Music Creation and Equipment

Hey, your resident Industrial Musician here.
If any of you create any music, wish to learn how to or want to discuss about software & hardware, this is the place.

how do i create music o great one

I can already play now I need to know the secrets

Simple Checklist - For Music creation via Windows/OSX

1) Obtain a DAW Application. Preferably one with at least semi-decent MIDI control.
Multiple ones to check out and demo:
- Cubase
- Ableton
- Sonar
- FL Studio (Windows Only)
- BitWig
- Logic Pro (OSX Only)
- Reaper
2) Either install an ASIO Driver for your Windows/OSX machine like ASIO4ALL or buy a dedicated interface with ASIO Drivers on.
3) Load up your DAW, make sure the ASIO drivers are the default source and make sure your speakers and recording equipment are setup to be routed through the driver via the ASIO Control Panel.

At this point you should be ready to start composing music with the bare necessities. Some things to consider purchasing below to expand upon:
1) An ASIO Interface. A good interface will mean you can run more Multi-channel audio and the ASIO driver side will be of a higher standard chipset meaning you can run more in your DAW.
2) A MIDI/USB Keyboard. Always a handy tool for planning and even recording synth and sample work live.
3) Studio-Grade Monitoring Speakers or Headphones. The aim when at the mixing stage after you've composed your piece would be to try and Mix & then master your music on a pair of Speakers or Headphones which are relatively frequency-neutral to get the most accurate and translatable sound possible.
4) An XLR or USB Microphone. An obvious one if you're a vocalist but also useful if you are not as you can use one for sampling noises from instruments or utilities you own.

Plugins

All DAW applications either run 3rd party plugins on the VST standard for Windows or the RTAS/AAX Standard for OSX. The plugin industry is a multi-million to possibly Billion £££ industry and makes software plugs for musicians to use for pretty much everything. The vast majority of them can be up-to-par if not better than the stock plugins you get with your DAW. Here is a list of freebie ones to get you started with:
#SOFTSYNTHS
FIREBIRD - https://tone2.com/html/firebird%20vsti%20vst%20synthesizer%20plugin.html
KAIRATUNE - http://www.studiotoolz.net/kairatune-vstau-virtual-synth/
TRANCEDRIVE - http://www.studiotoolz.net/trancedrive-substractive-vst-synth/
ZAMPLER - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/5-Sampler/951-Zampler
SUPERWAVE P8 - http://www.studiotoolz.net/superwave-p8-vst-virtual-analog-synth/
SUBDUER - http://www.studiotoolz.net/subduer-vst-subtractive-synth/
ECLIPSIS - http://www.kvraudio.com/product/eclipsis-by-vst-zone
DSKSYNTHTOPIA2 - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/4-Synth/553-DSK-Synthopia-2
ANALOGUEVOICE - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/4-Synth/340-Analog-Voice
#VST PERCUSSION & INSTRUMENTS
CYMBALISTIC - http://www.studiotoolz.net/cymbalistic-free-vstau-cymbals-set/
PIANOONE - http://www.kvraudio.com/product/piano-one-by-sound-magic
===================
#VST FX - DELAY
PPDECHOBOX - http://minimalsystem.com/Store/index.php?route=product/product&path=77&product_id=79
DELAYSTUDIO - http://minimalsystem.com/Store/index.php?route=product/product&path=77&product_id=81
PROXIMITY - http://www.studiotoolz.net/proximity-vstau-distance-delay/
#VST FX - REVERB
EPICVERB - http://www.studiotoolz.net/epicverb-digital-reverb-simulator/
#VST FX - DISTORTION/SATURATION
TESSLASE - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/44-Saturation/365-TesslaSE
RANGEBASTARD - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/30-Distortion/356-Rangebastard
TESSLAPRO - http://www.studiotoolz.net/tesslapro-transient-aware-signal-saturator/
#VST FX - AMPS
LEPOULEGION - http://lepouplugins.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/legion.html
ACQUAVOX - http://www.studiotoolz.net/free-vst-preamp-acquavox/
BOOGEX - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/18-Amp-Simulator/1326-Voxengo-Boogex
#VST FX - CHORUS
NASTYDLA - http://www.studiotoolz.net/nastydla-vst-chorus/
#VST FX - FLANGER
PHAZOR - http://www.adamszabo.com/phazor/
#VST FX - PITCH MODULATION
KEROVEE - http://www.studiotoolz.net/kerovee/
UNSTABLE - http://www.studiotoolz.net/unstable-vst-pitch-modulator/
#VST FX - GLITCH
DISTURBANCE - http://www.studiotoolz.net/disturbance-vst-glitch-machine/
#VST FX - VOCODER
TALVOCODER - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/43-Vocoder/430-TAL-Vocoder
===================
#VST MIX/MASTER - BUNDLES
ANTRESS MODERN 22-PLUGIN BUNDLE - http://www.studiotoolz.net/antress-modern-plugins-vst-free-bundle/
BLUECAT FREE PACK - http://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Bundle_FreewarePack/
FREE87SERIES - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/39-FX-Bundle/427-FREE87-Series
#VST MIX/MASTER - EQ
LUFTIKUS - http://www.kvraudio.com/product/luftikus-by-lkjb
TENQ - http://www.studiotoolz.net/tenq-ten-band-vst-eq/
QMELEON - http://www.studiotoolz.net/q-meleon-vst-eq-designer/
#VST MIX/MASTER - TAPE SIMULATOR
FERRICTDS - http://www.studiotoolz.net/ferrictds-tape-dynamics-simulator/
#VST MIX/MASTER - PREAMP
SGA1566 - http://www.studiotoolz.net/sga1566-vstau-vintage-tube-preamp/
#VST MIX/MASTER - COMPRESSION
THRILLSEEKERLA - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/8-Compressor/361-ThrillseekerLA
STEREOBUSS - http://minimalsystem.com/Store/index.php?route=product/product&path=77&product_id=60
5ORCERY - http://www.studiotoolz.net/5orcery-vst-multiband-compressor/
MOLOT - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/8-Compressor/339-Molot
#VST MIX/MASTER - EXCITER
THRILLSEEKERXTC - http://www.studiotoolz.net/thrillseekerxtc-vst-exciter/
CLARITY - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/42-Enhancer/505-Clarity
#VST MIX/MASTER - ANALYZER
SPECTRUMANALZER - http://www.studiotoolz.net/spectrum-analyzer/
#VST MIX/MASTER - STEREO ADJUSTMENT
STEREOTOOL - http://www.studiotoolz.net/stereo-tool/
#VST MIX/MASTER - FILTER
FILTERBANK - http://minimalsystem.com/Store/index.php?route=product/product&path=77&product_id=50
FILTERCRUSHER - http://www.pluginboutique.com/product/19-Filter/1291-FilterCrusher

Ugh you mean I have to do actual work to make music rather than piggyback off my own natural talent? Lame.

but seriously, good thread

Runlock wrote:Ugh you mean I have to do actual work to make music rather than piggyback off my own natural talent? Lame.

but seriously, good thread

You're  back!

Anyways, holy cow, that is a lot of stuff to get...