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Hey guys, I'm completely new to production and I had a few questions. I'm working on a Mac (I'm not sure if that limits me from some software and such...) and I was after some good software and hardware to get started with on a low budget. I'm a little bit strapped for cash so I was hoping there were some cheap (or preferably free when it comes to software) alternatives to the programs that seem to be mentioned frequently here that don't limit your production capability (at least, not by much). I was also after some samplers and MIDI controllers that were fairly cheap, or maybe a link to a site where you could buy second-hand kit on the cheap?
Thanks.

There is a production sub forum on this website, so this might be moved there.

Since you have a Mac, start w/ Garageband. Add an Akai MPK mini and you can start producing. If you get serious you can upgrade from there.

wehlfest wrote:There is a production sub forum on this website, so this might be moved there.

Since you have a Mac, start w/ Garageband. Add an Akai MPK mini and you can start producing. If you get serious you can upgrade from there.

Thanks, I didn't know Garageband had the capacity to do this.

Although samplers can be very useful and expressive, I'd say if you're just starting out focus on just a basic midi controller and learning your software.

If you aren't too bothered about keyboard expression/feel etc then you can get a fairly bog standard midi keyboard from Alesis for around the £50 mark. (There are also the smaller ones which may even be cheaper)

Good luck on your new found hobby!

I recommend Ableton and If you have an iPhon/iPad/iPod Touch, et TouchOSC.
It really depends on your actual budget... I recently spent $1600 on my new xomputer set up, just the tower and monitor.

It really depends on your level of interest and seriousness

If I were you I would shop around and try out demos of some various DAWs as it is what you will be primarily dealing with whenever you produce.

Take a look at logic since you are on a mac, or consider ableton if you want a more unique way of working there are a ton of ways to get the "lite" version of ableton as well. Personally, I started out with reason, and its a great DAW. Just have to test some of them out and you will know when you are working with the one you want.

Most DAWs come with a set of native plugins so when you decide on a DAW start with learning the ones with the software.

If you want a DAW that is flexible, powerful, intuitive and quite sexy (in my opinion) check out Reaper

Oh it's also considerably cheaper than all the other options.

Marketing teams will have conditioned you to assume that it then automatically has less to offer, but this isn't the case. It's updated very frequently, and has quite sensible upgrade policy (if you buy a license now at version 4.33, you get free updates until version 5.99)

It's also easily the most customizable DAW, allowing you to configure the user interface how you want, assign key shortcuts to complex macros built from pretty much any action you could ever do, and build custom macro toolbars if you have the SWS extensions installed.

Whenever you hear Reaper mentioned, it always sounds like a pitch from a raving sales rep or something. This is due to it being so awesome and so refreshing to use after working with the limitations of other software, that all the users are super enthusiastic about it. It's pretty polarizing I think, usually people either love it or don't get it. It can be weird to adjust to if you're used to the limitations of other DAWs, but since you're just starting you won't have any issue trying to translate your old workflow to the new software.


Check out this guide: http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=159713
It has a section on free software which will probably be quite useful to you. You're probably not gonna want to blow a lot of money on stuff you don't even understand yet. There's a lot of quality tools listed there that will allow you to learn without investing in a bunch of plugins.

Garageband is good to grasp the basic principles of production and it doesn't cost you a penny, since it's preinstalled, definitely start out with that. Its interface is pretty simple and user friendly,plus it also supports the AU plugins, you can get some nice 3rd party free stuff to work too.
My advice is though, don't get lots of plugins when you start producing, instead try to understand ones you already have.

i don't want to blow my own trumpet, but i made these in garageband and i think they're not too bad
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I second reaper as a good DAW, it has an unrestricted demo and the student license is $60 bucks or something like that.
The plugins are very bare and basic but there are tons of free plugins on the internet.
As far as recommendations we have a production bible and tons of info on getting started in the stickies