I would like to know more about making my own music. I figured this would be a good place to start. Therefore I would like to know what my fellow TA's are using to make their own music and what approach they take.

1. What hardware do you use and why?

2. What software?

3. How do you plan the track you are building? Do you try to come up with a killer loop and then build a song around it (kinda like 'Johan Gielen - The Beatuy of Silence'), or do you have another method?

4. Have you benefited from formal music instruction, like piano lessons, etc?

I am just trying to get an idea of where to start, so any feedback would be cool. Also, if you think my assumption of The Beauty of Silence is wrong, please don't flame me...

Thx!

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Ronald said nothing. He flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse, and rode madly off in all directions.

Roland MC-307
Roland TR-606
Yamaha PSR 630*
Yamaha DX-7
E-mu ESI 4000 Turbo (32 mb)
Tapco 100M powered mixer*
Electro harmonix Electric Mistress (flanger)*
(*= belongs to my dad but is in my room anyways hehe)

Sequence with a pentium 90 w/cakewalk, sample editing with cool edit 96

EDC 70015 (microfhone)
AKG K55 (headphone)
Jamo Power 180S (speakers)
Dual CV1250 (amp)

Marantz CD38 (CD-player, while we're at it lol)
Sony MDS 303 (MD player/recorder)

2x Numark TT1700
Numark DM2002X (not really for producing, but I do get samples/scratches from this)

You pretty much descibed how I work, I make a loop, fully work it out, and then build a song out of it.

I've played drums for quite some years, and some organ (waay back), the violin (waaaay back) and I play some guitar. It all comes in handy, wish I knew to play the keys properly. Plus it's very handy to know some chords. And to be able to "hear" when something sounds right or wrong, has more to do with genes than tuition perhaps.

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All rhythm evolves around a kick...