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These are probably all pretty basic questions so can be answered quite easily.

1. What is the point in having an external sound card? M box, firebox...ext. Does it just make your CPU run faster and smoother?
2. Do you really need a 'controller'? I don't see why they are needed? I'm sure it would be easier to use knobs for automation and what not but what's the main uses of them?
3.What SHOULD you have for producing besides a computer with a DAW on it.

EDIT for one more.

How do you remix songs? just lay your stuff over the original songs? or is there files you can get where you can actually open up the songs and take parts out and add your own touch in...I never got that.

1. No latency, better sound. More inputs and outputs for hooking up hardware, mics, monitors. Easy to adjust levels etc and better sound.
2. Depends. When i got a midi controller keyboard, my production improved dramatically because i was able to place notes with ease and play along while the track was running. It's also so easy to control stuff with the knobs on the controller.
3. Depends again. There is no should. Some people have shit loads of hardware, some people have shit loads of samples, some people record stuff. It really depends what sound you're going for.

To remix songs you usually need the stems of the original track to do it properly, as the original artist would give these to you. (That's if its a proper remix). Then some people pick key elements of the tracks, along with just the acapella (the raw vocals of the track, nothing else) and add there own style, instrumentals etc.

hope that helps.

Having the controller helped my production improve tenfold. It's easier for me to have something I can play that looks and feels like an actual instrument when i'm comin up with tunes. Also if you play any instruments, the external soundcard can help you add live elements you couldn't get out of a DAW.

so when people say a controller they mainly just mean a midi keyboard to play your notes on in real time while the songs going?

Genophonics wrote:so when people say a controller they mainly just mean a midi keyboard to play your notes on in real time while the songs going?

Or to control faders n knobs, yep.