I need help as a beginner

[Pete Clubb]

Basically, I'm an 18 year old hip hop head and I really want to start producing. Before I go any further I have a couple of questions I wanna ask:
I'm pretty used to using logic from lessons at college etc, but I have no idea how I'd get a vinyl sample on to an Akai MPD18.
Is there any other equipment I'd need apart from my Mac, Midi Keyboard, and Akai MPD18?
Any tips or other stuff you wanna share?

 

[thedreampolice]

The MPD18 is just a controller, you don't store samples in it at all. If you already know logic I would just roll with that. You can use the logic sampler to load your samples in to and use the MPD to trigger them.

 

[2infamouz]

Basically, I'm an 18 year old hip hop head and I really want to start producing. Before I go any further I have a couple of questions I wanna ask:
I'm pretty used to using logic from lessons at college etc, but I have no idea how I'd get a vinyl sample on to an Akai MPD18.
Is there any other equipment I'd need apart from my Mac, Midi Keyboard, and Akai MPD18?
Any tips or other stuff you wanna share?

There's really no equipment you "need" unless you have a specific task that requires it in your production.. Of course there's the basics that people tend to get for a home studio setup like your DAW, midi controllers, studio monitors, etc..But it really depends on what you're doing. DP has you covered on the samples/mpd question, basically it's just like your midi keyboard but with pads instead of keys. As far as tips, I'd just recommend reading on sites like Tweakheadz and watching lots of youtube videos to learn...Forums of course have a huge amount of info, but you have to use your bullshit filter because a lot of stuff ppl post on forums is inaccurate (not so much here, but a lot of the forums out there are filled w/ misconceptions and just bad info). Try reaching out to local artists and musicians and see if you can work w/ them to get some experience. Making beats is cool, but to produce you really need to get experienced 'producing' whole songs and not just the instrumental side of things.

 

[Formant024]

If youre using vinyl than its key to have the following stuff

- nearfield monitors
- audio interface
- phone preamp
- something like sure 44-7

You might not need an interface if its just to sample from input. You do need a phone pre amp to gain a line level from your turntable for which you could buy a dj mixer or a simple phone pre amp.
You can do 2 thing here, spend the least money to gain this setup but buy better stuff later or jump ahead and buy quality stuff if your wallet permits it. If you have a turntable already i'd personaly leave the interface out of it and get a good nearfield + dj mixer (vextax 06pro or something) and you'd be set with the minimal.