Questions about beginning dubstep

[aviator]

So im thinking about trying to produce dubstep, and i have some beginner questions. Like first off, i dont know weather to get logic pro, or abelton live. Which offers more for dubstep because that's my main focus. & What exactly is an MIDI controller? I understand if i get serious ill probably need one and that the mpk49 is the shit but i dont know what the hell i NEED it for! helpp?

[Goremeth]

ableton, you can find a torrent of it in about one google search.

[wolf89]

Go to the production forum and ask this for one

second there are many dubstep producers using many different DAWs. Either Logic or Ableton can be used. It's down to preference really.

[InternetSlaveMaster]

Well Logic is Mac only, but I'm sure you knew that. Other than that, as wolf89 said, it's all about what you like best. Ableton can be used as a live tool for performance and is better suited for getting ideas down quickly. I've never used Logic so can't really speak of it. Either way, you can make dubstep with both.

A midi controller is basically a piece of hardware that communicates with your DAW. Most are (musical) keyboards, some of knobs for messing with parameters in VSTs and VSTis. Midi controllers can also consist of turntables, etc..

You don't need a midi controller, you can use your computer keyboard to mess around and play with notes. Midi controllers are simply optional, though they do help a lot.

[wolf89]

Yeah as he said

Midi controllers simply are a way of sending performance data to a musical device, be that a virtual instrument, something controllable on your DAW itself or to another hardware unit.

They don't make any sound so really they aren't what you'd call essential. You can still program music in in many other ways. It's just for if you want to actually record or program something differently, like playing in a melody on a MIDI Keyboard for example. I've got one but for me it doesn't actually get that much use. However there will be others out there who for their working practice a MIDI controller is essential.

[horsefeather]

logic is a pain in the ass i'm still learning to work with it and i already have it for 1 month

[test_recordings]

Cubase is better than Ableton as studio software

[wolf89]

^^ personally I'd say it isn't.

I find cubase an absoloute pain in the arse to work with.

You can't just say one if better than the other because you like it.

it is worth bearing in mind that what comes with certain programs may not be so great. Some of Ableton's own plug ins are pretty cack for example.

but when you think that Kryptic Minds and Flying Lotus both use ableton you can't just randomly start trashing it as a production tool.

[aviator]

I have a mac so i can get any software really, logic is cheaper but not by much. I think ill get a midi controller if i start to get really into it they go for alot, almost as much as a software for the good ones

[DFRNT]

Neither Ableton nor Logic, nor any other tool are better than the other for producing [insert genre here].

First things first - why not download a few demos, and try each option out. You'll find one that you prefer - then go about learning that piece of software as required.

Personally I like Ableton. I like the flow, and the way of working, but that's not discounting the merits of Logic, or any other program.

A midi controller is a piece of hardware that allows you to input to a production program. More often that not, it's a keyboard - but there are midi interfaces for pads, sliders, buttons, keys - all sorts. On it's own - it doesn't make a sound, but when assigned to a virtual instrument of some sort - it can be used to "control" the sound you assign to it.

Hope this helps!

[test_recordings]

^^ personally I'd say it isn't.

I find cubase an absoloute pain in the arse to work with.

You can't just say one if better than the other because you like it.

it is worth bearing in mind that what comes with certain programs may not be so great. Some of Ableton's own plug ins are pretty cack for example.

but when you think that Kryptic Minds and Flying Lotus both use ableton you can't just randomly start trashing it as a production tool.

I'm talking from a functional perspective. Ableton just doesn't cut the mustard like what you'd need in a proper studio; it was designed to allow loners play on stage with backing music and DJs to play pre-set loops so it's still pretty basic and the production side is neglected.

[weedlefruit]

logic is a pain in the ass i'm still learning to work with it and i already have it for 1 month

Logic is definitely my favorite DAW i've used, much prefer it to cubase and reason but it is a pain to pick up. I'd say reason is the easiest I found to get started on but I also do production for bands and logic is a top all rounder for me.