I've had it with relying on software.

[psychedelicatessen]

I've had it with my computer, and relying on software. After trying months and months to produce music using free software and linux, and switching to using reaper on my brother's mac, I have come to the conclusion that all this software and trying to figure out how everything works within the computer is a waste of my time.
Cue violin music

Using linux was a nightmare. Couldn't record midi in my DAW, plugins not native to the programs I was using would cause crashes occasionally at worst, lag and hog cpu usage at best. I spent too long routing things and figuring out how to decrease my cpu usage and to get everything to work properly than being productive and actually getting to producing trying to use linux.
Seeing as I have absoulutely no money to spend, I can't just go out and buy a new OS, so I started using my brother's after I moved back home, and a friend who owed me money for speakers I gave him gave me money to buy reaper with. Sure, I like reaper a lot more than my old setup, and can navigate the computer well, but it has no appeal to me. Routing things via software and programming is boring and repetitive and using GUI's and interfaces become counter productive and distracting. I just want to create music, mix it and enjoy the process, which is something that I feel has become a chore.
Computers are quickly loosing their appeal for production, and I'd like to explore my other options. Obviously, I'll have to spend money on hardware, which is something I'm taking into consideration.

I'm looking for a solution that will allow me to produce, but not needing to rely on software and my computer, but I have no idea where to start, what I need to get first, or the least expensive way to go about it.
Can anyone help point me in the right direction?
tl;dr computers and software suck, want to switch over to hardware. Wat do?

[Echoi]

Its a closely guarded secret, so keep it under your hat...

But this is all you need...



+

[arisemprex]

Well...you want to produce. But what do you want to make? You have no cash, but you want hardware. This is very counter productive. I say learn reaper. From what Ive read it sounds like you havent even gotten your feet wet with it.

[nnny]

Agreed. It takes time to learn your way around, but honestly, once you do, it's a piece of cake to get tunes on the go and spending more time getting creative. Stick with it...

[3za]

I know guys that make stuff with casio's, gameboys, playstation, kids toys, and lots of other cheap weird stuff.

Casio.
Soundcloud
Gameboy.
Soundcloud
Playstation.
Soundcloud
Kids toys.
Soundcloud

Use what ever the hell works for you

[psychedelicatessen]

I think it's time to go back to playing the congas and finish defretting my bass.

if anything, maybe I ought to find my NES in the meantime...

[JBE]

You do realize that at some point, no matter what you do you will need to use some sort of software for tracking and recording right? It doesn't matter if you play an instrument, use synthesizers or do it all through software on a computer, the fact of the matter is music is ran through computers now. There really is no way around this unless you go pick up some old 4 track reel-to-reel recorders....which I can guarantee you will hate even more than any software you will ever use. You think adjusting levels in reaper is a pain in the ass?

DAWs take time to learn. There is no real shortcut to this process. Yes there are a lot of tedious things that need to be done to produce music, but you either do it, or you don't. The ones that don't, tend to go nowhere.

That being said, you don't "have" to constantly adjust levels and get really technical when you're producing. I generally set my volume levels to about 50%-60% on my instruments/samples when I'm starting to work on a project. This prevents most channels from clipping and gives me a bit of room to work on a few things before I have to re-adjust. Once I really start getting into a project I'll take the time to go back and be a bit more precise on things and try to get them as right as I can. That's really the great thing about using software. It doesn't have to be perfect right away. You'll always be able to go back and make adjustments wherever needed without having to do everything over again.

[paradigm_x]

hmm, some bad advice here.

Its entirely possible to go without pcs, im going thur this process now, and ive been using pcs for over 15 years.

A grooveox/sequencer, and external synths and a a mixer/fx is fine, never crashes and is super tight. Can record down to a standalone digitial recorder or something.

Currently im using a yamaha rs000 sampler/groovebox, 2x x0xb0xes, a juno 106, a shruthi-1, and a tr909, and its rock solid and awesome.

Ableton is flakey as fuck for sync

I do love the power of vsts but seriously getting sick of pcs.

Yamaha do some good hardware sequencers, QY700 is dirt cheap, loads of old hardware is in fact.

In a massive rush atm but let me know if you want any more info and ill reply when i can.

[tavravlavish]

PUSSY!!


....

Buy a multitrack recorder, either digital or get a cassette deck (do itt) get a couple old small casios (THE BEST) get a couple efects pedals and a cheap drumachine or sampler. Have fun. It'lll cost some money though, I agree to some extent that computers are kind of mehh when it comes to making tunes but I enjoy it sometimes..

I'm gonna start a project soon that will be like this, except I'll be sequencing it and messing with it in logic. But it will all come from my out of the box gear. I can't wait! I just need to get a powered usb hub for my interface so I can start recording.

Why don't you just record stuff onto your computer and multitrack it in there?

[Electric_Head]

I use Reaper very successfully.
Straight out the box it works like a dream.

Get yourself a descent sample pack with tons of hits to keep you happy.
Use Battery or a similar sample triggering tool to trigger hits.
Program the drum sequence via the midi matrix.
Essentially allowing you to program drum sequences just like a drum machine.

Synth wise you can midi-learn anything from a vst to a midi keyboard giving you the hands on feel you may require.
Sure it`s not as hands on as an actual hardware synth sure.

I want a virus either way.

[sackley]

Try some different software demos, you may find one that suits you better. I used reaper exclusively for over a year, but have basically realized that (=for me=) it's better at multitracking live instruments, so I record with it like that and make more "organic" stuff in it.

On my quest to be able to chop breaks I settled in Jeskola Buzz, and love it. Steep learning curve, but great once you break through the basics.

And on the hardware front - I got a hardware synth (novation ks4) and love having it (even though I feel like it's way beyond my skills, but have some ideas to take advantage of all the sparkly features). I've had the thought of getting a hardware midi sequencer (rm1x, mpc500, yamaha qy series, and so on...) to have it playing synth lines (it has 4 parts that you can sequence independently and play simultaneously on multiple midi channels) while i jam on my drums, but I'm yet to have the money to get that or the time to figure out how to do that with reaper as the sequencer.....

wow, long post.... good luck digging some kind of advice out of that.

[gen_]

Come on man, your complaining about it being too technical on Linux... LINUX!!!!1

Did you realise that Linux is free because you by and large have to build it yourself. If you dont want to sped your like tweaking get an OS worth paying for and then get Reaper or something. Waaay cheaper than hardware, and thats why your in this rut in the first place. Cos you want something for nothing.

[paravrais]

Cry me a river. You don't want to spend any money *or* spend any time but you want to be making amazing music right now? Aint gonna happen.

[slothrop]

Getting a MIDI controller or two might help a lot.

Hardware might help, and all-hardware is definitely possible, but unless you're just going to form a band and play everything live, you're going to have to do mixing, programming, tweaking etc at some point. And I don't know that being on hardware is going to make that much easier or less technical tbh, it's just a different interface.

[mmjdw]

lol paying for software

[Elkie]

Routing things via software and programming is boring and repetitive and using GUI's and interfaces become counter productive and distracting.

yeah youre really thinking about hardware for the wrong reasons mate

you think software GUIs are counter intuitive? on a lot of hardware (pretty much most digital stuff) youre gonna be going through pages of menus to change parameters that on a software setup are just a mouse move away... and theres no just clicking and hoping, you GOTTA read that manual, im talking take it to the toilet, read it before bed, if you wanna get the most out of your gear.

and routing things is a pain? i do my drums on a roland sp 606. it has 2 fairly respectable identical fx sections, if i want to use more than 2 effects on a drum hit, i have to run the sample out into an external fx box, or print the sample to another pad, and repeat. in ableton live (my main DAW of choice) this process is infinitely easier!

dont get me wrong im not saying hardware is a bad idea, some of the restrictions imposed can become workflow improvements when you get to grips with it. just realise what youre getting yourself in for!

[nowaysj]

Seriously, wtf, typed out a hella long post about this last night... an analysis of your finances, your choices of OS's, software... haha. Maybe I forgot to hit submit... hehe.

[makemerich]

i totally totally understand.
have you tried reason? it is less cpu intense, and you can write all your midi in it, then after youve written all the notes and automation, export the midi or audio and individually process it or retrigger it in one of those programs you dont want to use.

[Electric_Head]

i totally totally understand.
have you tried reason? it is less cpu intense, and you can write all your midi in it, then after youve written all the notes and automation, export the midi or audio and individually process it or retrigger it in one of those programs you dont want to use.

???

this makes no sense.

Suggesting Reason over Reaper?

[jaimelee]

i totally totally understand.
have you tried reason? it is less cpu intense, and you can write all your midi in it, then after youve written all the notes and automation, export the midi or audio and individually process it or retrigger it in one of those programs you dont want to use.

???

this makes no sense.

Suggesting Reason over Reaper?

Nah just as another suggestion, still Reaper is less cpu hungry.