Advice for someone who wants to start making beats...

[EA]

I'm looking to start making beats as a hobby whilst I'm at university and I've got few questions for the producers on here.

First off, I'm undecided on whether I should get an MPC or a Maschine. I've been reading reviews about both and many people say that the MPC's swing has a much more organic feel that work well for dudes into making Boom-Bap beats but it's supposed to be harder for beginners like myself to get used to using.

On the flip side, the Maschine is supposed to be easier to use but I've read that sequencing can be more tedious because the sample sizes can be bigger so you're required to do more chopping but the fact that it comes with integrated software is crucial if I'm gonna using other things down the road.

Which ones do you guys prefer and which do you think I should go for?

Also, should I get a sound system, top of the range headphones or both?

Any advice would be appreciated, I hope to be participating in the beat battles on here this time next year.

 

[producingfire]

Well The sample size on the machine allows for a longer sample clips but that just enables you to drop longer samples in it to chop. MPC's and machines do the same thing. I would say personally you don't even need the equipment you can chop directly on a program like FL studio or reason if you really wanted to. I would recommend a midi keyboard esp if you want to make beats from scratch. If you want headphones I recommend "Audio Technica's" They are very durable and affordable, with great quality. Remember no matter what equipment you get when it comes to mpc's machines or anything they make in the future. They generally do the exact same thing (with different feelings on the pads and memory differences.

When it comes to software I recommend FL Studio the work flow is really nice and the learning curve is easy.

Much Success

 

[EA]

I've played around with FL before and I found it a bit stiff. I understood how to use it but I couldn't really play around with the samples enough to get anything creative going because I hate using a mouse and keyboard. I think I'll do what you said and get a midi keyboard.

 

[BlackDroog]

I'm new myself but my best advice is to make wack beats when you first start out....and i don't mean intentionally making wack beats, but not worrying about trying to make them sound professional...just get used to the process of creating a track starting from nothing. and start and find out what is the best workflow for you. this will also help you define your unique sound because you will gravitate to certain sounds...

 

[DBR]

get confortable with your daw than you will know what equipment you need , dont buy shyt when you dont even know if music pruduction is for you that would be the best advice i guess .

 

[BrothaZay]

Make what sounds good to YOU. not no one else.

Even if their trash at first it's still gonna be ur own style, and eventually they're be dope.

 

[thatkidkasper]

I've gotta agree with what other people on here said. Just do you! Everybody on here was a beginner at some point so just play around and find what you like and sounds good to you and improve on it. To save money, I just bought an Akai LPD8 and use it with FL studio. Love it.

 

[Turbulent]

if you're starting, i'd advise you to start with the computer programs and a keyboard/keyboard-pads controller. if you're worried about the pads you could always get something like these:

Spoiler

comes up cheaper than an MPC and you can pretty much do the samething.

don't know much about headphones though...

 

[Turbulent]

also it really depends on what type of beats you want to make.

 

[EA]

My boy managed to hook me up with a Maschine for free so I'm over the moon about it. I'm gonna get FL Studio and Reason as my two programs to mess around with. All I need to do now is buy a turntable and I'm probably gonna go for some AT headphone since I haven't really got the space for speakers right now.

 

[Tom Foolery]

If I had the chance to start over again I would buy some decent speakers first and then read some books on mixing/sound design.

 

[ryshy]

maschine is really really good, but more for if your makin modern hip hop/more electronic influenced beats, idk much about mpc but i know i have issues making trap beats with the maschine too because the snares/hi hats arent usually as snappy, and the kicks arent really fat or thumpy. For most hip hop besides that maschine is great, best part is all the effects you can use and the ease of automation

Maschine's integration into other DAWs isnt good but its definitely manageable, some things you have to be knowledged/clever with to figure out.

tbh a lot of it depends on what type of music you wanna make

personally i use ableton, i think its the best but only if you have good vst's and instruments

imo the most flexible by far and easiest for recording with a midi keyboard, as opposed to penciling in notes

also comes with really good effects

 

[Da King]

I'm looking to start making beats as a hobby whilst I'm at university and I've got few questions for the producers on here.

First off, I'm undecided on whether I should get an MPC or a Maschine. I've been reading reviews about both and many people say that the MPC's swing has a much more organic feel that work well for dudes into making Boom-Bap beats but it's supposed to be harder for beginners like myself to get used to using.

On the flip side, the Maschine is supposed to be easier to use but I've read that sequencing can be more tedious because the sample sizes can be bigger so you're required to do more chopping but the fact that it comes with integrated software is crucial if I'm gonna using other things down the road.

Which ones do you guys prefer and which do you think I should go for?

Also, should I get a sound system, top of the range headphones or both?

Any advice would be appreciated, I hope to be participating in the beat battles on here this time next year.

Logic Pro X