newbie here!

Oh i really hope so. Problem is, I have no idea where to start. I know there are a lot of software out there and I've already started reading some guides like say for Adobe Audios, but unfortunately, its all Greek to me.

So now I'm starting with.. guess what?? Music theory and I'm still trying to understand terms like rhythm, melody and such.. It's really frustrating sometimes... Okay, now I'm ranting..

Anyway, that's the main reason why I joined this forum because I read you have a lot of experts here and I really want to learn. But first I need to know the head from the tail, so please, help!!!

[img]http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54486/153/90549A960021CAA1A0D22F45B9132345.png[/img]

Yeah, welcome to maketunes seyruh!

Now I take it you want to mix recorded stuff? There are, as you already know several programs to do so:
Adobe Audition (V 3)
Wave Lab
Sony Soundforge (V 9)
are some of the programs which come to my mind.
If you want to CREATE music with your computer at home using so called VstI's (Virtual Studio Technology Instruments) I would recommend one of the following:
FL Studio (V 8)
Reason (V 4)
:D

hi, we've all been newbies at some point, and in truth, there's always going to be something that we don't know, so don't worry about asking for help! i'm definitely not an expert when it comes to music, but i liked reading your post and suddenly remembered the first time i got into it and how people helped me in the past, so i guess this is my way of repaying that ongoing debt...

so, with that said, we are all different people with our own unique preferences and abilities...so there's no real way to determine what program you "should" start out and eventually continue with (sorry if that sounds discouraging, i don't mean it to be ;p). you have a pretty diverse collection installed on your computer, and i think that the only way to really find out what suits you is to mess around with the programs a little bit and find which one works best with your, shall we say, flow of creative juices...usually (at least for me), you'll know within the first week or two after toying with a program if it suits you or not...for example, i don't understand FL at all, but somehow reason and ableton seem to agree with me, but its vice versa for other folks.

just like what pitbull said, are you planning to do mostly live recordings (live guitar, instruments you need to record with a microphone)? then you would probably want to consider, in my opinon, adobe audition or cubase. or are you thinking of more guitar based tracks where you start out with a riff here, and then you'd want to add drums or synthesizers,etc from software or vice versa? then i would suggest either cubase or ableton because i think these programs would provide you the smoothest workflow..if on the other hand you plan to venture out from playing the guitar and dive purely into digital computer music, then maybe you should consider fl or reason. and there's also loop-based music in which acid or ableton might best suit those needs...

but you don't have to stick to one program, because i think as most people will say, sometimes, certain programs fulfill certain needs with whatever you're trying to achieve...but you can save that option for another time. (on a side note, i personally find that ableton and reason combined work together really well)

some people just find certain programs easier to learn, so i hope you have fun discovering these programs because i sure as hell did! Because music, apart from attempting to decipher one's soul and the world, has to be fun and fulfilling.

enjoy!

PS: always save/keep your first compositions when trying out the programs! in the future, when you listen to them again after having learned the programs to the extent of comfort, your first tracks will be a gold mine of ideas to springboard new songs from, and/or quite possibly (as is the case with me), will end up being your favorite tracks!

Thanks Veno! Really enjoyed reading your post!
Well, the family's plan is to record live recordings of our songs, but I'm thinking of going all the way to learn this, especially when I heard that I could rearrange tracks made by other people and make a mix of my favorite songs, and is it true I can make music solely with the software?

I was thinking VSTs will let me do that but I'm not so sure yet. I'm with my first lesson using Fruity Loops and I'm not really making any progress. I'm starting to think I'm tone deaf, hehehehehe....

uh no.. i got all the installers and then read the manuals.. i only have sound forge and fruity loops on my pc.. i havent really done anythiing yet jusrt a lot of reading, hehehe

hahaha... i have the same experience. though you see, am really more of a reader at this point. I guess that's the reason why am having a little difficulty starting. i tried using sound forge today and got jay-z singing like alvin and the chipmunks, hihi..

sorry guys, im really like a child sometimes especially when I'm trying out new things :)

I know folks who swear by Fruity. I am a mac user so I use Ableton Live. It sounds like you are on the right track. Just have fun for a little while. Don't try to attempt your Magnum Opus until you are a little bit more comfortable in your environment. Don't get too screwed up about it if it takes a bit longer than you expected (it always does). I am on Live 7 but I started on live 4 and bought the powerbook. It made for great toilet reading. I also used little post-it notes to mark relevant passages that I could refer back to. At this point, just get in there and do it! Try not to over-think the process. When you get stuck, don't be afraid to ask for help. All these DAWs work more or less the same and the answer is alot easier than you often think it is.

www.myspace.com/mortal_engines