All you need is a crappy 5-7 year old computer and a sequencer. Start with that. If you decide you like it, gain some experience with the program and then you'll know exactly what kinds of sounds and equipment you need. If you just go and spend money right away based on other people's subjective choices, you'll regret it in the long run.

I'll answer this nicely because I was thinking of writing a tutorial for beginners on what I would buy right now if I was starting from scratch. Naturally this changes every six months or less but here’s one for December 2006. It only applies to PC musicians; obviously Mac would be quite different. My list would look like:

• Decent DAW either one of (I would recommend buying Ableton for sketching, simple stuff and DJing and one of the other two for full productions, but that’s me)
o Ableton live 6
o Cubase 4
o Sonar 6

• Synths
o Native instruments komplete and Kore
o rgc z3ta
o refx vanguard
o novation v station (and bass station if you got $$)

• Midi keyboard (doesn't need to be at all flashy)
• Basic Plugins for EQ, compression etc, Waves are the best but are very expensive…

• Good laptop/desktop (depending on your needs)
o Intel core 2 duo is essential really need 2 GHz +
o 2 gig of ram
o Graphics card which doesn’t use system memory
o More than 2 USB ports
o Preferably fire wire ports
o External hard drive if you want to do audio (I recommend a glyph gt050Q)

If you buy all that you should be more or less set, read some tutorials and stuff, a lot of magazines have articles up and they’re about beginner level I think. That’s the basics for trance; I’m not including anything to do with audio really, if you wanted to do vocals it gets a bit more complicated because you need mic’s and interfaces and some more Plugins.
If you’re at uni or school then try and get academic discounts, you can save massive amounts of money that way. Look on the internet for each item and see if you can get any sorts of upgrades or anything. I find audiomidi.com a good place to start looking for the price you should pay. Did I miss anything?

How bout logic. If I could stretch the budget to an imac, I'd definately go for logic.
I'd say at least 6 to 8 usb slots.
Mine are almost always full, with external hd and dvd rw, usb key and usb stick, virus TI, 2 mice (cause one is wireless and isn't very good for gaming)

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Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dezmamusic

A PC/MAC

A Sequencer (Fruityloop/Reason)

Some Soft Synths

Speakers or headphones dont need to be top end to learn how your program works or how you tweak synths/write melodies.

Think my entire set up cost like $1200.

And my pc is used for work and gaming, etc too.

My advice, spend as little as possible. That way you won't end up wasting lots of cash if you find out it's not your thing.

Your computer is your main worry, spend most of it on that cause no matter what, even if you hate producing you still will have a pc future proof for a few years.

Ignore most of the wankers on here, they love a flame grilled n00b.

But do learn to use the search, if only for your own good.

quote:

Originally posted by DeZmA How bout logic. If I could stretch the budget to an imac, I'd definately go for logic. I'd say at least 6 to 8 usb slots. Mine are almost always full, with external hd and dvd rw, usb key and usb stick, virus TI, 2 mice (cause one is wireless and isn't very good for gaming)

Yeah, you know you could always throw the 2 mice and the usb stick and key on a hub. I have three slots and I get by... just. USB ports are a big pain tho for musicians Obviously if your going mac, you can do logic or digital performer, but I think I did say PC only so thats what I left those two out. Everyone who keeps saying to use search probably isn't that much help either, because things have changed so much in the last few months (core 2 duo, cubase 4, sonar 6, live 6, NI kore, xiosynth) no ones written a guide for newbies which has been updated that recently that I know of.

how many more vstis could i run with 4gb instead of 2gb.. does it matter? or does it depend on how many samples i have loaded into the vsti samplers..

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https://soundcloud.com/ghostea stuff

it depends what you use and how you use it, my mate maxes out his 2gb, when i have never even come close to using up my system resources and i only got 512mb.

Big synths use a lot, but tbh. It's not even the synth that counts it's mostly how you program it.

I personally prefer small synths like TS404, 3xOsc, DX10, Simsynth, etc.

For getting started anyways synths like pro53 will only confuse you.

Keep it simple and build on that.

Here's my tip list.

- Computer PC / Mac.
You can use laptop of desktop computer. The current laptops sold are quite good, but to get even more "bang for buck" go for desktop computer.

I'm using 2,0Ghz Core2Duo MacBook with 2Gb RAM myself. Works for me.

- Sequencer
There's loads of decent sequencers mentioned here. Test those downloadable demo versions of those sequencers before deciding what to stick with. When found the right tool for you - Stick with it.

I'm Using Ableton Live 6.0.1 myself. Great tool for me and works the way I want my sequencer to work.

- Software synths.
There are loads of good synths already mentioned here. Although I suggest you to stick with just 2-3 good synths. Learn how to use those. There are loads of producers that download all the latest synths and really don't know how to use those.

I bought Native Instruments FM8 and Spectrasonics Stylus RMX 1.5. They seem to be the right tools for me. I might get ReFX Nexus eventually, but I rather learn how to use these plugins properly before getting any new toys.

- Midicontroller.
You really don't need one, all the automations and notations to the sequencer can be done in sequencer. But If you know how to play the keyboard, get a controller.

I bought M-Audio Axiom 49 myself. It has loads of knobs, sliders and pads. I still haven't used even the half of the features it offers, but I like that it makes different using manners possible.

- Freeware.
Yes. There's loads of great FREE plugins and synths around, just try around. You can create the next hit with only freeware synths, if you know what you are doing.

- Samples.
For your drums, using samples is the right way to go. There are loads of great sample CD's around, there are freeware samplesites, and sites that you can buy high-quality samples via internet.

Vengeance samples are widely used in trance productions.



You can get a bundles with midicontroller and sequencer, Softsynths cost $100-300, and decents sample CD's are like $80. Add a computer, and you still get under $2000.

quote:

o Native instruments komplete and Kore o rgc z3ta o refx vanguard o novation v station (and bass station if you got $$)

Of the synths you mention here, only Vanguard and V Station I would consider are suitable for beginners.

Native Instruments Komplete, amongst other things contains Reaktor and FM7 and those things are definitely not for beginners. Theres Pro53 in there too, but thats a cinche to program. Bog standard VA to me.

Cakewalk Z3ta+ is a monster that is comparible to an Access Virus B in terms of features and modulation complexity. It is not easy to program, if you do not know anything about subtractive synthesis. Not recommended until you can program something like Vanguard from scratch.

Good starter synths:

AudioRealism Bassline - you cannot fuck this up. Its got 1 oscillator, 1 filter and like, a decay envelope. Thats it. The hardest part of the 303 to figure out is the step sequencer and on Bassline you can skip that and play it on a keyboard anyway.

It can only really do 303 type sounds, but theres nothing under a hundred quid that can do that sound as well as this thing can. Its justa bonus that a monkey can program it.

ReFX Vanguard - I hate the sound of this synth and think it sounds metallic and bitty and just shit. The filter is crap. I hate working with it. But its one of the easiest synths to learn subtractive synthesis on because of the interface. What you see is what you get.

Cakewalk Triangle II - Sounds awesome. Very easy to program. And its free. You must get this synth. I got it from kvraudio.com back when it was kvrvst.com or some such and I'm still using it today. Brilliant peice of work.

Later on, when you get good at subtractive synthesis you will want to get G-Media ImpOSCar because this synth is just the daddy.

z3ta is harder to program than a virus!

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https://soundcloud.com/ghostea stuff

Wow, you guys are really different to me! I actually find zeta way easier than most of the other synths! Its certainly got a lot more possibility than the others, but I dont think that it makes it harder for beginners to use at all! Everything's on one page fer christ sakes, you can just use what you need! AND more important, its got millions of presets to play with, learn from and adapt. I certainly find it easier than a virus, which is impossible.

I am not a fan of vanguard at all, I think its too simple, overused and it takes up too much space in the mix. v station is better, but its still a little limited, its a very good synth tho.

The idea with mentioning zeta, vanguard and v station was to give all three common trance synths.

Komplete is good because its very flexible and gives you all of the sounds which are maybe more out of the way. The entire package is good for adding that little bit of extra interest to a track in the way of original and unique sounds. Reaktor is easy to program by the way, theres again lots of presets and you only go as deep as you are comfortable. Junatik has some great trance sounds (similar to vanguard but better imho) and the reverb, drum machines and subharmonic synth kicks absolute arse. Its basically like getting 20 synths and effects in one, you don't have to go all autechre and start creating your own studio. Fm8 is a lot easier to program than fm7, but its irrelevant anyway, because there are 16000 presets right there!

The synths I chose I chose because they each have a role to play and come with great presets to get started (very important when starting out). If nothing else, my self confidence certainly gets a boost from the fact that you think zeta is really hard to program (while I find it really easy and enjoyable)