Re: Hello and Noob help

[Travis Lund <tlund@berklee.net>]

Nate,
I'd say your best and most versatile solution for this (and I'm a bit 
unclear on the exact nature of your style of recordings/sonic aesthetic 
here, so if this isn't what you're looking for, my apologies in advance) . 
. . is probably to get a good software program (Reason, Ableton, etc) that 
is geared towards more electronica/sequencing type-stuff and feed that 
into Protools via Rewire.  If you have some decent keyboarding or rhythmic 
skills, maybe grab a midi controller to play the sounds in realtime.  (I 
know someone on here just posted a thread about unloading a lot of gear, 
and I believe one of the items was an Oxygen Keyboard from M-Audio, which 
is not a bad piece of gear.  Otherwise I would recommend either Akai or 
Korg for your controllers, both companies make really good stuff that 
actually isn't all that expensive.  I just recently acquired the Akai 
MPK49 controller, which has both keys and MPC style drumpads, plus a lot 
of other neat stuff. It's only $400, and it is the SH*T!!!)  Anyway, as 
you get more familiar with sequencing and such, you can upgrade your 
sounds (Native Instruments, better Analog plug-ins,etc.)  Neither Reason 
or Ableton are all that expensive to begin with.  Heck, if you just want 
to get a feel for it, download FruityLoops or Acid and start messing 
around.  If you're more hardware-oriented, the higher-end Korg Electribes 
are pretty good, though be sure to get the ones with the synth/drum sounds 
built in, I forget which models are which, but some are just samplers with 
effects, and I assume you'll need the raw sounds as well if you're just 
getting into all this. Also, you could look at seperate units (A cheaper 
Electribe with just the raw synth sounds, since I gather you're going to 
be running into your computer and don't need a hardware-based sampler?) 
and maybe a Boss Dr Rhythm for the drums.  Honestly, there's a huge wealth 
of options out there.  I'd go to some websites (Musician's Friend, Guitar 
Center, Sweetwater), read some reviews, and see what sounds like it will 
jibe with your rig and your concepts.  
Hopefully this has been at least somewhat helpful.  I didn't really get 
into this stuff until about a year-and-a-half ago, and I'm still on a 
learning curve as to the full extent of capabilities we have available as 
musicians with all the technology floating around, so just know that it 
will take you some time and some experimenting before you settle into a 
workflow that's comfortable.  Best of luck, and welcome.
-Travis
p.s. - another forum you might want to check out is livepa.org   They're 
pretty gear-savvy over there and would probably also have some good 
suggestions and advice.
---------------------------------------
Original E-mail
From: fenderbender4@comcast.net
Date: 04/28/2008 12:07 AM 
To: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
Subject: Hello and Noob help

Just wanted to say hi.  I joined the mailing list.  I've played guitar for 
about 6-7 years now and want to start integrating electronic music into 
stuff that I'm doing.  I was referred here by a member off of the 
hugeracksinc forum (Thanks).  I'm new to the use of drum machines, synths, 
etc.  

I'm going to be using ProTools and Mbox on a MAC as the recording 
equipment.  I was wondering if anyone had suggestions as to drum machines 
and/or synths that they'd recommend for the applications.  I'll worry 
about price later, I just wanted some info to start with to do research.

Some of the music I'm talking about is more recent stuff like Daft Punk, 
Digitalism, Data, mstrkrft, Nine Inch Nails.

I appreciate the input, and if there is info already on the site, just let 
me know.  Thanks.

Nate.