Functional Setup??

[wweber5]

Hey yall. I am very new to dubstep and electronic music. I guess you could say I'm tryin to see what thinkin from a solo based mindset brings to the table. I think bands are awesome though!!!!!!

Anyway I just dropped some dough on a new setup, wonderin if a kind soul or two could weigh in. The whole idea of a 'workflow' in the computer is so cool!!

Novation Launch Pad
http://novationmusic.com/products/midi_ ... /launchpad

Akai MPK49
http://www.akaipro.com/mpk49

AND ONE DAY ......

DAAAAAA Maschine.
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... m/?type=99

AND PERHAPS A....Simple full size Midi Keyboard
I think this would be great for home end production. I personally don't mind playing a shorter keyboard because I find that I use my left hand to modulate the frequency. It would be nice to simultaneously play different seperate high register and low register sounds spread over the larger octave range on a larger keyboard. Plus 61 keys could allow you to focus on the boards overall playing quality to find one that feels natural. Feel free to point me in the right direction!
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... 610&SID=-1


This setup is imagined to balance the efficiency of home production and expression at shows shows, allowing them to essentially becoming one and the same (budget!). I am trying to bring a mix of my own stuff and music that resonates with me. Tame Impala anyone? They hide some beautiful samples!!! Check out the song Expectation!! Tell me you don't want to put those vocal transitions on some velocity sensitive pads and go to town over a dirty beat!!!!

yr fren

Also since this is my first post and everything, if anybody want to exchange playlists or mp3's just email wweber5@gmail.com!! I love dubstep Jamaican dub, dub, brostep, chillwave, surf, kraut, raga. Oh and my cat's name is QUINCY MUTHAFUCKIN JONES.

[drake89]

i;d go with a keyboard first and launchpad last. i got one and really it's not as functional unless you're playing out live. which you're not. and neither am I. same with the maschine. i honestly can't see why you'd use it or an mpc unless you're old or a hipster candy-ass.

[Sonika]

What software....unless I'm wrong this is all hardware, what DAW are you running?

[benjam]

Tbh youll have a better idea what you want out of your set up once you start making tunes. At that point you can start integrating bits of kits into your workflow gradually

[Dr_Driller]

same with the maschine. i honestly can't see why you'd use it or an mpc unless you're old or a hipster candy-ass.

maschine is a lot more than pad...

when i used cubase making music was a lot about work..

no i use maschine and making music is a lot about fun !

[wweber5]

Oh righttt, sorry. I'm using ableton. Going to use the launchpad for triggering samples, the mpk for controlling levels/effects and (one day) the maschine for making beats. I also use Massive and FM8 so the mpk is going to be used to control the macro knobs.

[wweber5]

And I've been making music for a while but I've always been trying to get a 'band' together. My current idea is DJ a few dubstep shows to get an idea of how all these new midi connections/sampling options are going to pan out from a performance/production standpoint. I have about ten original songs I want to begin working into to my DJ set with the idea being that I'm eventually just playing original stuff. This is all subject to change since it mostly exists as concepts in my head... but gotta chase something right??

I also play guitar so I am going to integrate live guitar looping with the RC-50 loop pedal. I'm excited to bone up on my production skills because I want to export my drum playing onto samples on the Maschine. Vistalite drums anyone?? Most of the songs were imagined for a band but I kept imagining more whomp and less normal bass and drums and guitar. I am at a crossroads with members and one day I was just like, hey shit man, how about tryin to do this on yr own??

[render]

In my opinion anything more than a midi keyboard with some knobs and pitch/mod wheel is overkill for a beginner. I have an MPK mini and I dont even use the pads on it, you better focus on your sound designing, EQing, overall track structuring, mixing skills first, before you can have fun with these toys. If you want to play other people's music and make mashups then those tools are handy, I never felt I need an APC or any launchpad to produce music.

In the world of softsynths all you need is a good soundcard, some monitor speakers, a decent headphone. You better spend money on good software and quality sample packs learn the software inside out, and after months/years you will know if you really NEED any of these stuff in order to improve your production level.

[AxeD]

If you get a Maschine you won't really need the launchpad I think. I've seen people control dj software with it and
that works great + of course it's a great production tool.
Definitely don't forget an audio interface and some monitors though!

(your cat is a boss)

[wweber5]

Wow thanks for putting this in such good perspective yall. Sounds like I've got a lot to learn. I'm doin it by the seat of my pants but its good fun. Gotta tell you, jumping into this stuff will make you feel small real fast. I've got a few production techniques, a couple hundred songs recorded but nothing beyond intuitive knowledge. I guess I've just tried to find the best tones I could and let those sit in the mix together without trying to eq them and take the sound out of its natural environment. Not that that technique can't be cool, I think drum pad samples seem cool for that very reason. Export a kit all eq'ed strange and bang those rhythms out. Would an interface be good for hardware based processing such as compression? I hear there are some excellent software based modeling compressors. I guess there are benefits to both approaches.