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Going to keep it simple and to the point, I'm new to production and basically I'd appreciate any assistance with these questions:

1) I'm looking into FL Studio 10, is it a good place to start for a complete beginner like me? As in, is it user friendly/easy enough to get into? I learn quite quickly

2) I want to make beats akin to Rustie, Hud Mo, Joker, and Girl Unit. I get that it's a fairly broad pallette to draw from, but what equipment would I need? I really don't want a "studio" per se, I'm thinking maybe a midi keyboard with pads or something.

3) What FL Studio tutorials should I look at?

4) What plug-ins would I need to satisfy my tastes mentioned above?

I get that it's not going to be "easy" or whatever, but I just want some grounding and knowledge.

say_whut wrote:Going to keep it simple and to the point, I'm new to production and basically I'd appreciate any assistance with these questions:

1) I'm looking into FL Studio 10, is it a good place to start for a complete beginner like me? As in, is it user friendly/easy enough to get into? I learn quite quickly

2) I want to make beats akin to Rustie, Hud Mo, Joker, and Girl Unit. I get that it's a fairly broad pallette to draw from, but what equipment would I need? I really don't want a "studio" per se, I'm thinking maybe a midi keyboard with pads or something.

3) What FL Studio tutorials should I look at?

4) What plug-ins would I need to satisfy my tastes mentioned above?

I get that it's not going to be "easy" or whatever, but I just want some grounding and knowledge.

1) Yes, I started on FL and still use it - I find everything quite easy and straight forward. Tried to get into Ableton a few weeks ago, I didn't like it as much.
2) I have an AKAI MPK Mini, I find it's all I need - keys, pads, knobs all in one small package - everything else I do in the DAW.
3) There's so many, just watch/read as many as you can on basic topics (writing, arranging, mixing, mastering etc). Also check the stickies in this forum. Youtube tutorials are particularly useful - just don't always go for the ones with loads of views - I've some of the most useful have only ~100 views! I read up on stuff before I started producing, just in my free time when I had like 5 mins, I'd check out a tutorial on Youtube.
4) As for synths/plugins theres a lot you could go for, the stock FL ones are okay - I still use FLs filters, compressors and things like Gross Beat and sometimes the synths such as 3xOsc, Harmor and Sytrus. I'd have to say the 3rd party synths I've found most useful are Massive, Z3ta and Edirol Orchestral and 3rd party plugins would be iZotope, PSPWarmer, FerricTDS and Desity MkII.

Hope that helps

if you get good at producing we should collab, i love rustie and hudmo

fl studio is good. don"t let other people make you think fl studio is not as good blabla.
you'll want to download (buy ;D)massive and nexus I can practically make everything with these two synths imo
just take it step by step, focus on compisition first and take it from there

mthrfnk wrote:

say_whut wrote:Going to keep it simple and to the point, I'm new to production and basically I'd appreciate any assistance with these questions:

1) I'm looking into FL Studio 10, is it a good place to start for a complete beginner like me? As in, is it user friendly/easy enough to get into? I learn quite quickly

2) I want to make beats akin to Rustie, Hud Mo, Joker, and Girl Unit. I get that it's a fairly broad pallette to draw from, but what equipment would I need? I really don't want a "studio" per se, I'm thinking maybe a midi keyboard with pads or something.

3) What FL Studio tutorials should I look at?

4) What plug-ins would I need to satisfy my tastes mentioned above?

I get that it's not going to be "easy" or whatever, but I just want some grounding and knowledge.

1) Yes, I started on FL and still use it - I find everything quite easy and straight forward. Tried to get into Ableton a few weeks ago, I didn't like it as much.
2) I have an AKAI MPK Mini, I find it's all I need - keys, pads, knobs all in one small package - everything else I do in the DAW.
3) There's so many, just watch/read as many as you can on basic topics (writing, arranging, mixing, mastering etc). Also check the stickies in this forum. Youtube tutorials are particularly useful - just don't always go for the ones with loads of views - I've some of the most useful have only ~100 views! I read up on stuff before I started producing, just in my free time when I had like 5 mins, I'd check out a tutorial on Youtube.
4) As for synths/plugins theres a lot you could go for, the stock FL ones are okay - I still use FLs filters, compressors and things like Gross Beat and sometimes the synths such as 3xOsc, Harmor and Sytrus. I'd have to say the 3rd party synths I've found most useful are Massive, Z3ta and Edirol Orchestral and 3rd party plugins would be iZotope, PSPWarmer, FerricTDS and Desity MkII.

Hope that helps

Thanks a lot
A friend of mine has the AKAI MPK Mini, and says its very good. Trying to find it for cheaper, but it looks like a must-buy.

say_whut wrote:

mthrfnk wrote:

say_whut wrote:Going to keep it simple and to the point, I'm new to production and basically I'd appreciate any assistance with these questions:

1) I'm looking into FL Studio 10, is it a good place to start for a complete beginner like me? As in, is it user friendly/easy enough to get into? I learn quite quickly

2) I want to make beats akin to Rustie, Hud Mo, Joker, and Girl Unit. I get that it's a fairly broad pallette to draw from, but what equipment would I need? I really don't want a "studio" per se, I'm thinking maybe a midi keyboard with pads or something.

3) What FL Studio tutorials should I look at?

4) What plug-ins would I need to satisfy my tastes mentioned above?

I get that it's not going to be "easy" or whatever, but I just want some grounding and knowledge.

1) Yes, I started on FL and still use it - I find everything quite easy and straight forward. Tried to get into Ableton a few weeks ago, I didn't like it as much.
2) I have an AKAI MPK Mini, I find it's all I need - keys, pads, knobs all in one small package - everything else I do in the DAW.
3) There's so many, just watch/read as many as you can on basic topics (writing, arranging, mixing, mastering etc). Also check the stickies in this forum. Youtube tutorials are particularly useful - just don't always go for the ones with loads of views - I've some of the most useful have only ~100 views! I read up on stuff before I started producing, just in my free time when I had like 5 mins, I'd check out a tutorial on Youtube.
4) As for synths/plugins theres a lot you could go for, the stock FL ones are okay - I still use FLs filters, compressors and things like Gross Beat and sometimes the synths such as 3xOsc, Harmor and Sytrus. I'd have to say the 3rd party synths I've found most useful are Massive, Z3ta and Edirol Orchestral and 3rd party plugins would be iZotope, PSPWarmer, FerricTDS and Desity MkII.

Hope that helps

Thanks a lot
A friend of mine has the AKAI MPK Mini, and says its very good. Trying to find it for cheaper, but it looks like a must-buy.

Tbh you could just get the keyboard one (minus the pads) if you're on a budget - I rarely use them in FL since I pencil in a lot of my drum beats and you could technically just use the keys as drum triggers. I do use them however in things like Virtual DJ to control stuff when I'm pissing around making mixes, since you can map them to controls.

Hud Mo used to use FL studio exclusively until quite recently I believe, the whole 'butter' album was made in FL, it's actually a really decent DAW.
Joker uses mainly hardware I've heard, but if you get enough practice I'm sure you'l be able to make sounds llike any of these guys.

I've also got an MPK mini, it's great for laptop production and if your new to the whole thing.

Go with FL to start with.

Good stuff, his album was decent but Satin Panthers is what I've enjoyed most from him.

I will be using a laptop, so the MPK makes sense. I am somewhat on a budget, but this summer I'm just going to work 2+ jobs to save for next uni term. I'm motivated because I need something to do basically

Another query, do you lot use speakers or headphones? I obviously won't be relying on laptop speakers but I only have that and a pair of £15 in-ear Sony things, not great. I don't want to spend too much, but it's hard to gauge when I've no idea what hours and such I'll be getting this summer after exams.

just make music man. you cant start off super serious or else it kills the fun and youll get frustrated. just get some decent headphones and just mess around and then youll get more serious as time goes on. have fun and let it take you

say_whut wrote: Good stuff, his album was decent but Satin Panthers is what I've enjoyed most from him.

I will be using a laptop, so the MPK makes sense. I am somewhat on a budget, but this summer I'm just going to work 2+ jobs to save for next uni term. I'm motivated because I need something to do basically

Another query, do you lot use speakers or headphones? I obviously won't be relying on laptop speakers but I only have that and a pair of £15 in-ear Sony things, not great. I don't want to spend too much, but it's hard to gauge when I've no idea what hours and such I'll be getting this summer after exams.

I use headphones and speakers, but neither are "reference" or "monitor" spec... just produce with what you can afford man, I wouldn't start splashing out loads until you have some knowledge and experience under your belt. I've been learning for just over 6/7 months and am still pretty shit and don't think I can justify buying monitors yet but I guess everyones different.

say_whut wrote: Good stuff, his album was decent but Satin Panthers is what I've enjoyed most from him.

I will be using a laptop, so the MPK makes sense. I am somewhat on a budget, but this summer I'm just going to work 2+ jobs to save for next uni term. I'm motivated because I need something to do basically

Another query, do you lot use speakers or headphones? I obviously won't be relying on laptop speakers but I only have that and a pair of £15 in-ear Sony things, not great. I don't want to spend too much, but it's hard to gauge when I've no idea what hours and such I'll be getting this summer after exams.

Ideally you really want monitors and some decent headphones, but headphones will do to begin with. HD25 senheisers may do the trick or get some Audio Technica m50's, both great cans.

a good computer and a good pair of 'phones is all you need, trust me

say_whut wrote:Going to keep it simple and to the point, I'm new to production and basically I'd appreciate any assistance with these questions:

1) I'm looking into FL Studio 10, is it a good place to start for a complete beginner like me? As in, is it user friendly/easy enough to get into? I learn quite quickly

All DAWs are the same, and will be just as complicated and easy as the next. Your question is really 'Is audio engineering beginner friendly' not 'is FLStudio beginner friendly' - audio engineering is a science and all DAWs are just a work-surface to practice that science, the concepts are universal. I use this analogy alot... But imagine the DAW as a calculator... You wouldnt ask which calculator was easiest, and you wouldnt think a different calculator would improve your math skills. FL will be fine. Any DAW you get, make sure it has convenient support for audio recording, and audio-track sequencing, make sure it has a good plugin delay compensation system (FL does now), and reliable, low-latency drivers, like ASIO or JACK.

2) I want to make beats akin to Rustie, Hud Mo, Joker, and Girl Unit. I get that it's a fairly broad pallette to draw from, but what equipment would I need? I really don't want a "studio" per se, I'm thinking maybe a midi keyboard with pads or something.

Well, joker never pretends to use any hardware as far as i know. You wont need any. Once again, this is like asking what calculator youll need. The DAW will come equipped with everything you need to make any sound in your head - learn the science behind this and things will be easy. Its your creative vision. Another analogy - If you wanna paint something, you dont ask what brand of paint your favorite artist used, you just start mixing colors up.

3) What FL Studio tutorials should I look at?

Theres this thing called the production bible, its on here. Pair it with wikipedia, and stop thinking any of the concepts are software specific, they arent, you need to learn a science here.

4) What plug-ins would I need to satisfy my tastes mentioned above?

None. Another 'which calculator does the best math' question - they all do the same thing, your DAW will come stocked with everything you need to get started.

I get that it's not going to be "easy" or whatever, but I just want some grounding and knowledge.

Good luck. Dont think of it as learning a program, think of it as learning a universal science, youll be down the right path.

My man, thank you

I'll be getting stuck into it all heavily once my exams are over in april.

Thanks to you all so far, no doubt I'll be back soon though

say_whut wrote:My man, thank you

I'll be getting stuck into it all heavily once my exams are over in april.

Thanks to you all so far, no doubt I'll be back soon though

If I were youuu... or rather when I was in that spot, the totally-new spot....

Learned to operate the step sequencer/playlist in FL, got me really familiar with how a drum-programming environment worked, got me thinking in bars/phrases/verses, made me learn what 'kick/snare on 1 and 3' meant, got me thinking about progression, learning how to use fills to keep looping-patterns rolling and stuff...

Learned the concept of linking an audio unit to a mixer, it reminded me of DJing... started to get into what different creative effects did, learned about distoriton types, what the fuck a flanger/phaser was, what a reverb and a delay did, ect.

Learned I needed to EQ all this. I pretty well understood simple EQing from Djing, but i needed to learn all about parametric vs. graphic, phase inverting or linear phase... ect... Realized I needed to make things louder... learned that all audio files were a box, each frequency between 20hz-44,000hz was aloud to hit zero, but if you put more then one thing in that range it would add their two amplitudes, and youd need to account for that... started to learn what dynamic range was, how it related to harmonic content, speaker physics began making sense (oh wow a sine wave is the perfect motion for a speaker), started seeing how I would need to finely balance the world of loud vs. the world of moving speaker, how they were actually mutually exclusive, how compression manipulates all that...

Realized this was EXACTLY the same way EVERY other sound processing system, be it hardware or software, works, and that it was all a universal science of the reaction speakers have to an oscillating current, and that nothing has changed about studios since the 20's aside from aesthetics, and this technology is as old as electricty and the phonograph.

yeah. audio engineering n shit. definately buy some good gel doses. itll help.