This is probably a longshot but...I need help getting started

[Griz-ly]

Im a beat-making rookie. I have little to no knowledge of where to start, and everything I do and have learned is pure guessing and getting lucky. The little equipment I do have is a AXIOM 25 MIDI controller, and ABLETON 8, and couple other lame programs. I learned a little about samples the other day, but im having trouble chopping them up and getting them into my controller. anyone that could help? any other general advice? Would you suggest FL studio or another program for a newbie like me?

I'm looking for any help I can get...Im sure there are some brilliant people on this site...

your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[2infamouz]

If you're using Ableton and like it, then stick w/ it. FL's great for some people and others hate it. All bout tht preference!
As far as where to start, what kind of music knowledge do you have? It's not required to "make beats" so to speak, but a little theory will go a long way for how your music turns out. Simple melodic structure and harmony / chord progression knowledge can take you a lot further than you'd think.
Getting some good sounds is a great place to start, learning some theory can't hurt, n watching tutorials and videos is gonna really help. For anything tht can be done in ableton you can probably find a video on youtube showing you how to do it.

Here's a section on my site w/ basic mixing and effects guides / overviews:
Mixing and Effects

Another great learning method is to analyze other music and attempt to reproduce it. If you can make something similar to an already established song / track then you can most likely make your own music.

If you have any questions shoot me a PM on here.

 

[2GooD Productions]

On the subject of chopping samples to import into whatever DAW you use...
I personally do all my chopping in an audio editing program..ie Soundforge(in my case) but any sound editing program will do. The important thing with chopping is to make sure you ALWAYS chop on the 0 point. Meaning the point at which the wave form crosses the middle line. Doing this will ensure that you wont get annoying clicks, and with a bit of practice can ensure that your chops are very tight and will be well timed when re-arranged. I can often take 20 chops from a sample song and then rearrange to my choosing, eventually maybe using only up to 10 of the chops but with the chops already done, i can always go back and do another flip with the chops i didnt already use.
I have always found FL to be awkward to use, but thats because I have never put the time in to learn it. I learned cubase and reason instead and stuck with those. I would say stick with ableton because you already have it, and learn as much as you can about using it.