So, I'm looking into creating music... Where do I start?

[FTLspawn]

Specifically, what programs/synths/DSTs are best? I've done some research, but I don't know what's good and what isn't. Do you guys use presets, or do you record your own sounds? What's the best way to get started?

Any help is appreciated.

[coolpilot]

I've used Sibelius ever since I won it in a contest, but I have no clue what everyone else uses. Would like to know as well.

[aitren]

I'm sitting in TXL in Berlin right now, waiting for my flight home When I get back, I'll be happy to help answer any questions you have... I've been producing for a while now, and although I might not make the best music, I know plenty about digital audio and production.

So, the basics: to start, you'll need a DAW: Desktop Audio Workstation. This would be something like FL Studio, Cubase, Reason, etc. Personally, I use pro-tools, but it has a lot of problems and it's better for recording rather than creating. So here's a few questions to get you started:

-What OS are you running?
-What kind of music would you like to create?
-How good is your computer?
-Do you plan on using any peripherals? (keyboard, mic, etc)

The thing is though, when you get down to it, all DAWs are pretty much the same

[FTLspawn]

Thanks, aitren. Sorry it took so long to get back to you; I blame Skyrim. I had downloaded FL Studio back in 2009 when I first thought about doing this, but that's gone now. I'll be sure to check out Sibelius as well, coolpilot.

As for my system's specs:
OS: Windows 7
CPU: two Intel Xeon Dual-Core (for a total of four cores) @ 3.20 GHz
GPU: nVidia GeForce GT 240
RAM: 4GB DDR2 (thinking about adding another 8GB)
HDD: 360GB, though I'm looking at getting another 500GB one...

I'm not sure specifically what genre I'd like to produce, but electronic seems to be the best place to start. I'm not exactly sure how good preset instrumental tracks are, but if there's a good library of those somewhere, that would be helpful too.

I have a keyboard (read: really old keyboard that probably cost my parents $20 back when they wanted to play piano) with MIDI output, but no MIDI cable (though I'm looking to get one on the cheap). I don't have a mic, per se; more of a webcam that I could use to record miscellaneous sounds and such if I really needed to. Other than that, I really don't have much.

Thanks for your time.

[coolpilot]

I'm not sure specifically what genre I'd like to produce, but electronic seems to be the best place to start.

Then don't get Sibelius - it's orchestral. ;D

[FTLspawn]

Then don't get Sibelius - it's orchestral. ;D

Well, orchestral music is one of the areas I'd like to explore, so...

[aitren]

So yeah, there's basically two routes: electronic and instrumental. Obviously electronic is easier to make without real instruments, and good sample libraries are hard to find. I'm lucky enough to have xpand2, which is a built-in plugin in protools with surprisingly good instrument samples... but I'm still looking into more advanced plugins

To give you an idea, I'll share with you what I'm using-- I started two years ago making electronic music, and I've now moved into orchestral things (like the cyrica soundtrack! )

For a DAW, I use Pro-Tools M-powered 8. It's relatively cheap ($250) but requires an audio interface to use. Anyways, there are many types plugins across DAWs-- VST, RTAS, AU, etc. Pro-tools is exclusively RTAS, which is great if you're recording in a studio, but not so great for a composer. Most synth plugins are VSTs (although the more expensive ones are usually cross-platform-- both VST and RTAS). I like having options, so I employ quite a few synths when making electronic music (r.g. sylenth, vanguard, nexus, etc) and most are VSTs. To get around the protools RTAS issue, a use a converter program, but it ends up creating a lot of bugs and issues that very annoying (to the point where I might wipe my computer soon and re-install). For orchestral, xpand2 works great, and it's bult-in to protools. No need for silly converters

So, let's weigh the pro's and con's:
PROS: Cheap, allows for both orchestral and electronic, and (I forgot to mention this) Pro-Tools in the industry standard for audio engineers and music producers. That may not concern you, but I've begun to work with some really cool music producers and having the same DAW is extremely helpful.

CONS: Unstable, not the best platform for electronic music.

I should also mention that Pro-Tools is the industry standard everywhere EXCEPT electronic music

SO, the point I'm trying to make is that every system will have trade-offs that you have to make (OR spend lots of money making it work). Base-line opinion:

Electronic: Cubase, Ableton Live, (Logic if you own a mac)
Instrumental: Pro-Tools, and... maybe Sibelius, but my experience with it was so-so (it's more for professional composers writing music for an orchestra)

ANYWAYS, it would be very good for us to talk on vent. Cause this stuff is really confusing

[NeutronRocks]

Creating music has also been on my bucket list for a while. Do you think that Ableton Live Intro is good enough for a beginner? I'm willing to invest that amount of money ($50-$150) into exploring creating music.

EDIT: Trying to decide if I want to explore orchestral music or electronic music now. Online I found a self-instructed music theory book, so I'm gonna spend some time working on that and see how I feel.

[FTLspawn]

Damn, aitren. Sounds like you know your shit.

I'll start downloading Pro-Tools and possibly Cubase tonight to test them out. I also went back through my old hard drive and found that it was Native Instruments Komplete 7 I had downloaded, not FL Studio. I liked the interface it had, but I couldn't figure out how to install the libraries on it, so I'm also going to see if I can re-attempt that. I'm not planning on buying anything until I'm sure I know I can do what I want with it, so it's going to be spotty piracy for now...

I'll try to drag myself away from Skyrim long enough to get on Vent. No promises, though.

[psanker]

The issue with Pro Tools is that it is a hardware-enhanced software, meaning it heavily relies on a rack of hardware units. On its own, Pro Tools can just be an average music software to rival that of Logic Studio, Ableton Live, and Cubase. Where Pro Tools really soars is when it has the rack of equipment to enhance the computational/rendering/general power of Pro Tools. That is why Pro Tools is the industry standard (for studio electronic mixes).

HOWEVER, it is not the software that makes the engineer. For example, deadmau5 uses Ableton Live and a WALL of hardware synths to make his music. Other musicians, like Imogen Heap, use software synths (like VSTs and the occasional AU). Others make electronic SOLELY with hardware synths (and a piece of software to store the tracks).

[Felixmoog]

Personally I use FL studio which is good for beginners, I think, as it comes with many little high quality plugins bundled together with the software.

I bought FL studio signature bundle ($299 for a download) which includes FL studio producer edition and comes with a few extra plugins, such as Sytrus which is what I use for most of my ambient tracks like this one.
http://soundcloud.com/felixmoog/dreams

Very basic track, in terms of actually making music in FL studio you have 2 options, to either draw it up on the piano roll, or record it, I prefer recording and its alot easier, simpily click the record button and record automation and score, it inputs whatever you play into the piano roll, so if you mess up on a single not or two you can remove it by opening the piano roll.

In fl studio you can make just about any Genre you want easily it just depends on what plugins you have and what quality they are.

Hope this helped!