Jase

Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio (ignoring
ability obviously)? Would I need a good sound-card?

BTW I'm talking about heavy, dark, percussive techno preferably....

TIA

David

"Jase" <jase@ibm.co.uk> wrote in message news:<bu8sri$f21pa$1@ID-83837.news.uni-berlin.de>...
> Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
> techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
> this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio (ignoring
> ability obviously)? Would I need a good sound-card?
>
> BTW I'm talking about heavy, dark, percussive techno preferably....
>
> TIA

Check out Fruity Loops. I've had fun with it, it's cheap, and pretty
intuitive, IMHO. Decent library of sounds. You can build some decent
percussion loops in a matter of a few minutes and kick 'em out pretty
fast.

Oh, and it tastes great.....

David

Dik LeDoux

Fruity Loops.

dik

"Jase" <jase@ibm.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bu8sri$f21pa$1@ID-83837.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
> techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
> this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio
(ignoring
> ability obviously)? Would I need a good sound-card?
>
> BTW I'm talking about heavy, dark, percussive techno preferably....
>
> TIA
>
>

DJ Stash1

Fruityloops for drum sequencing and loop creation. AcidPro for mixdown and
mastering the effects and final track rendering. There is ton of other stuff
out there but Fruityloops, AcidPro and Soundforge are all you'd really need
to get a good start.

Yes, the results *are* studio quality, not as-good-as, it *is* studio
quality if you have the ability and ear to produce studio quality tracks and
you render to wav file with at least a 44khz sampling rate. It's a lot
harder to get the spontaneousness and organic feel of playing your synths if
you don't use a midi controller but that doesn't mean you can't make great
tracks.

I'm always surprised how many people don't realize that the days of the
multi-million dollar recording studio are over. All synths and drum machines
and samplers are is computers that do specific tasks. A powerfull computer
*is* a synth, sampler or sequencer. It's not pretending to be one. The word
"sim-synth" is a complete misnomer and should be abandoned. Simulated
synthesizer is a total redundancy. So spend a few hundred $$$ on some good
software and a grand on a really fast PC with plenty of ram and you'll have
a studio in a box. It's been happening since the mid 90's, the home studio
is king now and who needs to go thousands of dollars into debt just to
produce a great track? No one.

Not that there's no use for a good isolation room and an expensive mic or
two if you're sampling live sounds/instruments or tracking vocals, but you
don't have to have those things to get started producing music, especially
techno which usually has no vocal parts anyway.

--
|O/|.+.|O/|

"Support your local DJ." ~DJ Stash1

http://www.cafeshops.com/allgoodtime
"Jase" <jase@ibm.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bu8sri$f21pa$1@ID-83837.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
> techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
> this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio
(ignoring
> ability obviously)? Would I need a good sound-card?
>
> BTW I'm talking about heavy, dark, percussive techno preferably....
>
> TIA
>
>

DopeHead

Dependinf on your choice I'll suggest two options:
1-you start off low just to take the taste of it and see if you like it.
In this case what Dik, Stash and David said is the perfect solution. You
don't have to go directly for the big bang and spent $$$ just to see of
you're able to kick out good sounds. Update your existing computer with a
entry level pro soundcard (around 100 ? ) like the DSP 24 Value from
Hoontech, the Terratec EWX 24/96 or any Audigy series from Creative. If
you're into DJing as wel go for the DSP Value (it has indipendent dual
output channels which can be useful monitoring while mp3 mixing). If your
home speakers sucks don't risk to monitor with them as the output quality of
the sounds you'll be producing wouldn't be what you'll be composing. At this
stage is useless to go and buy studio monitors for thousand of dollars so
you better use your DJing headphones. If you got crappy headphones as well,
then get a good pair from AKG. Can't remember exactly the model but I tested
once a pair priced at 99? and I loved them.
So with a hardware budget of around 200? you can start off and see if you
like it.

2-If you think you're able to produce good banging tunes AND you got the
proper connections in the scene then you better go serious. Just for "the
fun of it" prepare the big bucks.
In this case advises get pretty confusing because everyone has it's own
opinion over different hardwares and that is always related to everyone's
"portofolio". Just to be clear I completely agree with DJ Stash opinion that
a DAW ( Digital Audio Workstation) will be the way to go. However this
choice got its own drawback coz buying decision ain't easy. People have been
struggling for months to figure out what will be best for them coz different
people got different opinions and surely you got a different budget.
Questions like Mac vs. PC, Intel vs. AMD, chipset choice, hard disk and
soundcard brands, external midi devices, properly tunning up Windowze for
audio environment etc etc. opened up flaming threads allover proaudio
forums. If you're a "connaisseur" and you know how tu build your own
workstation so you can save some money out of your investment, prepare
yourself to ask lot of questions. If you know nothing what's inside the
"case" that sits under your desk you better go to a proaudio local shop and
ask them for a DAW configuration that fits your budget. DO NOT throw your
money on a new computer that you see in your usual shopping center just
because it got a good looking box. In any case you get what you pay for
Going back to your very first question, the softwares that fall under the
"pro" category vary according to what you'll be producing. For good techno
stuff people usually use a combo of synth arrangement software ( Cubase,
Logic Audio) + VST instruments ( synths, drum machines, FX etc) + external
programs like Propellerheads Reason, Orion Pro, Arturia Storm etc that can
be rewired as VST but can function as stand alone programs as well. If it
might help to create an idea I spent around 3500-4000$ (can't remember
anymore) to get up my first DAW. That included the computer, softwares, a
good pair of studio monitors, and external devices like midi controllers and
stuff.

bed time for me
laters


"Jase" <jase@ibm.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bu8sri$f21pa$1@ID-83837.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
> techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
> this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio
(ignoring
> ability obviously)? Would I need a good sound-card?
>
> BTW I'm talking about heavy, dark, percussive techno preferably....
>
> TIA
>
>

Elson

1. Propellerhads Reason
2. FL Studio (aka Fruity Loops)
3. Cakewalk Project5

Take yer pick.

"Jase" <jase@ibm.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bu8sri$f21pa$1@ID-83837.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
> techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
> this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio
(ignoring
> ability obviously)? Would I need a good sound-card?
>
> BTW I'm talking about heavy, dark, percussive techno preferably....
>
> TIA
>
>

tetraplan

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 00:29:50 GMT, in rec.music.makers.synth "DJ
Stash1" <Jason@DJStash1.cjb.net> wrote:

>I'm always surprised how many people don't realize that the days of the
>multi-million dollar recording studio are over.

There's a reason a multi-million dollar studio is a multi-million
dollar studio.
You're not going to do the stuff you can do in a multi-million dollar
studio with your bedroom-studio computer anytime soon.

--
================================================== ===
email: dwaes(at)hetnet(dot)nl
ICQ: 66463663

/\/\/\
\/ The owls are not what they seem

Paul Ward

Disagree completely. That's exactly what I and many others do! A review
of an album I produced right here on my 1000 quid's-worth of Mac got 5/5 for
sound quality/production while a certain three-day-stadium-sellout band (who
recorded their album in 4 top world-class multi-million dollar studios) got
4/5 right alongside
in the next column. I laughed until I stopped!

If you have the ear, the skill and the patience you can produce material
every bit as good as the best studios in the world. The tools are
available - it's really just down to how you use them!

P.

"tetraplan" <dwaes@spamdeath.hell> wrote in message
news:g2ij0017pcndn8f3cgfa664bsnagogpu6d@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 00:29:50 GMT, in rec.music.makers.synth "DJ
> Stash1" <Jason@DJStash1.cjb.net> wrote:
>
> >I'm always surprised how many people don't realize that the days of the
> >multi-million dollar recording studio are over.
>
> There's a reason a multi-million dollar studio is a multi-million
> dollar studio.
> You're not going to do the stuff you can do in a multi-million dollar
> studio with your bedroom-studio computer anytime soon.

DJ Stash1

Of course not, but it's also not necessary for making very good sounding
professional tracks.

--
|O/|.+.|O/|

"Support your local DJ." ~DJ Stash1

http://www.cafeshops.com/allgoodtime
"tetraplan" <dwaes@spamdeath.hell> wrote in message
news:g2ij0017pcndn8f3cgfa664bsnagogpu6d@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 00:29:50 GMT, in rec.music.makers.synth "DJ
> Stash1" <Jason@DJStash1.cjb.net> wrote:
>
> >I'm always surprised how many people don't realize that the days of the
> >multi-million dollar recording studio are over.
>
> There's a reason a multi-million dollar studio is a multi-million
> dollar studio.
> You're not going to do the stuff you can do in a multi-million dollar
> studio with your bedroom-studio computer anytime soon.
>
> --
> ================================================== ===
> email: dwaes(at)hetnet(dot)nl
> ICQ: 66463663
>
> /\/\/\
> \/ The owls are not what they seem

tetraplan

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 22:40:29 -0000, in rec.music.makers.synth "Paul
Ward" <pward@antispam.mac.com> wrote:

>"tetraplan" <dwaes@spamdeath.hell> wrote in message
>news:g2ij0017pcndn8f3cgfa664bsnagogpu6d@4ax.com.. .

>> There's a reason a multi-million dollar studio is a multi-million
>> dollar studio.
>> You're not going to do the stuff you can do in a multi-million dollar
>> studio with your bedroom-studio computer anytime soon.

>Disagree completely. That's exactly what I and many others do!

Not without the proper rooms and outboard.

>A review
>of an album I produced right here on my 1000 quid's-worth of Mac got 5/5 for
>sound quality/production while a certain three-day-stadium-sellout band (who
>recorded their album in 4 top world-class multi-million dollar studios) got
>4/5 right alongside
>in the next column. I laughed until I stopped!

What were these ratings based on?
Studio equipment?
Sound quality?
Content?

>If you have the ear, the skill and the patience you can produce material
>every bit as good as the best studios in the world. The tools are
>available - it's really just down to how you use them!

A bad producer/engineer in a top notch studio will produce a bad
recording.
A good producer/engineer in a low budget studio (bedroom studio or
whatever) will produce a good recording.
A good producer/engineer in a top notch studio will produce an
excellent recording.
A studio is more than just a fancy desk and a big fat recorder.

--
================================================== ===
email: dwaes(at)hetnet(dot)nl
ICQ: 66463663

/\/\/\
\/ The owls are not what they seem

Paul Ward

> Not without the proper rooms and outboard.
I record vocals in a home-made vocal booth made with an old sheet. The
results equate to the best recordings I've made in the best studios - and
yes, I *have* worked in them! Yes, I use a
good mic and recording channel at home - that's a basic requirement. But I
certainly don't need a studio
to do the job - once it's in the computer it's malleable and the results are
down to the skills of the producer.

And for Techno music!? What high-grade hardware do you need to get a few
synths and drum machines recorded?

Good recording spaces for drums/orchestras/choirs, etc. are one thing, but
masses of expensive hardware do not make good recordings - *people* make
good recordings.

P.

DJ Stash1

Yeah, they're also isolation booths, easily replicated.

--
|O/|.+.|O/|

"Support your local DJ." ~DJ Stash1

http://www.cafeshops.com/allgoodtime
"tetraplan" <dwaes@spamdeath.hell> wrote in message
news:qurj00pg2rhum985fnbjihfabq6ku0st4a@4ax.com...

> A studio is more than just a fancy desk and a big fat recorder.
>

Ralph Snart

On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 12:22:00 +0100, tetraplan <dwaes@spamdeath.hell> wrote:
>>Disagree completely. That's exactly what I and many others do!
>
>Not without the proper rooms and outboard.

for techno music, the proper room is "any room with a floor and maybe
some walls." the proper outboard gear is "none".

now if you ever want to record a live musician you're kinda screwed
but for "synths & drum machine" techno, computers are where it's at.

(personally i would *recommend* a good room with some sort of acoustic
treatment, and a decent set of monitors, but that's just to save yourself
the heartache of finishing a mix and hearing it sound like crap somewhere
else. for the original poster, who is just looking to start playing around,
it's not important yet.)

-rs-

dilvie

I've got a list about a mile long.

http://www.dilvie.com/n00b/n00b.txt

BTW, I'm in the process of updating this little computer music resource
list. I'm converting it to HTML, updating links, etc... If anybody has
anything new or interesting to add to it, please let me know.

- Eric

Elson wrote:

> 1. Propellerhads Reason
> 2. FL Studio (aka Fruity Loops)
> 3. Cakewalk Project5
>
> Take yer pick.
>
> "Jase" <jase@ibm.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:bu8sri$f21pa$1@ID-83837.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
>>Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
>>techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
>>this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio


--
~
<http://www.dilvie.com/>

Tomislav Crncic

["Followup-To:" header set to alt.music.makers.dj.]
On 2004-01-16, Jase <jase@ibm.co.uk> wrote:
> Are there any software packages out there that will let me produce my own
> techno tracks purely on my PC? What software is required to do this? Will
> this potentially produce results as good as a professional studio (ignoring
> ability obviously)? Would I need a good sound-card?
>
> BTW I'm talking about heavy, dark, percussive techno preferably....

check out fruity loops or reason (www.propellerheads.se).
these are software studios, which means they provide
the whole package - synths, samplers, effects, internal
mixer. i would go for fruity if i were you since reason
has closed architecture (it does not support other virtual
instruments and effects than the ones provided in the package)
which sucks.
the next level is the world of sequeencers - cubase, sonar
and logic (logic is mac-only from version 5.51, the last
one is 6.1 i think).
i use cubase sx with a lot of virtual instruments and effects,
and the results come pretty close to my references (in goa
and psy trance).
yes, you will need a good card. search for one with quality
outputs, asio2.0 support and as small latency as possible
(10 milliseconds or less). terratec ewx2496, midiman,
hoontech are good choices. audigy is not such a good
choice (i have audigy 1).

--
Tech Support: "I need you to boot the computer."
Customer: (THUMP! Pause.) "No, that didn't help."