I'm in the process.
Developing my chops right now.
Got all the shit to do it now.

Had a short lived battle rap career. Retired undefeated.

I suppose that's a try at music.
I recorded about half a dozen intros to various styles about 3 weeks ago without anything else.
Some silly shit...some atmospheric doom shit...etc...just various stuff to see what it feels like.
I have to go back and listen to see what I think now.

I've been playing some David Gilmore-type solos tonight. Sounds ok considering I've been playing for about 9 months.

I listened to it...mixed feelings.
Its got good sound but arranging the shit makes my brain hurt.

Give me a mission...tell me some kind of style to create and I'll give it a shot.

I post it....it will be good practice. I'll make a 30-sec sample or so.
Doingit makes the world right when its so fucked now.

Always wanted to. Always been more a speaker/system construction man than music creation. Messed with software tools when they first started popping up in the 2000s. Just inherited my grandfathers massive collection of records and I've been going through them, thinking to get a budget MPC somewhere and play with some samples, see what happens.

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Yea man....I went with the Native Instruments Maschine + and M32 keyboard. Its damn wild what can be done with the software plugins. I didn't really need the Keyboard but it came as a freebie from Thomann Music with Maschine + purchase.

The real expense comes in the software packages.
I had a synth for a few weeks but it blew up/shorted out or some shit and I returned it.
I learned a lot from it during that brief time.

The Akai (MPC) beats software is cool enough and I played with it for a bit with the Mini MK3 keyboard.
Returned that too because I didn't like the keys but pads were really good..

I've been experimenting quite a bit
But all done with hardware for a while because I got it all finally for what I need.
1 TB of software is installed.

The harder part is figuring out how to run the DAW for me.

oh...and monitors are a huge plus if you aren't going with headphones.
got the Beyedynamics DT990pro 600ohm edition because i got the interface to drive them
monitors I went with the IK iLOud micros.

Everything sounds amazing.

Let's see some YouTube music videos.

Yeah its the Akai MPC is what I want. The most prolific beat makers of my era for the genres I like used that machine as a focal, and I can say I'm adept at computer and tech shit, and know my music notes, so it should be interesting shit to play with. If you can recommend a mini keyboard I might play with that too. Set a lil something up in my sound room.

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The tech familiarity might help some. Manipulating the info in the DAWs can be daunting.
Akai's MPC's software lik MPC Beats will be included. Higher functioning DAWs like FL Studios is where it gets complicated without real digging.

Question? Do you want a single unit with a keyboard and pads or separate units?g You can spend as little as 100 bucks for a combo unit with mini keys and 8 pads

The beat pads can function as a midi controller so you might not even need a keyboard. In other words, the pads can act as keys on a keyboard or just be assigned whatever sounds you like.

You can't go wrong just getting started with Akai MK3 Mini Play (125-150ish$$$). It has 8 pads and 25 mini keys. It will drip you into the whole process
For 100-150 bucks for can get the Akai MPD218 that has 16 large pads.

The bangin' deal on Amazon right now the the is MPC One for 699. Its a standalone unit and you don't have to have it attached to a computer. It will come with a ton of software that you won't get at the entry level. It also has it own screen and can be used outside your computer.

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professiona ... r=1-5&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Key ... C88&sr=1-2

That keyboard/pad combo has to be plugged into a computer...the "play" version is 50 more but has its own little speakers to play with portably.

Or just the pads. (100$$$)

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professiona ... 121&sr=1-2

Separate units are usually my preferred. The One looks tight but im also looking at the cheaper one with the tiny ass screen thats meant to use with the computer since I am not inhibited in that department my computer is far beyond what would be needed to interface with these and id prefer my set up involve my computer anyway.

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The Auturia has probalby a better pure keyboard if you aren't hooked into Akai.
The Native M32 that I have is the best IMO. It's plain but works best with Native software.

https://musicredone.com/products/akai-mpc-studio-music-production-controller-for-mpc-software?_pos=3&_sid=1db221fcc&_ss=r

https://www.amazon.ca/Akai-Professional-MPD218-Controller-Software/dp/B0116X17JW/ref=sr_1_omk_2?crid=ZI04JA2BCZPF&keywords=mpc&qid=1670249808&sprefix=mpc%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-2

Definitely wanna go with 16 over 8.

Send me a standalone keyboard link.

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Them standalone units are expensive generally. The link above of the MPC studio One is an example of the standalone.

The thing is...other than the software it comes with....they all can do the same once in your computer working with a DAW. Pros would say the higher cost is worth it because of "workflow". Getting the idea down might be easier.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboar ... w-EALw_wcB

I think you got the right idea and unit for what you want. From what I remember when I was doing my research into these units the MPC is better for hip hop/rap All the groove boxes can do it. Then it comes down to working with the DAW to encompass the whole piece to mix and master. FL Studio is more geared to trap/rap/hip hop for workflow.

Them DAWs ain't cheap though. I used Reaper on the free trial and was lost as fuck. Then I found CALKWALK which has a very interesting story on why its a fully loaded free DAW. It kinda got blackballed because a son of a Thai rich man bought it and then just made it free. The industry of DAW didn't want to talk about it because why would someone do that...make it free I mean. Kid said he just wanted to bring music production to the world. I was all it after reading the story.

Ill step up to that higher end MPC if I really take to it. You're not kidding about the DAW being pricey though I'm seeing as much as $599.

This might be where my software stealing expertise might come into play We'll see what I can find through my piracy. A free one would definitely be best though until I come into my own and have a better reason to pay for shit.

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Check out Cakewalk....100% functional and free...only available for Windows.

It doesn't get the attention because the industry is salty because they made it free.
People used to pay for it before the Singaporian kid bought it and then unleashed it.

It will give you a look at how they work...but they all work differently and even when people have used them before it takes a while to get used to another system.

That's perfect, I'm a windows head anyway. Thanks Bruh. The MPC is on the way, I'lll buy them other shits next week.

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I'm a beast on the MPC!!

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I am Brother Burowz. A black soul with white pride.#MAGA2024

Maybe we should do a sound class on our podcast while we talk about the end of the world

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Which one ya get? I don't think it matters..They are all solid. The rest is up to you.
Unless you just want a keyboard you might find you don't need it.
THe MPC will be able to act as a keyboard in some ways better than a keyboard.

If you get into this you are going down the rabbit hole like I did.
Its endless and addicitve is the best of ways.

In all seriousness...its changed my life and my mind.

The other thing...tell me something to create. I don't have any specific favs. I'm bangin' on a guitar hard but chilled a little in the last 2 weeks and its been for the best. Shit happens when you let what you've learned to marinate.

Ill post the shit here in a .wav file or whatever works. It's simply a good exercise and a good challenge.

Damn, missed this. The yahoo chat has made me abandon the BHO homebase.
How's this working out for you V?
I went through my rapper phase at 16 and copped a Mike and a few applications and actually produce two full length albums which I burned onto a CD and me and my boys would drive around listening to me spit mad fucking nonsense over free beats I caught from the Internet.
Probably the most fun I had during the younger years aside from getting pussy of course, there was a time where all I did was play ball and rap. Fun fucking times.

A pulled me out of retirement several years ago for a battle that probably comes in second to only the Jay and Nas back and forth, I recall the rest of the board joined and you even kicked a few bars at your former nemesis Finito.

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How I feel after failing the Anis test

I'm trying to set up my office/workspace/studio right now. 2 more weeks and i'll have that bitch up.

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Been thinking about about dropping some new heat.

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How I feel after failing the Anis test