What software do you use to create your compositions? Specifically, I'd really like something that can recreate 80's synthpop sounds.
BTS
JWN Music Makers (Terry and Void Eater)
by BurnTheShips 6 Replies latest jw friends
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VoidEater
OK, but this is Mac world in my case.
Garageband. It's moderately flexible, but a snap to figure out. The basic synth sounds and loops are a great start.
Amazingly, GarageBand comes in a suite called iLife - a batch of lovely fun toys for about $100. Add-on synth sounds, drum loops, other ear candy come in at about $100 per.
Apple's Logic Studio is like GarageBand on steroid, if you can't do it in Logic, you might not be to imagine it anyway. Pricier. Frankly, aside from back-masking there isn't anything I need currently that isn't in GarageBand.
On the PC there's Adobe Audition for multitrack recording - I used it's predecessor (before Adobe bought it) from Syntrillium, and the first Adobe version after that, but it's a somewhat steeper learning curve. Comparable to Logic in many ways. I'm sure it's grown since I was using it.
I occasionally pull bits into a Windows install of Syntrillium's CoolEdit, shareware, not sure if it's still available - quick, easy tool.
So...if you have access to a Mac (and indeed a nice MacBook might be well worth the price for your "studio in a box), GarageBand (in iLife) will start you and let you grow a lot. A couple of the add-ons - I like the Orchestra pack and the drum/percussion expansion in particular - and for a modest investment you're in business.
Most midi keyboards today have USB-out for instant connection; for another $100 pick up an M-Audio patch boc to put microphone, electric guitar or other live sounds sources into the computer. I like Shure microphones, good price/performance points on many models.
The quality of these relatively inexpensive tools is very impressive. And it's both fun and satisfying.
www.voideater.com - there's acoustic guitar/voice, piano and piano/vocal, post-punk and 80's synth-pop albums.
Cheers!
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BurnTheShips
I think you gave me a brainfreeze!
Too much too learn. I feel like such a poser!
BTS
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VoidEater
Well, you gotta start somewhere - and all it takes is starting. I started writing in 1974, performing and recording in 1985, and recording was sound-on-sound reel-to-reel, for goodness sakes.
I believe CakeWalk and Cube are still generally well thought of and at least used to come in "beginner" and "pro" versions. But GarageBand is a huge democratizer, you can just start playing and grow as your expertise grows.
Go for it, Burns - you'll like it! I want to hear!
First track from new work in progress: http://www.voideater.com/Cocky/Cocky.html. All recording donw in GarageBand, keyboard midi captured from Casio workstation, guitar and vocal through M-Audio Fast Track Pro, synth sounds and processing and guitar effects in GaragBand. Produced by The Void.
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BurnTheShips
I think I've got a relatively late model Macbook around the office somewhere.....
BTS
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BurnTheShips
I'm reading that Mixcraft is just like GarageBand, but runs on PC.
http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20070513_garageband-like_software_for_windows.html
BTS