Bit of experience but.......

[soulfultip]

I've had some experience with cubase sx when I was a younger lad, before I realised I had to do something other than sitting around in my bedroom trying to produce decent house music. So 6 years later and an nvq level 2 and 3 in plumbing I am now working as a plumbing and heating engineer and have a bit of cash and time and would like to return to my old hobby.

Trouble is I remember I used to get really frustrated. I learnt quite a bit of basic knowledge such as sequencing, using software synths through my midi controller, a little about effects etc but I used to sit there for hours on end laying down tracks and melodies from pre-sets on software synths and attempting to make my own beats with sample packs etc only to realise it all sounds like shite and nothing like I'm after. I eventually realised i need to learn how to go about this properly from people that know what they are doing, I cant just rely on manuals and articles to learn all I need.

So my questions are:

1. I really enjoy soulful house, deep house and some techno, generally all on the deeper side. I'm already frustrated again looking at my cubase screen, midi keyboard in hand not knowing where to start. Can you advise me where I can learn how to produce properly, perhaps short courses, do you have any good reading sites or books you can recommend , etc etc. Can I learn all I need to know from home?

2. So I have cubase 6 and a midi controller. Is this enough to produce enjoyable, quality sounding deep house and techno. If not where is a good place to learn about my requirements. Decent online reading, books, courses etc.

Any sources you can provide or info to help me on my way will realy help, I just want to get on the right path and get producing quality sounds so I can actually start enjoying my production like I enjoy my music. I'm happy to read and learn anyway poss, just need some guidence on where to start really.

Im sure most of you have been here lol!!!!!

[pfapin05]

hmmm

[ritelec]

Originally Posted by soulfultip

Can you advise me where I can learn how to produce properly, perhaps short courses, do you have any good reading sites or books you can recommend , etc etc. Can I learn all I need to know from home?

There will be nothing quick about it.
Takes time...........sorry, just the way it is.

Look here. Much info.......but you have to make the time to watch and rewatch.

(which I'm sure you will discipline yourself to do so since you'd been hiitting the books for the plumbing degree)

Learn Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live and more - Training and Tutorial Videos


They have tutorials you can purchase. I believe if you sign up, they give you time on all tutorials for free. If you get things from Sweet Water, they give you free pass for a month on certain products (or ask on others and they may through it in), G3 also has full access packages for purchase.......

I crambed a month full/free access from sweetwater some time back (many hours) G3's full access for a year is about $250. They had a sale on it for $99 back in November......I picked that up cause it's definitely worth it but only made some time to go through it. I've got 10 months left and really should hit it more...


So check that out.......read up on this forum and that.........
check out here (and also read through those postings) so you realize the importance of room acoustics.........

Acoustics/Treatment Reference Guide - LOOK HERE!

check here for mixing and mastering.......(check out K-system, it makes a difference)

Mastering forum - Gearslutz.com


You put much time in the plumbing prep.
You will be putting the same if not much more into this endeavor.

Electrician here.........so I know the book time you put in......

Stressing over getting work the past month or two so I haven't been hitting like I have been for the past four years..........

Buy the way........I think much has improved since you last played with this.

Got a couple $$$, I would suggest getting a mac and Logic pro studio.
But read around about other daws and gear......there are many opinions and prefs.

When I set my thing up, I did mac(pro) and PTle on a 003 rack...along with Reason for more virtual instruments. Eventually, to scratch an itch, I picked up Logic.........(it amazes me how much is there)
If I'd only know, I would have went straight to the Logic.
So I'm using Logic with Reason for composing/writing, and bring it into PT for mixing/mastering(I use that term loosely).

It will take time........Good Luck with it...and see you around here.


Rich

[mikebailey92]

Dance Music Manual by Rick Snoman is a brilliant book.

[soulfultip]

Originally Posted by ritelec

There will be nothing quick about it.
Takes time...........sorry, just the way it is.

Look here. Much info.......but you have to make the time to watch and rewatch.

(which I'm sure you will discipline yourself to do so since you'd been hiitting the books for the plumbing degree)

Learn Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live and more - Training and Tutorial Videos


They have tutorials you can purchase. I believe if you sign up, they give you time on all tutorials for free. If you get things from Sweet Water, they give you free pass for a month on certain products (or ask on others and they may through it in), G3 also has full access packages for purchase.......

I crambed a month full/free access from sweetwater some time back (many hours) G3's full access for a year is about $250. They had a sale on it for $99 back in November......I picked that up cause it's definitely worth it but only made some time to go through it. I've got 10 months left and really should hit it more...


So check that out.......read up on this forum and that.........
check out here (and also read through those postings) so you realize the importance of room acoustics.........

Acoustics/Treatment Reference Guide - LOOK HERE!

check here for mixing and mastering.......(check out K-system, it makes a difference)

Mastering forum - Gearslutz.com


You put much time in the plumbing prep.
You will be putting the same if not much more into this endeavor.

Electrician here.........so I know the book time you put in......

Stressing over getting work the past month or two so I haven't been hitting like I have been for the past four years..........

Buy the way........I think much has improved since you last played with this.

Got a couple $$$, I would suggest getting a mac and Logic pro studio.
But read around about other daws and gear......there are many opinions and prefs.

When I set my thing up, I did mac(pro) and PTle on a 003 rack...along with Reason for more virtual instruments. Eventually, to scratch an itch, I picked up Logic.........(it amazes me how much is there)
If I'd only know, I would have went straight to the Logic.
So I'm using Logic with Reason for composing/writing, and bring it into PT for mixing/mastering(I use that term loosely).

It will take time........Good Luck with it...and see you around here.


Rich

Wow thanks for taking the time to reply Rich, plenty of sources and reading materials there, which is exactly what I was after. Yes I have every intention of doing my research, reading up and studying the production world, musics always been a passion of mine, dont mind how long it takes, the learning curve is part of the fun.

I'll be getting onto them sources now, catch you around mate.

Karl

[soulfultip]

Originally Posted by mikebailey92

Dance Music Manual by Rick Snoman is a brilliant book.

Looks like a great book, i've just ordered, cnt wait to have a good old read of this.

Anymore book recommendations guys, I love the practical books that guide you through certain processes and also information books just for knowledge, i've already worked through the Cubase walkthrough book, helped to no end.

If anyone has any other recommendations on books on anyt aspect of music production, would be great!

Cheers

Karl

[struggz]

First question i have is do you play an instrument? if the answer is no, then thats where you should start. Learn some basics to get you started. you said you had a midi kb. I would start to learn and memorize the, major scale, minor scale, harmonic minor, blue scales. Know these scales and their scale tone progressions will be essential. For me this is what took me from crappy to still crappy but much better. Just put an hour a day into playing these chords and progressions. Before you know it you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed. Then you will realize that all those favorite house toons of yours will now make more sense.Of all the advice i have read, very rarely does anyone advise to actually learn to play the instrument you plan to craft music from. If you can play an instrument then ignore everything to do this point. Next I would investigate what was used to make the music you like. Since you mentioned house music, I would immediately recommend the korg m1. If you dont want to buy the actual synth, Korg makes a vst which is great and you can get it for 50bucks from the korg website.I myself have used cubase but I hated its workflow compared to the other daws i had. Right now i use Ableton live 8. its expensive but im sure you could get it for free or cheap from someone. also acid Music studio is a great cheap alternative. I use it all the time. I can automate tempo changes within a track, I can also export my tracks in like 90 different formats. I love Acid I think its the most slept on DAW. anyway hope that helps.

[struggz]

Also, if you want to buy a quality tutorial for EDM. I have purchased a tutorial from Dj Fixx. he has ones for ableton, logic, reason, and I think FL studio and pro tools.He screen videos himself making a track from start to finish. Its a great tutorial for making breaks but the knowledge can transferred to any genre of EDM. It was over 6 hours long. You can get a hold of him through Facebook. That's how i got it. It was cheap