Hello TA Community, this is my first post and surely wont be my last.

Basics - I love Trance, so I assume I am at the right place.
My Goal is to over the next 6 months accumulate the best gear to create my own music. I'm a trance veteran, 25 years old, and ready to play my cards at becoming a world-class producer. That being said.

Bio :
Name : Mike
Location : Tampa, USA
Hobbies : Working to buy anything and everything needed to become the best at creating original trance music.
Favorite artists : Kaskade, Tiesto, all the cliche's. Deadmau5, Pendulum, Rusko, AAB, The Qemists, Bassnectar, Skrillex (A little Dubstep never hurt no one), OceanLab, DJ Encore, Morgan Page, Ian Van Dahl, etc etc etc.
I in no way intend to copy these artists, but they would be among my inspiration in creating my music.

Now my main question : Where do I Begin?
Keyboard choice? I've done some personal research and a Yamaha Motif XS6 with Mbox + ProTools 9 seems to look like an interesting start, am I hot or Cold? I'm not looking for a beginners guide and a lollipop with someone holding my hand, I'm looking for the real deal headfirst dive into a challenging as all heck adventure into the beginnings of a DJ you all will be hearing shortly and know by name.

I am not looking for flamers stating how difficult it is to make it OR for people trying to put me down for being so excited and passionate about making my dream of making original trance music come true. I am looking for the most brutal and honest advice as to what SOFTWARE, HARDWARE, and SKILLSETS I need to produce the highest quality music similar to the artists mentioned above. Thank you all in advance.

Long live trance.

Mac or PC?

p.s. you like phaggot music

___________________
My Soundcloud Page | The Free Soundcloud Stuff Thread

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Levels is...decent...damn better than a lot of the shite dominating the charts at the moment. It sounds absolutely nothing like...a billion and one similar tracks in this big-room style. I always had a soft spot.

PC

Mbox + Protools is a good setup. Not too sure about midi controllers tho, I need to do some research there. Just make sure I guess you have all the different commands covered if you really wanna go all out.

___________________
My Soundcloud Page | The Free Soundcloud Stuff Thread

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Levels is...decent...damn better than a lot of the shite dominating the charts at the moment. It sounds absolutely nothing like...a billion and one similar tracks in this big-room style. I always had a soft spot.

Pretty new to the scene, when you say midi controllers your referring to the keyboard correct? I'm wondering if i am going to buy pro tools and mbox, do i need to be buying a pimped out keyboard like the Motif or should I just be buy a regular keyboard? What are the pro's and con's here?

Midi controllers come in various forms and are basically the physical interface that you can use instead of using a mouse for everything (and you can do that, unless you want to record a certain arrangement live). There are midi controller keyboards, drum pads, faders, knobs, etc...so you might want to look at all of those if you're really going all out. Besides that there's a quality of course, and the built-in features. For example with a keyboard, you can get one with 49 keys, 61 keys and more. Some have weighted keys as well, which has a much nicer feel. Some are also a synthesizer at the same time, so they have lots of built-in sounds and can be used independently of the software).

Beyond that man, honestly, if you're not willing/able or have the head to learn this stuff yourself, you will never, ever make good music. Making good music takes having real heart, and if you need to rely on others to transfer every single bit of knowledge to you without learning on your own, you certainly don't have one. I've been pretty helpful I think, but I really feel that if you are asking such questions you might not be ready, or I HIGHLY question your intentions. Same goes for a lot of people who come here and make these threads.

___________________
My Soundcloud Page | The Free Soundcloud Stuff Thread

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Levels is...decent...damn better than a lot of the shite dominating the charts at the moment. It sounds absolutely nothing like...a billion and one similar tracks in this big-room style. I always had a soft spot.

And if you're "new to the scene" you might want to take some time to know the music a little better before starting to make it. I understand that you like who you like, but it is true that people who like that kind of music have not been familiar with dance music for very long. Trust me, there is much, much better and more well thought-out electronic dance music out there, and I urge you strongly to seek it out before you start to make your own beats. Every Harry, Michael and Joe is doing that these days and trust me it is neither putting money in their pockets nor contributing to the "scene" in any way.

___________________
My Soundcloud Page | The Free Soundcloud Stuff Thread

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Levels is...decent...damn better than a lot of the shite dominating the charts at the moment. It sounds absolutely nothing like...a billion and one similar tracks in this big-room style. I always had a soft spot.

what adam wrote^

if you want knowledge download everything tiesto ever put out, his entire discography and all of his livesets starting from the beginning in the early 90s. you will learn much. learn that this track was a tiesto ANTHEM:



listen to tiesto's nyana. first cd doesn't start with trance. it starts with techno. listen to the early magik compilations. you ever hear trance at 150bpm? no?

learn of the golden age. learn of the downfall. learn of decadence. and then produce some good music.

quote:

Originally posted by NewbieNewForYou Pretty new to the scene, when you say midi controllers your referring to the keyboard correct? I'm wondering if i am going to buy pro tools and mbox, do i need to be buying a pimped out keyboard like the Motif or should I just be buy a regular keyboard? What are the pro's and con's here?

james holden produced "horizons" with a computer running Max/MSP, a 20quid casio keyboard about a foot and a half wide, and what knowledge of sound he picked up as an undergrad physics major. (and alotta weed.)

for the rest of your questions, there is an excellent section with tutorials in this subforum:

http://tranceaddict.com/forum/showt...2&forumid=48&s=

http://tranceaddict.com/forum/showt...7&forumid=48&s=

reading discussions in the forums will help, too.

Moved

Dont waste your money on a expensive midi controller keyboard.
Why would u need a Motif?
If you are going to want a hardware synth then buy a VIrus TI2 49 key or 61, or Nord lead 2x 49 key. Use as Midi keyboard.
Otherwise a standard cheap midi keyboard will do the job, like M-Audio.

Sound card just get something like the Focusrite Saffire 6, sounds good and not expensive. Dont forget Moniters.

Any Daw will do, just what your most comfortable with. Personally I really enjoy using Logic over the rest. I'd us FL if on PC again.

VST wise, just check out the demos and buy what you like best, I recommend Rapture, Z3ta+2 and of course Omnisphere. All amazing.

Learn the basic of music theory, isnt really hard at all.

Great tracks dont need amazing gear, its how you put your idea's down on your DAW.

Goodluck hope to hear something from you soon

quote:

Originally posted by Julz Dont waste your money on a expensive midi controller keyboard. Why would u need a Motif? If you are going to want a hardware synth then buy a VIrus TI2 49 key or 61, or Nord lead 2x 49 key. Use as Midi keyboard. Otherwise a standard cheap midi keyboard will do the job, like M-Audio. Sound card just get something like the Focusrite Saffire 6, sounds good and not expensive. Dont forget Moniters. Any Daw will do, just what your most comfortable with. Personally I really enjoy using Logic over the rest. I'd us FL if on PC again. VST wise, just check out the demos and buy what you like best, I recommend Rapture, Z3ta+2 and of course Omnisphere. All amazing. Learn the basic of music theory, isnt really hard at all. Great tracks dont need amazing gear, its how you put your idea's down on your DAW. Goodluck hope to hear something from you soon

If he wants to spend money, let him spend it.

___________________
My Soundcloud Page | The Free Soundcloud Stuff Thread

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Levels is...decent...damn better than a lot of the shite dominating the charts at the moment. It sounds absolutely nothing like...a billion and one similar tracks in this big-room style. I always had a soft spot.