New to making beats...please help

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iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member Since: Aug 14, 2007

ok so here is the scenario, i been rappin for 9 years but never got into making my own beats, go figure...now i want to learn the trade...

my equipment
Casio CTK-571 Keyboard
Laptop
Going to buy a MIDI to USB connector
Want to buy a Trigger Finger

what kinda software should i get for live recording from my keyboard and possibly trigger finger...?

I wanna be able to play sounds from my computer on the keyboard and trigger finger as well...and maybe a software that allows you to edit the sounds, adding effects and so on to create my own sound...

any help would be appriciated...just remember ive never made a beat before besides messin wit fruity loops and that stuff is way too confusing haha

thanks in advance..

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Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Aug 14, 2007 08:16 pm

Well, Fruity Loops is supposed to be a relatively easy program to use, though I've never used it myself so I can't really speak on it, just what I've heard. Otherwise see if you could get a trial version of Reason or Project 5. All of these (including FL) will let you play the keyboard and record sounds that are generated from inside the computer.

I've never heard of a trigger finger, what's that?

Making beats ain't that hard, but it aint that hard either, but you gotta be willing to put in some time and learn if you want ish to come out tight.

A small pie will soon be eaten
Member
Since: Aug 26, 2004


Aug 14, 2007 08:27 pm

I'd definitely start of with FL. Reason is pretty daunting and for what you're trying to do. FL is the easiest and by no means a bad app.

I've used it for a few of my drum tracks.

FL is also fairly geared to rap/hip hop.




iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 14, 2007 08:34 pm

i dont like fruity loops cuz u gotta follow that step sequencer ****, i rather play live n' have it record live n' add **** in as i go...i wish i could use adobe audition wit my keyboard...thats the kinda thing im lookin for..

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Aug 14, 2007 09:02 pm

do you want to use the sounds in your keyboard, or sounds in your computer? I'm assuming you record midi from keyboard to FL. Otherwise you can record audio out (instead of midi) from keyboard to audition.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 14, 2007 09:29 pm

Cakewalk Project 5 is pretty much made for what you are trying to do...

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 14, 2007 10:13 pm

i went to the cakewalk website and i clicked project5 in the vista section and it dont work..is it because i have vista?

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 09:54 am

also, a trigger finger is a midi controller...want to use that for my drums and my keyboard for the melodies...

i wanna try out project5, can you edit the sounds like you can in audition...like add reverb or dely or extra bass and so on?? any help please.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 15, 2007 10:03 am

Oh yes, Project 5 allows all that editing, comes with loads of Softsynths and samples that are fully editable...it's an awesome app...plus allows audio tracks to be recorded as well...it smoked FruityLoops in my opinion.

www.homerecordingconnecti...tory&id=506

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 11:00 am

ok yea that sounds like what i need...it does allow me to record from my keyboard to the program in real time? also will a trigger finger work as a drum machine with that program? thanks

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 11:01 am

oh yea, also can i use this with vista?? and i will also be using this on a laptop (toshiba) with the regular computer soundcard...is that ok? this wont be for my final version of the beat, just a rough track to get my ideas done before i get in the studio

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 15, 2007 11:03 am

Yeah, should be able to, Cakewalk is pretty forward thinking with stuff like that...might wanna ask them to make sure though.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 11:27 am

ok i think im going to give it a try...it will work from a laptop with the sound card that comes with it though?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 15, 2007 11:35 am

probably, as long as it has a MIDI/joystick input, as you seem to be wanting to record MIDI, not actual audio.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 11:40 am

yea, well what im going to buy is one of those midi to usb things...where you plug the 2 midi ports into a lil box and then it converts to a usb port to the computer...will that work?

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Aug 15, 2007 12:39 pm

yeah, those should work for your usb

trigger finger:
www.m-audio.com/products/...inger-main.html

kinda like a midi only mpc. nice. yeah, that'll work.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 01:13 pm

thanks, i appriciate all the help...hopefully someone can help me out with this program after i get it haha..is project 5 complicated?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 15, 2007 01:15 pm

not very, no...but like anything, it has a little learning curve...fortunately cakewalk comes with great manuals and online help.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 01:18 pm

ok sounds good, thanks again i'll let ya know how it goes

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Aug 15, 2007 01:48 pm

I found P5 to be somewhat complicated. It will be more complicated if you're not familiar with how sequencers work in general. But give yourself a little time and you should be ok. I also did not find the manual that comes packaged with P5 to be that useful, it seems very basic. However the people at the P5 forum in the cakewalk forums seem pretty helpful, and there's always the people here at this forum, who are definitely helpful.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 08:46 pm

what is Sonar 6.2 Producer Edition like? is that the same thing as project 5 but better or what..i still wanna be able to record live from my keyboard and trigger finger via midi

Idiot Kid
Member
Since: Sep 27, 2006


Aug 15, 2007 08:55 pm

I fully endorse Reason 3. Its what the pros use and always have.

If you're going to buy it wait for Reason 4, its coming fairly soon.

If you're going to "acquire" it, get the training videos as well.

I was up and running in 2 hours, knew how to make a basic beat by 3.

Now thats all I use, never will go back to FL. Never ever ever.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 09:04 pm

i had that before man n' for the life of me i couldnt figure it out, so much different **** i just wanna push record n' lay some sounds down

Idiot Kid
Member
Since: Sep 27, 2006


Aug 15, 2007 09:18 pm

Its not that simple with any program.

You cant just have notes without an instrument. You got confused by the rackmount virtual hardware. Those are exactly the same as beat machines and synths.

It literally is setup your instruments, push record, and lay it down. Then I go back in the editor and make sure everything is right.

As I said in my previous post, if you don't know how to use analog gear download those tutorials.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 15, 2007 09:30 pm

what u mean u just cant have notes with an instrument? u sayin i cant play different notes on my keyboard n have them come up as different notes on a program?

Idiot Kid
Member
Since: Sep 27, 2006


Aug 15, 2007 09:36 pm

Exactly.

You need a midi sequencer to transform the digital information about velocity, start/stop, note, and patch to an actual sound.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 16, 2007 10:19 am

see thats the stuff that confuses me..cuz when i play my keyboard it has all the notes and all that already so i dont get it...

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 16, 2007 10:40 am

but about my original question...is sonar 6.2 producer edition the same the as project 5?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 16, 2007 10:46 am

no, not even close...though Sonar has some great MIDI support as well and would allow you to sequence in real time.

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 16, 2007 11:33 am

what is the difference tho, is project 5 better?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 16, 2007 12:23 pm

Sonar is better for ME, from what I know I think Project5 would be better for YOU, but that is your call to make. P5 is more synth oriented, comes with loads os synths and samples and stuff, good for what it seems you want to do.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Aug 16, 2007 12:30 pm

LB, you never answered my question. Do you want to record the sounds out of your keyboard. Like record exactly what you hear when you play your keyboard?

Or do you want to record midi data so that when you play a "b" note, that's what is recorded, and then you can use software to determine what kind of instrument plays back that "b" note. Make sense?

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 16, 2007 12:40 pm

what i want to do is exactly this...

play a bassline on my keyboard and have it record exactly the same notes and everything i just played onto the computer...
then record some kicks on my keyboard or trigger finger..n' hats, n' snares n' so on, while hearing what i already recorded..

then add the melody from my keyboard..same notes i play and how it sounds recorded to the computer...

now...if possible id like different sounds to load on my keyboard that will allow me to still play different notes and record it on the computer exactly how i play it on the keyboard...

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 16, 2007 12:46 pm

i dont know notes, i just play by ear n' what sounds good..so the software confuses me

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 16, 2007 03:07 pm

Yeah, that is what Project5 will do for you, only remember, Project5 (or anything else) will not record the SOUND your keyboard is generating (though it can) it will be recording only the MIDI data it is sending. Within Project5 you will assign sound samples to each track of MIDI data from the large collection of samples and softsynths that come with Project5.

For example, you will record all the MIDI data for your bassline, but the computer will be playing back whatever bass sound that you assign...if later you decide that isn't the right bass sound, you simply select another sound for that MIDI to play thru...

You kick track you will simply assign the kick sample your want that track to play back thru.

etc...

iGo10TimesAsHardAsAnyHater
Member
Since: Aug 14, 2007


Aug 16, 2007 03:55 pm

ok ok i think im starting to understand..

but it will play the right notes that i play on the keyboard correct? it wont simply play the same note even tho im playin different notes on the keyboard?
like..i dont have to assign different sounds to different notes? all i have to do is assign one sound to my keyboard and it will allow me to play different notes? notes notes notes haha dang

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