If you have multiple hardware synths (or one synth with multiple outs, like the Virus and most other multi-timbral synths) you'll want a way to combine all the sounds before sending them to an amp or to your PC input. Unless you have a multi-input soundcard, which can be pricey if you're just starting out, you'll need a mixer. All I use it for is to get a rough mix on my hardware synths, and then route each one to my computer input individually on my mixer's alternate outputs. Once I've got all the synth parts in Cubase as individual audio files, I use the Cubase mixer to apply effects and get a final mix. Behringer makes affordable little mixers that are OK, but Mackie is a much better product as far as durability and sound quality go.

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http://www.aponaut.com

why even start with an access virus c? apart from the fact it still costs a bomb, its much harder to program than many softsynths and even a lot of hardware synths. nord lead 2x was the easiest hardware synth to program that ive used. my virus b has many modulation options. many variables which are dependant on the action of another variable. therefore if you start fiddling without thinking what you are doing and understanding the effect of what you are doing, you will, 90% of the time end up with a bassy sludgy mess of a patch at the end. even after a year of solid production i dont feel very comfortable with it. i still feel i make better patches in vanguard.

the learning curve on the virus, combined with having to learn studio rigging, MIDI *and* the steep leaning curve of cubase on top of all that is just...wow...i cant even begin to imagine how i would cope with that all at once.

gino you would definitely benefit from a pair of monitors straight away. + a matching amp to go with it (or just get active monitors) - theres alot of good advice around here regarding this. as for the dance music manual. its more of an industry resource. its full of contact addresses, phone numbers for various organisations and people within and around the music business. whilst you can benefit from that immensly you have to ask yourself is it the right time to think about marketing your music when its still very much a process in development. there are better tutorial based material that are specifically written for (as an example) understanding subtractive synthesis, learning how to use cubase. or theres plenty of great tutorials on the net written by people gracious enough to spend some time helping all of us.

you can go mixerless and use the internal mixer in alot of host applications if need be. i dont see it as a prerequisite. i use floops. the industry standards seem to be cubase and logic so if you can get to grips with those then that may look better on paper saying you are proficient with those. i just use whatever im comfortable with (as i think any producer should but thats just my opinion). as ive said before you really dont need the virus right off. if you are determined to have a hardware VA then a nord lead would be my choice for a starter although it wont make your productions better having one. it wont fix all the problems in the mixes you are currently making. this is often a common mistake that people make when going out and buying an expensive peice of kit. it is commonly known as wishful thinking.

bottom line is - you can make amazing productions with free and cheap software. as with anything though, it takes time and effort and alot of patience to make it seem effortless. but its a ride im still near the beginning of and so far im not regretting it one bit.

hey ur right man, i dunt need the virus i guess if u think bout it, im gona be honest im just buyin wut ever people are buyin thinkin my stuff is gona souind beter ive thought bout it, and ur right it wont. I just want those sounds soo badd. but anyways Im up for those monitors,and mixer. Wut does the amp do. I need more info on that cuz i styll dont understand it thanks

the amp powers the monitors. except in the case of active monitors which have amplifiers built into them. if you get passive monitors you need to power them though.

example in question. i think tannoy reveals are popular around here. the passive version is red and retails for about £150 for the pair. the amp will probably cost alot more. around £200 minimum. with the active tannoy reveals (greenish blueish colour) you dont need an amp. they cost around £350 though.

the thing with monitors though is that the defnition is high and you notice alot more detail in the sound that is playing back from them. absolutely essential. the biggest jump i had in my production quality was ditching the sony fontopia headphones and monitoring on hifi speakers. i seek monitors too but im very broke. i have considered selling on my virus b for a pair of tannoy reveals.

i think i found out about the whole virus thing the hard way. i bought one but owing to a number of factors and problems i have with my soundcard i rarely use it. its a great sounding synth dont get me wrong. but it wasnt the all out miracle i thought it would be and i was a bit stupid for thinking that it would be to be honest. im in two minds of whether i should sell it on. part of me says 'keep it and work with it to see what happens - rome werent built in a day.'...

Derivative makes a good point. Gear isn't going to fix your problems if you don't know the basics of recording, and if you don't know how to use that gear. That being said, if you don't get the gear, you'll never learn how to use it. If I were going to recommend a good starter synth for learning the basics of subtractive synthesis (the easiest and probably most common type), I would say go with a Juno 106, a classic analog synth. All the options are clearly laid out on the front panel - moving a fader gives you basically instant results in the sound, so you can learn how certain things affect the sound. It's not the most versatile synth, as it's not multi-timbral (it can only play one sound at a time), but it can give you nice thick analog basses and nice bright leads as well. You should be able to pick one up for somewhere between $400-$600 CAD. If you go that route, you'll need to do some reading about subtractive synthesis, because it's not likely that you'll find a Juno from someone who has the manual still intact (they stopped making them in about '86). You should be able to find it online though if you look...

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http://www.aponaut.com

This isnt some technical field were if u know the formula...ur gunna succeed and create the best sounding tracks...

most of what is said is true...but the fact that the ability to make music for people to dance too doesnt come from a book.

I've read books and sites...and that only gives u the technical aspect of this...when this is really a creative field...i.e. musician.

The basics u should know is music theory...pretty much it...trance i smade of layers of sounds...and yet doesnt have to be...

i would have to say how i learned is from using my ear to figure out how my favorite tracks are built along with making my own tracks and collabing...

making music is done my experience...and using ur ear to develop the sound u want...try looking at midi files...along with collabing

Sebasano

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Searching for a modest priced Virus C or Jupitar 8 synth/rack.

thanks so much all of u , i really appreciate it

quote:

Gear isn't going to fix your problems if you don't know the basics of recording, and if you don't know how to use that gear. That being said, if you don't get the gear, you'll never learn how to use it.

absolutely. heheh. we should call this 'producer's dillema' and have it trademarked under the tranceaddict forums.

oh yea gino, the added benefit of having a set of powerful, high definition speakers is that you can have stonking dorm/house parties.