One useful advice: "Less is more" - Ron Jeremy (trying to joke seriously ;))

Meaning, don't fall into a trap of using 6 DAWs and 1666 plugins. If you succeed making plenty of music, you will most certainly end up using just 1 DAW and like 50 plugins, because that's how things get done. Discovering what kind of workflow fits you best is of absolute importance.

 

Well then we are all wrong and if so we're all straight up and men and women enough to apologise. So if you are not Foster then I do genuinely apologise.
That said, Foster had a habit of starting a thread all too similar to this, then diversifying and sometimes hijacking his own thread if that is even possible. Actually it was and is. When you come across his threads under new aliases because he has been banned more than anyone in this site's history, you'll understand everyone's paranoia. It's more "Oh NO!!! not again!!!" than anything else. So again to reiterate if you are not Foster I am sure the others will man up and woman up and apologise too.

 

The reason why some people install a lot of software on their system is because they don't have enough information about the exact functionality of the plugins. No one knows what DSP code developers use for processing. No one can discover them. We are only able to understand the functions based on inputting information and comparing output results, and this is enough in my opinion. If the output results of the plugins are compared, the number of users' choices will be greatly limited, and users will realize how much the results of of their limited plugins are similar, and this will lead to smarter choices in plugin selections.

 

Ableton is a good choice for a beginner (and for advanced users). There are also tons of beginner friendly tutorials available and it has a huge user base. If you don't have the money, you can start with the Lite version (many audio interfaces and MIDI controllers come with a license for Ableton Live lite) or get the "inofficial infinite trial version" of Ableton Live Suite from sister site.

I wouldn't recommend Reaper, which is more for people who like endless customization options. It's not very straightforward to use out of the box and you need to adjust a lot of settings to make it work. Ableton is much more beginner friendly and you can do everything starting with only the effects and instruments included already, without having to worry about getting tons of third-party plugins for now. If you have a Mac computer, I can alternatively recommend Logic, which is also a DAW that has everything one can wish for on board already.

So, don't worry about getting all the fancy plugins for now, but start by learning the tools included in your DAW. Unless one has fully utilised everything a DAW has to offer, I would not recommend wasting precious time and money on third-party plugins. And don't fall victim to the marketing: lots of companies and their paid Youtube shills want you to believe, that unless you buy their plugin X, your music will not sound good. Problem is: millions of great song have been made before that plugin X even existed.

 

Live is genre-specific. It is a good DAW, but it is more suitable for a certain genre of music (electronic music where everything is programmed inside the DAW). Every DAW has its own characteristics, and after using them for a while, users find that their desire to make music in the genres they use is imposed on them by the DAW. DAWs optimized for certain genres of music mislead users and reduce their desire to make other types of music, which makes users see their musical taste, aptitudes and faculties as diminished.

 

Back then, we didn't know wtf the road map was. We learnt everything by trial and error including choosing the best Daw for yourself.

I strongly believe that there is no actual road map. Quite the opposite, any strictly defined road map can stop you from discovering a lot of things during your learning journey.

But the only thing I can tell you that you would want to focus on music theory rather than on music production at the beginning of your learning journey.

In most cases, composition is more important than the production stage.

I mean, don't jump into mixing, mastering or sound design before gaining intermediate knowledge of music theory.

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2024

You are absolutely fucking right. I have been there. Once I improved my mixing and mastering skills, I deleted %60 of the plugins I had.

Even lately I've been planning to delete similar plugins I already have. It also applied to VST instruments too.

When you have the needed knowledge, you confidently apply the theory "Less is more".

 

i really wanna learn instruments n things(starting with keys) so i dont really really know what i want to make right now but here are my inspirations so maybe youll get an understanding of what i want to make as music

most of prince
2093 by yeat

okay writing this outloud i want to make music you can dance to

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2024

um it is kinda expensive too especially where i live
im fully behind if you want to be the boss you gotta pay the price mentality
but even the website bro like that looks lowkey scary no? compared to reapers welcoming simple page

 

i gotchu i will start off by reading the manual of whichever daw i decide to use on

 

its cool bro i am not that foster dude
even if you dont believe me rn i will record videos n post it so yk if yall seen that dudes face
you can compare it to mine when the time arrives

 

got it i will focus on music theory when i have my midi keyboard
gotta buy a book tho so i can take notes on it
can i dabble in on some sound design tho?

 

Be wise and don't think is a waste of time learning:

1. gain staging
2. layering (drums, synths)
3. sound design (layering is a sort of)

last but not least

. use DAW' stock plugins first, then plan to buy plugins wisely and in special offer time the most
. have patience and enjoy creating music

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2024

No do not do that!!! This site can be seen from the outside by anyone. I am not saying remain faceless, not by any means - do so with people you end up making a bond with over time here if you wish, but do not post here where anyone not on this site has the potential to see your face and learn your real name, which you should only give to people you trust You do not know who will see it.
Few if any have seen Foster here, we all just know what he does by the way he does it with exceptions like yourself. So we can all be wrong sometimes. Privacy is scarce these days, treasure it

 

As my previous speaker @Somnambulist said: STAY ANONYMOUS, this also applies to the rest of the internet.

Don't post pictures of your face and definitely don't post your home address.
You don't want someone to break into your apartment and steal your identity or harass you with hate mail.

 

@kilyohearts speaking purely on topic...
Answering your questions as close to in order as possible:

1. Professional means you make an income from it in it's purest definition. Based on that, at some point you wish to make money from it but are content to be an amateur in the meantime. People think it is a derogatory word but it is not. If any person makes no money from it that's what they are, it's a label like professional to define the financial status quo. It has been applied to skillsets and attitudes but that's further on down the track. Many amateur golfers for example are better than some of the professionals, they simply choose not to partake in the professional arenas.
2. Reading manuals is like as you said, a roadmap. It tells you where to turn, what direction you need to go in but it will never drive the car for you. There is a lot of try before you buy software on the sister site where you can experiment with synthesizers, samplers and plugins. Never post any links other than general media ones on this forum to software unless you are selling software you own. So my take is get yourself a keyboard and/or guitar and start playing around. The sister site also has training manuals on there as well on any instrument nearly, even a few on unusual ethnic instruments. Never ask anyone for the sister site link to be posted here - Personally message them.
3. While I do not use it, Reaper is a fast and lightweight DAW and is very popular here and there are some fine exponents on this forum for Reaper, who can help you with almost any function and how to make the most of it. All reputable DAW's are all great at something and Reaper is as good a place to start as any.
4. Theory - it is very important but it too is like the world roadmap not the local one. I agree you do need it but it will not tell you how to play and write with heart and soul, it too is like a roadmap. It does show everything you could ever possibly do while driving the car, except drive it- i.e. improvise cold without reference playing your instrument though many try to. Also find someone you admire on the instrument of choice and see if they have any instruction videos online. These days, a large majority are free on YouTube, Vimeo etc etc. The sister site also has instruction applications with video and sound. Again, Never ask anyone to post links here, PM them.
5. If you see the light at the end of the tunnel and never turn back, you will always reach it, no matter how long it takes, so go hard!

I hope that helps

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2024

Ok, what did I do this time? Only a bad harmless joke. But you guys quoting me and joking... I can't fucking leave you alone!!

Wot, what... didn't say anything about OP being him, this time I did nothing. I reject all the charges your honor

Bro, I respect you but we don't have THAT level of confidence yet. Well, perhaps we do
But again I didn't say anything about Foster.

It's true it's a very small red flag Foster being so helpful with someone, but just that. Very small flag meaning if all were true everybody would be in prison.

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2024

Start off simply by installing a DAW and buying and connecting a midi keyboard, buying a USB audio interface and monitors. You don't need to buy the most expensive one right away because you don't know if you'll stick with it. Many people buy twice anyway.

Just jump in at the deep end and get started, do more practice than theory and if you don't understand something, read up on it. Don't overwhelm yourself, go with the flow, it will develop itself, first your brain has to adjust to the new situation, where is what, which control does what.

You will see and hear and learn a lot in the process. After a short time you will make progress and if you enjoy it you will be making music for the rest of your life. So take a few dollars and get started.

 

Hello @Xupito, you have a unique talent for blowing up every thread with humor and writing
things that are not relevant to the topic. For me, you are a forum troll in disguise.

 

Ok, completely different perspective.

When in a gold rush, sell shovels. Your best bet at making it pro or going full-time in the music industry in 2024 is most definitely not actually producing music or trying to become an established artist. That wasn't going to happen for most of us 30 years ago and it's borderline impossible today.

Developing VST plugins, selling sample packs, starting a record label, becoming an agent for touring musicians, selling courses etc. are ways you might actually make some money.