Music that YOU made!

[Phevnil]

Made by me in psycle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gdUJsljl2A

Still working on it. I'd like any sugestions on how it could improve and where to go from here with the song.

[NachoGrande96]

Okay, I've started with Famitracker and Fruityloops.

[Doomwaffle]

ew fruityloops

[rj lake]

what

[NachoGrande96]

Is there a problem with using FruityLoops?

[Stij]

It's kind of the music equivalent of MSPaint: Not awful, but cheap and generally associated with amateurishness.

I don't really mind it though. As long as your music sounds good, I don't care what you made it with.

[rj lake]

There is no problem with using FruityLoops.

Yes, people can be really, really bad with the program, and yes, it kind of encourages it. But if you know how to work with it, you can do better than 99 percent of anyone else producing on the internet(which, mind, isn't saying much, but still).

I mean, I use it. Which may or may not be so encouraging, but still.

[michi]

I mean, I use it. Which may or may not be so encouraging, but still.

Listening now, and totally loving this. This is amazing. Hey everyone take the 4:22 to listen to this!

[Superfrequency]

Is there a problem with using FruityLoops?

It kind of sucks ass.

But then I'm pretty biased towards hardware. I'm to understand that Ableton is the shit when it comes to software these days.

[Stij]

Is there a problem with using FruityLoops?

It kind of sucks ass.

But then I'm pretty biased towards hardware. I'm to understand that Ableton is the shit when it comes to software these days.

Yeah, I'm seriously thinking of getting Ableton Suite. Since I'm a student I can get it for about half the price, which is cool.

For the more budget-minded, Digidesign is selling an $100 "essential edition" of Pro Tools that comes with a stripped down version of the program as well as a basic mic, midi keyboard, or audio interface. I've never used Pro Tools myself, but I've heard pretty good things about it. Might be worth checking out.

[Phevnil]

I don't know what a lack of response translates to in way of constructive criticism, but I'm pretty sure it's not a good thing.

[rj lake]

Is there a problem with using FruityLoops?

It kind of sucks ass.

except not at all

[Superfrequency]

Is there a problem with using FruityLoops?

It kind of sucks ass.

except not at all

Well, I'm not going to have some idiotic shoutic match over it. I've used it extensively and it really isn't a tool for serious musicians. Sorry if you don't like my opinion.

For the more budget-minded, Digidesign is selling an $100 "essential edition" of Pro Tools that comes with a stripped down version of the program as well as a basic mic, midi keyboard, or audio interface. I've never used Pro Tools myself, but I've heard pretty good things about it. Might be worth checking out.

Oof. If it's anything like any of the "Elements" products from Adobe STEER CLEAR. Adobe Premiere Elements is the most horrific program I have ever used in my entire life. Crippleware.

I'd suggest just pirating Ableton and seeing what you think. Everyone I know uses it.

[rj lake]

Well, I'm not going to have some idiotic shoutic match over it. I've used it extensively and it really isn't a tool for serious musicians. Sorry if you don't like my opinion.

Okay first off i was not trying to start a shoutic match

shoutic isn't my deal

Secondly, you don't just state something as a fact and then protect it with cries of IT IS MY OPINION AND THEREFORE VALID. I mean, it doesn't work. Not a dig at you so much as your arguing methods. Blargh. But I digress. Third and most important point: you are quite possibly wrong/i do not like your opinion. It really can be a tool for musicians? Possibly SERIOUS ONES?

VERY POSSIBLY QUITE YES, ACTUALLY

I know, mindbreaking.

FL can very, very, very, very well be used as an excellent music production tool. It's on the level of Cubase and Pro Tools, I'd argue. The difference lies only in the learning curve, which is nearly the exact opposite of that of the above DAWs, in that unlike them, it's fairly easy to use right off the bat, but it's nearly impossible to figure out how to use it correctly afterwords.

But it very well can be done. FL is unmatched when it comes to basic sampling and sequencing. Everything else can be filled in with additional plugins(do you know how many free plugins there are? Do you know how many good ones there are? Honestly, if all you could use in FL were the default settings, I'd have killed myself long ago) and some genuine effort.

[Svix]

I hear quite a lot said against FL studio, but after using it for a fair while I have found it quite intuitive and capable. The interface is pleasant, I like the way it handles automation and some of the effects plugins yield nice results. Also, when you're using a lot 3rd party VST's and samples it matters less what you use to put your music together.

I can understand the argument of its accessibility and presets etc leading to people with arguable musical talent creating sub-par works but I think anything that encourages people to be creative can't be that bad a thing.

[Superfrequency]

Secondly, you don't just state something as a fact and then protect it with cries of IT IS MY OPINION AND THEREFORE VALID. I mean, it doesn't work. Not a dig at you so much as your arguing methods. Blargh. But I digress.

You are doing the exact same thing, and like it or not your opinion on anything is no more or less valid than mine is.

Third and most important point: you are quite possibly wrong/i do not like your opinion. It really can be a tool for musicians? Possibly SERIOUS ONES?

VERY POSSIBLY QUITE YES, ACTUALLY

I know, mindbreaking.

FL can very, very, very, very well be used as an excellent music production tool.

I suppose it is too bad that nobody has ever used it to those ends.

It's on the level of Cubase and Pro Tools, I'd argue. The difference lies only in the learning curve, which is nearly the exact opposite of that of the above DAWs, in that unlike them, it's fairly easy to use right off the bat, but it's nearly impossible to figure out how to use it correctly afterwords.

You can argue this all you like, but the fact is that it is severely functionally limited compared to products like Cubase or Pro Tools. ESPECIALLY Pro Tools. Like, are you joking? Pro Tools is the industry standard for audio editing. It requires special hardware! FRUITY LOOPS DOESN'T EVEN REQUIRE A DONGLE! It is entry-level software, plain and simple. Nobody uses it to edit audio for films and television

But it very well can be done. FL is unmatched when it comes to basic sampling and sequencing. Everything else can be filled in with additional plugins(do you know how many free plugins there are? Do you know how many good ones there are? Honestly, if all you could use in FL were the default settings, I'd have killed myself long ago) and some genuine effort.

Uh, no, it isn't. There are numerous free programs that can do what it does just as well or better. Have you ever even used another sequencer? Fruity Loops uses a very dumbed-down interface that makes everything take twice as long as it should. It is a functional but very average product designed to appeal to people who wouldn't be able to figure out how to use something like Pro Tools, and aren't willing to pay thousands of dollars.

Being able to host VSTs is not a unique feature in the slightest, and it is most certainly not a saving grace as all competing DAWs can do the same thing.

[Leaf]

So, I have a lot of music I've written in Finale...

I just don't know how to get onto the intertubes.

Halp?

[Doomwaffle]

If it's in Finale which is a music COMPOSING progrum, you're going to have to export it in a midi-type file because it's not made to emulate/create sound, it's made to make something you can use to make sound. MIDIs are not very high quality

On the other hand, progrums of the Garage Band, FL Studio to name a few (just two, you get the idea) are made to export sound as opposed to Finale's purpose. If you just wanna upload sheet music, that's cool too, I guess, but I don't think a lot of fora members will take to printing it and reading it.

[Leaf]

If it's in Finale which is a music COMPOSING progrum, you're going to have to export it in a midi-type file because it's not made to emulate/create sound, it's made to make something you can use to make sound. MIDIs are not very high quality

On the other hand, progrums of the Garage Band, FL Studio to name a few (just two, you get the idea) are made to export sound as opposed to Finale's purpose. If you just wanna upload sheet music, that's cool too, I guess, but I don't think a lot of fora members will take to printing it and reading it.

I just want to export the MIDI files.

I know they're bad quality, but I also need a way to get it to my Composition teachers.

Also, any idea on how to convert the music files in Finale to .PDFs?

[Svix]

It requires special hardware! FRUITY LOOPS DOESN'T EVEN REQUIRE A DONGLE!

You can successfully compose music in a plethora of styles without even touching a piece of hardware.

[Benamas]

It requires special hardware! FRUITY LOOPS DOESN'T EVEN REQUIRE A DONGLE!

yes, because with the godawfully-poor processing power of modern computers, the usability of an application has to rely on an external piece of hardware or obviously it's just some dumb toy

[Superfrequency]

I was making a comparison between the expense of the two products(Image-Line is selling their product for so cheap that dongles would be a poor investment). I would like to point out that despite two people calling me out on this ONE POINT, nobody has come out in the defense of Fruity Loops to say that people do use it for professional audio purposes. HMM.

"Entry-level" does not mean "toy". It is a specific mentality inherent in the design of products intended to appeal to the inexperienced. Products like Fruity Loops and very cheap guitars exist so people can get started in a field without having to worry about learning a bunch of shit all at once or spending too much money. There is nothing inherently wrong with this(it's good, in fact!), but is absurdly ignorant to suggest that software like Fruity Loops or Garageband is on par with Pro Tools. It is akin to comparing a tricycle to a motorcycle. The most expensive version of FL Studio is 300 dollars. Pro Tools HD is fifteen thousand. There is no comparison. They are quite simply not designed to appeal to or satisfy the needs of professional(i.e., they do it for a living) musicians or engineers.

That said, I would still recommend Ableton Live over Fruity Loops to anybody, regardless of experience, and especially if you're just going to pirate it. You get what you pay for(or don't).
Fuity Loops is not bad software. But it is limited in scope and function and after three or four years using it it no longer satisfies my needs. Software or hardware comes down to personal preference, but if I was sticking with software I'd be upgrading to Ableton.

[Stij]

For the more budget-minded, Digidesign is selling an $100 "essential edition" of Pro Tools that comes with a stripped down version of the program as well as a basic mic, midi keyboard, or audio interface. I've never used Pro Tools myself, but I've heard pretty good things about it. Might be worth checking out.

Oof. If it's anything like any of the "Elements" products from Adobe STEER CLEAR. Adobe Premiere Elements is the most horrific program I have ever used in my entire life. Crippleware.

I'd suggest just pirating Ableton and seeing what you think. Everyone I know uses it.

I'm not going to pirate anything (and I'd rather not get into that argument right now), but I'll try the demo at least.

Also, do you know anything about midi keyboards? I'm looking for a good one right now. Currently I'm leaning towards the Novation RemoteSL*, because it has a screen that displays the parameters you're controlling, a good amount of controls, and a reasonable price. But if you could tell me anything about what you use that'd be cool.

* I have heard that Novation's Automap feature is complete bullshit, but I don't really plan on using it anyway.

[Superfrequency]

I guess it depends on what your setup is and what you're gonna use it for. If you just need something simple you can pick up MIDI controllers on the cheap.

As alluded to, I'm transitioning to a hardware setup. I'm basically slaving everything to an MPC2000XL. If I wanted a keyboard to play another synth with I would probably use the Juno-106 I am buying.

I can't recommend anything specific without knowing what you need it for. If you just want to use it to control a softsynth you can get decent controllers for $80-150 that will do you just fine. If you're working with software there is not much need for more than a few knobs to control parameters with and maybe a pitch wheel; you can just automate everything in the software itself.

[Stij]

I guess it depends on what your setup is and what you're gonna use it for. If you just need something simple you can pick up MIDI controllers on the cheap.

As alluded to, I'm transitioning to a hardware setup. I'm basically slaving everything to an MPC2000XL. If I wanted a keyboard to play another synth with I would probably use the Juno-106 I am buying.

I can't recommend anything specific without knowing what you need it for. If you just want to use it to control a softsynth you can get decent controllers for $80-150 that will do you just fine. If you're working with software there is not much need for more than a few knobs to control parameters with and maybe a pitch wheel; you can just automate everything in the software itself.

Well, I don't do a lot of sequenced stuff...pretty much everything I play is live. So I need a good amount of controls. Also I'd like to get one with, at the very least, 49 keys.

Hardware would be cool but I just don't have the money for it. I do have one hardware synth right now, an Alesis Micron. It's good for analog-style sounds, but there's a lot it can't do and it only has 37 keys.