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NEWBIE NEEDS HELP

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Default-profile GPSTerra
2 posts
Bought between 1 and 9 items

Hey there,

I would love to get into composing as a hobby, but I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions for reading material or tutorials, software, etc? I have been looking for hours, and am so lost I don’t even know where to start!

I do have quite a bit of music theory and playing experience, but no experience with doing it on the computer. Thanks!

Posted 2 months ago
47212 musicformedia
174 posts
Author was featured Sold between 100 and 1 000 dollars Bought between 1 and 9 items

I would say download the demo of Reason:

http://www.propellerheads.se/download/

You’ll get a feel of computer music and how to make it etc. Its a good program to start on in my opinion as it can be really simple if you want it to be

Have a mess around with it and see what you can do with it.

Posted 2 months ago
45278 vaisnava
33 posts
Exclusive author Item was featured Referred at least one person Sold between 1 000 and 5 000 dollars Bought between 1 and 9 items

I would say download Reaper or Jeskola Buzz… they are two of the different approaches many people take to digital audio. Reaper is a traditional DAW (digital audio workstation) and Buzz is a “tracker” styled program…

They both have learning curves, Buzz being more intense, but in the long run… less limited in your imagination creation. :P

Posted 2 months ago
45278 vaisnava
33 posts
Exclusive author Item was featured Referred at least one person Sold between 1 000 and 5 000 dollars Bought between 1 and 9 items

Not to mention check out Audacity as your free and go to Audio Editing program. :)

Posted 2 months ago
48927 MaestroRage
55 posts
Author was featured Sold between 100 and 1 000 dollars

haha, not to pile on but i’d recommend Fruity Studios actually. It’s the easiest to learn imo and I use it myself quite extensively. Reason’s initial learning curve was too great for me when I started out.

Reaper is a good one, it’s also free if i’m not mistaken.

Posted 2 months ago
38392 joelfalconer
112 posts
Site manager Reviewer Moderator Sold between 1 and 100 dollars Bought between 1 and 9 items

I use the Reason, Logic Pro and Pro Tools trifecta. That’s a very expensive kit to start out with, though, both in terms of money and time to learn. I’d recommend looking at the free, open source software for the moment and if you do have some cash to spend, grabbing a decent midi controller would be a good idea.

Here’s an article on free, cross-platform music apps you might want to check out.

Posted 2 months ago
Default-profile GPSTerra
2 posts
Bought between 1 and 9 items

Hey thanks, guys. I like the idea of starting with the open source software and working my way up from there.

This stuff is really appealing to me, and the fact that you can just jump right into it without reading or having to learn all that much is awesome.

Thanks again!

Posted about 1 month ago
41023 carbon8
4 posts
Author was featured Referred at least one person Sold between 100 and 1 000 dollars
Reaper is a good one, it’s also free if i’m not mistaken.

Small correction.. Though awesome, Reaper ain’t free.. Here’s a quote from its website:

License REAPER is not free. Be sure to purchase a license if you use it past the evaluation period. The full license agreement will be presented to you when you run the installer.
Posted about 1 month ago