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Becoming familiar with your DAW (tips for beginners)
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| Ankhsunamun |
It seems that some Digital audio workstations are more beginner friendly than others, but serve generally the same purpose; give or take a few details.
For those beginning to familiarize themselves with their DAWs, what could be some of the general rules of thumb they need to know right off the bat to be successful with their first projects.
Some examples could include: Project set-up guidelines or necessary editing procedures.
Generally, one must be clear on their intentions, to be successful working with a DAW, although a DAW can be overwhelming to one who isn't so familiar with it's tools and operations.
All input is welcome
-Ankh |
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| Kismet7 |
Reason. Its perfect for people just beginning the journey that is making music...it is one of the best sequencers and sound making tools for that. Its what I started on...when ver 2.0 came out. As a writing tool not many come close to its practicality and essential functions.
And because Reason is a great tool for writing, laying down ideas, a lot of bigger producers and artists use it to do their writing, and then move their work to a console or a bigger studio to the mixing and give it a better sound.
I'd say use Project 5, because it also is decent getting ideas down, but its so damn limited. |
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| Ankhsunamun |
I've heard that Reason is definitely one of the more beginner friendly systems. What would you recommend however for someone starting with Cubase 5? A system that is designed more for those who have experience with DAWs already?
-Ankh |
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| cronodevir |
| Most will say there is no DAW more beginner friendly than FL. |
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| Kismet7 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ankhsunamun
I've heard that Reason is definitely one of the more beginner friendly systems. What would you recommend however for someone starting with Cubase 5? A system that is designed more for those who have experience with DAWs already?
-Ankh |
Cubase will be scary, it'll turn you off to wanting to make music, you will give up unless you are masochist or a genius and can learn it. If you're a genius at learning complex software systems, then go for it. But if you want a better start, where you can get a lot done, i'd avoid Cubase. I'm currently testing out Cubase 5, as I need to move from the ty super limited Project 5 that i've been using the past few years.
That said Cubase 5 is a nice piece of kit. If you can afford to spend the time to learn it. |
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| Ankhsunamun |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kismet7
Cubase will be scary, it'll turn you off to wanting to make music, you will give up unless you are masochist or a genius and can learn it. If you're a genius at learning complex software systems, then go for it. But if you want a better start, where you can get a lot done, i'd avoid Cubase. I'm currently testing out Cubase 5, as I need to move from the ty super limited Project 5 that i've been using the past few years.
That said Cubase 5 is a nice piece of kit. If you can afford to spend the time to learn it. |
Indeed, Cubase is scary, but it's definitely not putting me off the want/need to make music. There is a lot of specific operations that imply that the user must know before hand their intent. I was able to produce a few tracks using cubase 5's loops, and it sounds great. However, without the prior knowledge of editing and mixing, the file size is huge, and doesn't sound right in Wave format.
As far as advantages for beginners, what would Reason or another beginner friendly system have to offer to make life easier for those who have not yet acquired their genius for complicated software?
-Ankh |
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| cronodevir |
FL Studio 9 comes with like 30 song files with stuff other people made, aswell as its own array of synths and samples and fx, which are fairly good assuming you know how to use what you got. And the interface is bar none the easiest.
I'm using the 3osc now to make a hardcore bass lol.
http://tindeck.com/listen/nzmq
Its not much, but its made with 3osc, reverb2 and blood overdrive :D |
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| atxbigballer1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ankhsunamun
It seems that some Digital audio workstations are more beginner friendly than others, but serve generally the same purpose; give or take a few details.
For those beginning to familiarize themselves with their DAWs, what could be some of the general rules of thumb they need to know right off the bat to be successful with their first projects.
Some examples could include: Project set-up guidelines or necessary editing procedures.
Generally, one must be clear on their intentions, to be successful working with a DAW, although a DAW can be overwhelming to one who isn't so familiar with it's tools and operations.
All input is welcome
-Ankh |
Learn your Keyboard shortcuts to your DAW.
If u learn your shortcuts every thing else is down hill from there!
Make project templates for your DAW.
Read the manual to your DAW, you may learn a thing or two. |
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| Beatflux |
| Read the manual several times until you know everything. May not happen in the course of one sitting. |
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| downpat |
I remember I started working with non linear music editing/creation using ACID (Sony) from what I remember it was pretty friendly and still you can take it pretty far. Since then I moved to Ableton Live because of a mixed interest in dj'ing / production. I honestly think once you get one down pretty well that you can move between them easily (other than trying to be a shortcut key wizard).
Focus more on the theory of routing signals and what you are actually doing to the sound first : ) no point in stressing over some ridiculous interface when you are starting out. |
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| d_Verge |
| quote: | Originally posted by atxbigballer1
Learn your Keyboard shortcuts to your DAW. |
+1
This increases your work-flow ten fold.
I have a friend who uses the same DAW as me and sometimes we work on projects together. He doesn't use keyboard shortcuts and refuses to try to learn them. Watching him work is like hearing nails on a chalkboard. :nervous: |
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| Magnus |
| So true. Learn the shortcuts and create your own using key commands. Work smarter, not harder. :) |
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