make very very basic music with on a PC, aren't there? I do want to learn drums, trumpet, keyboards... I haven't the cash to buy these instruments and I haven't the cash to pay for any lessons for these instruments as yet, so I can only really sing more and improve that instrument, and for free!!

I'm just itching to experiment, get started with something. Does anyone have any ideas please?

Talk to your local music store on a good midi keyboard and an interface that will be compatable with your computer.

I reccommend getting a MAC, but there are thousands of PC tools just as well. I personally never have been let down with my MAC vs. my PC.

You should be able to compose just fine with just that.

Your keyboard should have all the sounds you need.
You can then use your computer to arrange it and convert to an audio CD.

Example:
These songs were done all from one keyboard (Roland Soundcanvas) and arranged on the MAC using "Audio Logic".
http://www.frankaxtell.co...hrist.html

http://www.frankaxtell.co...ndFor.html

http://www.frankaxtell.co...itude.html

There are really no easy answers to this question. As I tend to go for broke and get the best quality equipment I can find.

I would deffinately do a lot of research before buying anything. Keep in mind that you would want to purchase something you can grow with as well.

Go for it Thearapy!!!

musicians is craaazzy!!!

yamomma said:

Thanx man... My parents actually have a Mac, I have a pc. I will defo think long and hard about what to do... thanx, you've been helpful xx

chewymusic said:

Nutter... awww, cheers Chewy

Hey Therapy! How ya doin' girl? Well let's see...

If you have a pc already, I suggest Cakewalk, which is what I use. Yamomma is right, get a midi keyboard that has sounds that inspire you and you will be well on your way! Are there any colleges around you that have music courses?

Before I had any kind of equipment, I used to record my voice on an old tape player, just to save my melodic and lyric ideas. Great fun!

VinaBlue said:

Peace Vina, thanx friend...

My friend came over tonight who has some software that he is going to install on the pc... I'll just start off with that I think. It doesn't include keyboards which suits me fine at this stage. Watch this space!!! (omg, sooo exciting!!)

Thanx to you all for your help xx

Hi Therapy,

If you start with keys, you can get a cheap velocity-sensitive MIDI keyboard controller. No sound generation, just a dumb keyboard that you can plug into a MIDI synth module or your PC. You can get decent software synths these days so you can do everything on your computer. That's a cheap way to get started.

Cubase is what I've used for my sequencing for like 10 years now, I swear by it. There may be a lite version of it you can try out. Check out some of the tools from Propellerheads (http://www.propellerheads.se) too.

If you are going the guitar or bass route, you can get a cheap guitar / amp deal from your local music store no doubt. If you want to play electric guitar stuff, start on electric, don't buy into all that "start on nylon string acoustic" crap. The sooner you can play the shit you want to hear, the better You could pick up a cheap strat or tele clone from people like Squire (the budget Fender range) or other brands and it'll be pretty decent for a first guitar.

If you want to learn drums, I suggest getting a cheap MIDI drum module (like an Alesis or BOSS) and some touch sensitive MIDI drum pads. You can then learn drumming without disturbing people and with headphones on

ian said:

Thanx Ian Some excellent ideas in here. I will investigate!! Yeah, never thought of drum pads and headphones!! Nice one!! Cheers

Even cheaper than buying drum machines is to download a copy of FruityLoops. This is the best beginners drum machine software. (go to the fruityloops.com website). You can find a 'crack' somewhere on the web if you look - this will activate the demo version and allow you to save.

Fruityloops will allow you to create your own drum patters using very good samples, and also add synthesized sound. It uses a very intuitive composition method that will effectively give you a good sense of multi-layering in composition. It's perfect for laying something quick down to sing along to! If you wanna splash out then get Reason 2 by Propellerhead - all the top DJ's have used it.

If you want to record stuff through your computer, get yourself CoolEdit by Syntrillium It's a poor mans cubase and is actually better if you don't want to waste cpu resources on simply recording through a microphone or two.
Provided your sound card is multichannel you can play drum beats, & record some guitar noodling simultaneously.

Computer music has the benefit of not demanding a high sense of tempo, or any of the other instrumental skills - just requires 'computer savyness'! If you wanna learn an instrument, then DON'T get a cheap acoustic guitar - go to a shop and ask for one with low-playing action strings that don't cut your fingers - you'll have almost imediate results then with no pain. Keyboards and guitar are both really useful for song composition - some prefer guitars.

If you just want to develop your voice then you could just simply download midi files of songs you want to learn to sing - these are just synthesised (and cheesy) versions of the instrumental, but may prove really useful!

Hope that offers you a bit of guidance! Let me know if there's anything else.

Thanx Maggotbrain - heh, love your name...

I am drinking in your advice and am v excited about that free download.

Thanks again man

MaggotBrain said:

Can't fully agree with you. CoolEdit Pro lacks alot of usefull musical features. The midi capabilities are very limited, midi/audio sync is unheared of. It is just not designed to create music with unless you can play everything flawless and dont need to edit anything.

What Therapy perhaps could consider is getting a Soundblaster Audigy Platinum EX (should be cheap now since the Audigy II has been released). This soundcard is shipped together with a lite version of Cubase and various other music apps (at least in Europe).

Important feature of the Audigy is that is supports soundfonts, which turns your PC into a cheap though good sounding synth. Soundfonts can be downloaded (legaly) from various sites for free (for example http://www.hammersound.net/).

Combining Cubasis, Soundfonts & your own recording should be more then enough to get your funk on the road.

Cheers,

ThePriest

Good luck

thecloud9mission said:

Thanx man

thepriest said:

Thanx ThePriest man