Dubstepforum.com

So yeah. I've been into dubstep since I was about 15 and I really want to start producing my own stuff, so I've been looking about at different programs ect but I still feel pretty clueless.

Whats the best program to use when your just starting out, how much is it and where do I get it?

For software, they all do the same thing so none are really better than the others...but probably the easiest one to grasp for a beginner is FL Studio

jrisreal wrote:For software, they all do the same thing so none are really better than the others...but probably the easiest one to grasp for a beginner is FL Studio

Exactly. You have to see what works best for you and most suits your style of working (workflow).
Give the trials a go and see which one you fancy.

I know most DAW's (programs for producing music) are available in demo's, may aswell go and have a look. As a FL studio user, I don't think you can fault it really though.

jrisreal wrote:For software, they all do the same thing so none are really better than the others...but probably the easiest one to grasp for a beginner is FL Studio

FL Studio, compared to other popular DAWs (Ableton, Reason, Sonar) Is a lot more simple, and layed out. like everything is decently self-explanatory(to a certain extent) if you know what you're doing.
But, even if you don't know very well, it doesn't take too long to get the hang of it. i personally only use FL and only really have because i'm too lazy to go out and learn another one, now that i've already got FL completely concrete. (although i probably should).

Below are some tracks that i've produced, and they were both made strictly through FL(Various other plug-ins of course) and I've only been producing for about 7 months.

FL seems best for beginners, as does Reason.
From there give Cubase, Logic, Reaper, Ableton, etc. a try

i'd say go for FL if you have a powerful pc, as the vsts etc will take up a lot of cpu power, if not reason as its all built in and uses no externals. but yeah, get some demos, reaper is donation-ware so try that, find what you like!

I don't get why so much love for FL. Ableton was by FAR the easiest to understand/use for me! It dosn't look nasty and you can get your idea's down quick as hell!

Reaper is not donation-ware
it has a set price but you are able to run the program indefinitely with a nag screen at startup.
It`s worth buying it though as it`s a powerful DAW.

nnny wrote:I don't get why so much love for FL. Ableton was by FAR the easiest to understand/use for me! It dosn't look nasty and you can get your idea's down quick as hell!

i just couldn't figure it out!

and ok, i retract my donation-ware comment, i just thought thats what it was

nnny wrote:I don't get why so much love for FL. Ableton was by FAR the easiest to understand/use for me! It dosn't look nasty and you can get your idea's down quick as hell!

I can't figure out Ableton very well either. I have it, it's just i don't know where the sequencer is at , and the piano roll is just difficult to work.
also, i don't understand all the columns and such. FL has a basic layout, and is easy to use, with the same capabilities.

I've been producing for about 9 months and I first started on FL Studio. I agree that Ableton has a lot better work flow though. I like that there are two different view so I can make some synths or a bass or whatever I'm starting with and then start playing around in clip view and getting ideas. I wish I had started with Ableton because it did take me a while to learn it after being used to FL studio. I personally feel like Ableton feels like a more natural work flow while FL seems claustraphobic in a sense.

Also, I really like Abletons built in plugins. they are easy to use and very powerful when used right

oh my god, if one more person can't find the fucking sequencer on ableton.

hit the fucking tab button.

/rant

By the way, everyone thinks their own DAW is the easiest to learn. All you can do is fiddle with demos until you find something you like..

To be fair I produced with Reason for about 6 months. Moved to Ableton, and within a week was putting out stuff that was a hell of a lot better. Everything just improved. So easy to use after you spend a day or two in it.

nnny wrote:To be fair I produced with Reason for about 6 months. Moved to Ableton, and within a week was putting out stuff that was a hell of a lot better. Everything just improved. So easy to use after you spend a day or two in it.

you're not the first person i've heard say this. i sorta wanna move, but i'm not sure at the same time!

I used Reason for a while before Cubase, maybe 2 years.
When I moved to Cubase it was like a breath of fresh air.
Then I moved to Reaper and I was even breathing even more fresh air.
I won`t move from Reaper again.

See I've looked into FL but It all just so confusing to start with. Like I have even been checking out tutorials on youtube with are also just as confusing.

Someone has kindly messaged me a link for some info on different programs to use which I am going to check out.

Keep the advice coming in anyway guys. I really appreciate it

i found FL to be a total visual clusterfuck and to me it's made of the stuff of utter confusion. its very "Windows' -y.
Reason was the shit for me, it looks like a hardware rack with a detachable sequencer window (dual monitors are a must). I haven't used 5 or 6 but i guess 6 actually has audio tracking/editing. I am on R4, its MIDI only, and i LOVE its MIDI sequencer/editor. So much of the functionality is great, the way you can grab midi data, enter automation, copy paste, trim, resize, move around, etc. its very intuitive. As for the rack, i love it. You create and combine devices as you see fit, and work with the results . Presets are decent, but its all about the custom routing.
Press tab and learn the routing, you will come out not only with Reason skills but with fundamental knowledge of audio and CV routing that you could potentially apply to other gear, outboard or software. On other programs you don't "see" the routing. Reason displays graphical cables to represent the signal paths.
I'm now a MOTU DP guy, but I ReWire Reason 4, still use it for drums, making my own pads, and wobble basslines.