Macbook Help. For Electronica Rock Music

[HF Theory]

Hello fellow musicians!

I'm a way noob in Electronica Music, just got myself a Macbook.

Saw that it's used by some guys during jamming and live performance.

Question: What goes into the macbook and how is macbook used in Electronica Music.

I've got myself the Korg Kontrol Nano Pad Series too,

What software's good for me to write my electronic stuff onto?

Just need clarifications on how a macbook is used in band settings.

Cheers all for contributions!

Appreciate it!

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

it doesnt matters if its macbook or window based laptop actually. The program in it is the main point and how you plan the work flow, some utilised programs like ableton live, max msp, various vst/soft synth and midi controller(nanopad one of the many different type of midi controller in the market) for making music, be it in studio or live.

For some, they used samples, cut it up, arrange it in daws, mapped it to midi controller, trigger it, feed into vst, glitch up the thing etc and jam along with it.

For some, midi programming is what they do. Using midi controller, trigger soft synth, record into daw, arranged and add in different sort of vst etc

For a start, it might be easier for you to find out what some of your favourite artist do for their music, their workflow, gear manipulation for live to have some slight idea.

Electronica is pretty much a wide genre and lotsa artist have different ways for doing it or even defining it.

In a band setting, again, it doesnt matters if its macbook or window based laptop. Its about how and what you wanna do. Some use it to trigger samples, some used it as softsynth where you trigger the sound from midi controller, some drummers use it to sync up daw to midi gear to for timing needs when playing live drum with sound samples, for some, its basically another instrument.

Oh yeah, do check out sites like www.createdigitalmusic.com or magazine like computer music etc. Theres interviews with various artists, gear talk etc. Some of it can be pretty useful.

 

[logicdroid]

Hi hf theory,

You must be very very happy with your new toy

The Macbook as with any other laptop pcs, can be your..

- "Sound source" if you're a keyboard/piano player
- Bass Amp/ Guitar amp if u r a basser/guitarer
- Drum "sound source"
- Multi track Audio and MIDI recorder/ Mixer if an audio engineer

And in your case, all of the above.

I believe you already have GarageBand installed.. along with iLife. This is a gr8 software to start with.
Heres a link:
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/music/

Once you are proficient in GB, you could upgrade to Logic Studio, also from Apple. Logic Studio imo provides the most comprehensive set of tools. Even includes a live performance software. There's also Live, Reason (new version's quite awesome), Protools, Cubase and Digital Performer.

If all that sounds too troublesome, there's iphone/iPad + tons of music Apps... Limited features but straight forward.

Best.

 

[HF Theory]

Very insightful perspective indeed!

Yes I'm truly stoked about my new "toy"

The nanopad is cool, but some of the keys dont work no more

Am hunting for a 2nd hand midi controller out there!

Thanks for your guidance aye.

Appreciate the insight on how it's used and all.

I'll check in again and share with you guys if i've managed to do up a workflow.

Any recommendations for a good and affordable 150 - 300 Midi controllers?

 

[logicdroid]

Look out for this feature
- Endless rotary encoders

This price range will probably fetch you a 25 key controller (1st hand, non weighted keys), It'll be great for playing/programming drums, leads and bass.

Bet there's a couple in the classified ads.

Best,

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

what sorta midi controller for your needs?

Pad type(triggering sound samples on the move etc), controller type with faders, pots etc(for controlling daw/effect in general), keyboard style controller(with keys, pads, pots, faders etc for all in one need), footpedal style(with stompswitches, footpedal etc to cater to effect mapping for geetar/bass usage )

Theres some other style of midi controller(jazz mutant lemur, monome, midi fighter, livid instrument block/ohm 64/32 or even ipad with touchOSC), but its prolly more than what you wanna at this time. If wanna extra info, can google for those, some of it are pretty much interesting and fascinating at the same time.

 

[HF Theory]

Thanks guys for your valuable help.

I've managed to buy a M-audio keystation 61es and run it into my Mac with the ableton live. Searched some free VST to try, turned out pretty decent.

Looking into buying reasons, but that's heck a few hundred dollars!

Just a quick question, for live performances, is there a way you can switch a sound quickly, without me having to drag each VST and arm the track to use that sound in live situations?

I did a "mini test track/original" with the keystation es61.

www.soundclick.com/thelushproject

Appreciate the help and advice thus far!

Thank you guys!

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

in order to hear the vsti, you will have to arm the midi track which housed the vsti, for other daw, is the same as well

To cut down on the switching timing, either you can divide the 61 keys into different zone across all the keys, using instrument rack in ableton live, chained the diferent vsti in different keys across 1 midi controller or having various vsti in one single ableton session, midi mapped the arming button to a physical midi controller with buttons, pads etc and trigger from it, without looking at the computer.

Theres lotsa ways to play ableton, do check over at their forum for more info. Here are some sites with additional ableton live tutorial videos which are pretty good as well.

http://forum.ableton.com/index.php

http://www.cosm.co.nz/ and http://www.youtube.com/user/cosmcosm#p/u/8/Ix2IErEHa7A

http://nickstutorials.com/free-tutorials-and-resources

http://audio.tutsplus.com/category/tutorials/ableton-live/

http://www.heatercore.net/livetipslist.html

http://www.msbkonline.com/?page_id=12

 

[logicdroid]

Live, the only software I know of, that keeps playing music even after it crashes.

Now that's AWESOME!

 

[HF Theory]

any free VST's to recommend?

I love poizone, but it's not free.

Anyone knows somethin like Poizone, thus free?

 

[carboxymoron]

Maybe not as powerful as Poizone, but I've gotten quite a few decent VSTs off the DVDs that come with Computer Music magazine, and they're available free at public libraries