Instruments/programs used by electronica/synth bands?

[npmshah]

I am interested in starting up a little project with electronica...
and im aiming for a PlayRadioPlay/Breathe Carolina/Kill Paradise esque sound...
but im really unsure on the type of instruments i should use
can anyone recomend any instruments or computer programs i can use to acheive that kind of sound?
any help is MAJORLY appreciated :-)

[sinktylersink]

Probably a USB Keyboard Controller (something along the lines of the M-Audio Oxygen series), maybe some kind of Drum Control Surface (like the M-Audio or Akai Pad Controllers), Propellerhead Reason software, and a DAW like Pro Tools or Logic (or other ones, the list is vast). A condenser microphone for vocals and the requisite computer, headphones, audio interface. Plus Auto Tune.

Some Links:

Keyboard Controllers
http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/midi/controllers/keyboard-controllers

Drum Pad Controllers
http://keyboards-midi.musiciansfriend.com/midi/controllers/pad-controllers

Reason
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Propellerhead-Reason-4?sku=702839

DAWs
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/software/music-production-software

Condenser Mics
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/microphones/condenser-microphones

Audio Interfaces
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/audio-interfaces-convertors-recording-pro-audio?N=100001+344115

These are just some basic suggestions, I'm sure there are some other things I'm overlooking.

[bassdrummer2333]

Reason or FL Studio. I haven't experimented with Reason yet, just FL.

[JohnnyG]

a MiniKorg could help ya out. It's pretty affordable too for a synth. It can also act as a midi controller as well

[brandnew741]

We (http://myspace.com/sweatshirtweather) use Reason for all of our instrumentation.

[DarkOne]

I have reason 4.0 I could hook you up with for fair price...full licensed copy in box with dvd and license card

[npmshah]

We (http://myspace.com/sweatshirtweather) use Reason for all of our instrumentation.
you guys are AMAZING
definetely let me know about tour dates in jersey
ill give you a guys a good couch to crash on :-)
and sorry for the uber late reply btw

[Javs]

If you own a mac, Logic Pro is the best program to use.

If you're on windows, FL studio is really easy and by getting plug ins and filters can produce some professional quality jams.


Instruments
Obviously a USB keyboard for programming synths. Of course you can drag and drop but USB keyboards are good for live sets.

Also if you have 500$ then a MicroKorg synth is commonly used. I have one and its really good for crazy live bass sounds.

If you plan on using real guitars or Real synths like the microkorg then you'll need an input. Anything by M-audio is good. If you buy a cheap one, you can make it sound better with Plug-Ins like Waves Diamond Bundle, great for compressing vocals too. (speaking of which, you usually need an input for vocal recording.)

Drums are easily programmed on either programs listed above, but if you have the money to burn then a drum pad or an electronic drum kit could be a possibility.






But on top of this, why would you want to make music like breathe carolina or kill paradise. Please don't contribute to this shitty genre. I've been there and done that and I regret ever taking part.

[npmshah]

If you own a mac, Logic Pro is the best program to use.

If you're on windows, FL studio is really easy and by getting plug ins and filters can produce some professional quality jams.


Instruments
Obviously a USB keyboard for programming synths. Of course you can drag and drop but USB keyboards are good for live sets.

Also if you have 500$ then a MicroKorg synth is commonly used. I have one and its really good for crazy live bass sounds.

If you plan on using real guitars or Real synths like the microkorg then you'll need an input. Anything by M-audio is good. If you buy a cheap one, you can make it sound better with Plug-Ins like Waves Diamond Bundle, great for compressing vocals too. (speaking of which, you usually need an input for vocal recording.)

Drums are easily programmed on either programs listed above, but if you have the money to burn then a drum pad or an electronic drum kit could be a possibility.






But on top of this, why would you want to make music like breathe carolina or kill paradise. Please don't contribute to this shitty genre. I've been there and done that and I regret ever taking part.
thanks for the help
it means alot
guess i need a job to pay for this stuff lol
but i personally do enjoy the genre of music
and ive to make electronica/trance tinged rock
ever since i discovered enter shikari two years ago
but i wont ask you to check out my project if it makes you feel better :-)

[brandnew741]

you guys are AMAZING
definetely let me know about tour dates in jersey
ill give you a guys a good couch to crash on :-)
and sorry for the uber late reply btw
Thanks a lot man. I'm really glad you like it.

[splitsecond]

http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/image/norica/government-blank-pistol.jpg

Pretty simple to use, put the end with the hole against your temple and pull the trigger. Bam! Electronica!

[brandnew741]

http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/image/norica/government-blank-pistol.jpg

Pretty simple to use, put the end with the hole against your temple and pull the trigger. Bam! Electronica!

Oh, clever.
Wait, no it wasn't.

[voncorn]

http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/image/norica/government-blank-pistol.jpg

Pretty simple to use, put the end with the hole against your temple and pull the trigger. Bam! Electronica!

I lol'd.

[Dan Hollister]

Ditto on Logic. Especially now with Logic Studio because you get sweet tools like MainStage that let you perform live using the same tools you recorded with. I saw Kill Paradise just about two weeks ago and they literally just had a laptop with iTunes playing their tracks in the background, screen facing the audience. I understand that with electro there often isn't anything to perform necessarily, but you should at least try. ;-) Logic Studio + a MIDI controller, and you're set.

So yeah, I say go with Logic Pro on educational discount if you're a student. You get pretty much everything you need. The tools to record, mix, master, and even play live. Logic comes with enough samples and plugins to last you a while until you've figured everything out. Easy to learn, but powerful enough for the big guys, and I've been seeing a bunch of recording studios (and pretty big bands) here in Los Angeles beginning to gravitate towards Logic and away from Pro Tools. It's making inroads in audio the same way Final Cut Pro is making inroads against Avid.

[jco3]

Noobish question here.

How can I tell if a keyboard is compatible with programs such as Ableton, Reason, Cubase, and such? what should I be looking for? I need a synth/keyboard badly. I've been dragging and dropping for the longest time, it gets tiresome.

Any synth/keyboard recommendations (that are affordable) would be welcome, also. Thanks Dudes & dudettes.

[Tristan Needler]

Noobish question here.

How can I tell if a keyboard is compatible with programs such as Ableton, Reason, Cubase, and such? what should I be looking for? I need a synth/keyboard badly. I've been dragging and dropping for the longest time, it gets tiresome.

Any synth/keyboard recommendations (that are affordable) would be welcome, also. Thanks Dudes & dudettes.
Do you mean you want something to play the sounds that are already in those programs? If that's the case, you need a midi controller, or any synth that is capable of sending midi. Most will fit this criterion.

[jco3]

OK sounds great, thanks so much. This was exactly what I was looking for; a synth and midi controller is what I need, I'll get on this ASAP.

When you play the notes through the keyboard, will they show up on the computer screen for manipulative purposes? For example; changing the length of a note with the mouse, or switching up a few notes in a synth line via mouse switching.

[Tristan Needler]

OK sounds great, thanks so much. This was exactly what I was looking for; a synth and midi controller is what I need, I'll get on this ASAP.

When you play the notes through the keyboard, will they show up on the computer screen for manipulative purposes? For example; changing the length of a note with the mouse, or switching up a few notes in a synth line via mouse switching.
Yes. A midi controller will only send the note data, and a synth will also have sound of it's own that you can use in the same way you use Reason's, for example. Or you can just record the midi.

What kind of a budget do you have?

[jco3]

Yes. A midi controller will only send the note data, and a synth will also have sound of it's own that you can use in the same way you use Reason's, for example. Or you can just record the midi.

What kind of a budget do you have?

Nothing real pricey I'm in the 400 - 600$ price range. I guess I could stretch the ole' wallet if I really, really wanted said synthesizer.

[bluecrunchy]

I'm not sure the world needs another Breathe Carolina. I use Fruity Loops for most of my stuff, but I'm sure there are far better programs out there.

[jco3]

I'm not sure the world needs another Breathe Carolina. I use Fruity Loops for most of my stuff, but I'm sure there are far better programs out there.

Haha, very agreeable statement. I used to use FL studio. I've moved onto Ableton, It is head and shoulders above anything FL can do. Im just sayin...

[Hyp]

I'd go with reason just because it looks so goddamn cool, and that's half of what electronica is made of. Sounding cool represents 49% while sounding good takes up the remaining 1%. It's been proven.

[pasteofanchovie]

http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/image/norica/government-blank-pistol.jpg

Pretty simple to use, put the end with the hole against your temple and pull the trigger. Bam! Electronica!

Well, you could definitely sample that and use it some how in electronica. Or, you could ignore some people that are dicks. Gun shots are cool samples btw.

Reason is definitely a great program for electronica, and one of my favorite soft synths in general. I've been told Abelton live is good too, but I could never figure out how to use it, but it's been years since I've tried.

[Tristan Needler]

I'd go with reason just because it looks so goddamn cool, and that's half of what electronica is made of. Sounding cool represents 49% while sounding good takes up the remaining 1%. It's been proven.
Haha so electronic music only totals to 50%?




What to people use to make those glitchy sounds that are used for beats by some artists like mum?

[Hyp]

Haha so electronic music only totals to 50%?




What to people use to make those glitchy sounds that are used for beats by some artists like mum?

Electronic
50 % looking cool
49% sounding cool
1% sounding good.
:P

And people use anything and everything. You can go simple like just copying and pasting a drum sample and putting a flanger or some kind of effect on it. Or you can route the drum machine through a synth, hook up a random waveform, and voila: weird random drum sounds.