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Audio/Music Getting Started

Started by Xenoclix Jan 29, 2010 at 12:23 AM 8 replies 2.5k views
Original Post
Xenoclix
Xenoclix
Hey all, Want to get into audio creation for gaming - i love music, its my passion! So i thought i really enjoy the in-game music and always dreamt about having my creations get into the minds of other players and get them in depth with the game! First is that i dont realllly have any knowledge on how to create music - yet i have the talent of knowing beats, rhythms and notes on what goes good with what...how to make something work. So question would be is where do i start, what programs should i look at for beginning to create audio tracks - money is not an issue, i will happily pay for a decent software package if i can get what i want out of it. I am a fast learner in programs so i dont mind being dropped into the deep end as i have mastered photoshop and other graphical programs by sticking at it! That is really all i wanted to know, what is a good package to start off with, or a good package that is advanced but will last me awhile. Oh, and with music creation, is it best to get a keyboard? As im a shocker at guitar and other instruments, would keyboard best suite most audio programs? But use the keys for different tunes and tones rather than the basic "piano" sound kit. PS: with the piano, i mainly see these huge digital pianos, are there "flat" desktop ones that you can connect to the computer and have on your desk rather than a huge casing and stand etc. PSS: I think i might of answered my last PS - Piano and keyboard are different aye? Then my new question is, are keyboards good for game audio creation? Do they have any disadvantage or advantage that the normal digital piano has? Thanks!
Kylotan
Kylotan
Quote:
Original post by Xenoclix
First is that i dont realllly have any knowledge on how to create music - yet i have the talent of knowing beats, rhythms and notes on what goes good with what...how to make something work.

So question would be is where do i start, what programs should i look at for beginning to create audio tracks - money is not an issue, i will happily pay for a decent software package if i can get what i want out of it. I am a fast learner in programs so i dont mind being dropped into the deep end as i have mastered photoshop and other graphical programs by sticking at it!

I use Sonar for writing most of my music. A more popular choice is Cubase. You can also go a long way with FL Studio (which is great for beginners due to the step sequencer interface), plus there is also Reaper which is the cheapest of the lot yet still very capable. Each does basically the same thing: it captures and plays back audio data, and it captures MIDI data and plays that back via software synthesisers (ie. "soft synths"). The differences come in terms of price, features, and the instruments + effects bundled with it.

Most sequencers come with some free/bundled soft synths, typically in the form of VST instruments, and you can use those to get started with music right away. There are also plenty of freeware soft synths you can use too - KVR Audio has plenty in its database. You might also find free packages from bigger companies like the Kore Player useful.

Quote:
Oh, and with music creation, is it best to get a keyboard? As im a shocker at guitar and other instruments, would keyboard best suite most audio programs? But use the keys for different tunes and tones rather than the basic "piano" sound kit.

You need a keyboard, but you don't need one with its own intrinsic sounds. A simple MIDI keyboard just sends messages to the computer and the computer generates the sounds itself via a soft synth. For this purpose I use an EMU XBoard 49, plus a Korg Pad-Kontrol for percussion. If funds are limited a Korg Nanokey might serve you well.

I'd also recommend picking up a book on music theory because it is really helpful know what the difference between 4/4 and 6/8 means, what the black notes on a keyboard signify, which scales to use if someone wants a particular type of sound, and so on.
Bregma
Bregma
Quote:
Original post by Xenoclix
Oh, and with music creation, is it best to get a keyboard? As im a shocker at guitar and other instruments, would keyboard best suite most audio programs? But use the keys for different tunes and tones rather than the basic "piano" sound kit.

PS: with the piano, i mainly see these huge digital pianos, are there "flat" desktop ones that you can connect to the computer and have on your desk rather than a huge casing and stand etc.

PSS: I think i might of answered my last PS - Piano and keyboard are different aye? Then my new question is, are keyboards good for game audio creation? Do they have any disadvantage or advantage that the normal digital piano has?

A keyboard of some sort has many advantages over other input mechanisms. I played guitar for 30 years but when I bought a piano and started taking lessons, suddenly a lot of the theory I had learned made sense. It's the most direct route for entering music into digital media, but it will require some minimal level of mastery to become useful.

There are different kinds of keyboards: the number if keys, the sensitivity to velocity, the weighting, the key size. You will probably just want a MIDI controller, which is a keyboard (and probably other control devices like sliders, knobs, drumpads, whirligigs and doodads) that probably hooks up through a USB cable and controls software synthesizers in your DAW (digital audio workstation). MIDI controller keyboards cost hundreds less than synthesizers or pianos. I recommend a full size 49-key (4 octaves) semi-weighted action velocity-sensitive controller. Often a controller will come with a demo package of DAW software to get you started.

The "flat" keyboards are useless if you actually play. You need the tactile feedback of the action. It would be like playing a picture of a guitar.

Your only real alternative to a keyboard input is to use the mouse. You will end up not doing anything if you choose that route unless all you want to do is mash existing sound loops.
Stephen M. Webb
Professional Free Software Developer
Moomba
Moomba
If you use a Mac, Logic Studio is a very good choice for a DAW, it comes with plenty of vst instruments, loops and plugins bundled together to last you a good while (depending on what type of music you're intent on creating). Not only that, but if you're a student, you can get a full 75% off the market price!

If you're interested in orchestral sounds, not only does Kontakt do a small free library, but East West now offers Symphonic Orchestra Free for download at Sounds Online. Definitely a good place to start!

I see that keyboards have pretty much been covered; all you need is a simple midi keyboard that you can plug in via usb or similar input method. There are plenty of decent keyboards out there with weighted keys and brilliant touch for decent prices. Or you could go with a far cheaper keyboard that doesn't have such great touch and then edit the velocity and attack of the notes in the DAW. Either works, though the first is less painful!
Xenoclix
Xenoclix
Thank you very much for your responses guys! Really appreciate it and has helped a tremendous amount...know alot more than i did before and know now where i lean so i can take steps necessarily in achieving my goal! :).

I will have a look at some trial versions of the software you have mentioned and check out some reviews etc and based on that i will go from there to buying a midi keyboard (will head down to the musical shop in my area and ask them aswell).

Xenoclix
Xenoclix
Sorry for double post -

Have been looking at my local music stores up here and i have found the Yamaha PSR-E403 or the Casio CTK-4000. There is a 40$AUD difference from the Yamaha (being the more expensive) than the casio.

I have been looking at some reviews on youtube and so forth to see what people have been using it for - but wanted you guys opinions aswell towards this keyboards itself :).

Take note that it will mainly just be plugged into the PC for playing and editing rather than being ported around and being played normally :).

Thanks again guys!

Kylotan
Kylotan
Typically you don't need a "proper" keyboard/synthesizer with its own sounds for composing on the computer, you just need a MIDI controller keyboard. MIDI controller keyboards often have better key action than a keyboard/synthesizer of equivalent or even double the price, and they will also come with extra dials and wheels which you can use in your software for mixer levels, automating synth parameters, etc.

So in short I wouldn't recommend either of those keyboards, which are aimed at people who will play the keyboard separately from the computer.
Xenoclix
Xenoclix
Ahhh, fair enough, i think i should just continue to look around for just a midi-keyboard than rather than the others i was looking at previously.

I just thought it would be good to get those but if a normal midi-keyboard does the same thing (because its just PC im using) then your right and getting one of the two i mentioned would be a waste as i wont use half the stuff on there.

Thanks again!
Uhuru
Uhuru
And with things like e.g. Reason (which is btw. worth getting next to a sequencer and you could run it as a VST within Cubase etc) you do not get to use midi keyboard a lot, you mainly work with the mouse
DelusionalZ
DelusionalZ
Quote:
Original post by Bregma
The "flat" keyboards are useless if you actually play. You need the tactile feedback of the action. It would be like playing a picture of a guitar.

Your only real alternative to a keyboard input is to use the mouse. You will end up not doing anything if you choose that route unless all you want to do is mash existing sound loops.


Using the mouse for note arrangement didn't force me to do that-- I rarely use keyboards in arrangement of music, except for synth solos and piano lines.

In some cases, it's easier to create completely original music using just the mouse. However, I still recommend using a keyboard for more complex rhythms and working out melodies.

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