What to get....

[CaptainCommando]

I've just recently started getting into production, and right now the only thing I have is FruityLoops. I'm looking into getting a sampler, keyboard, etc. but I really don't know what exactly to get and what does what. Could somebody please explain all this equipment to me and maybe some suggestions as to what to get. I don't wanna spend money on something and then wish I didn't get it.

 

[SpLitPerSonaliT]

Heres just a little bit of quick advice
If your really seriouse in making beats you should save up and get top of the line equiptment. Its better getting the good stuff than the cheaper stuff and then end up upgrading to the good stuff later. I have a yamaha motif6 keyboard it has the dopest sounds u can ask for plus it has a built in sampler. When you get tired of the sounds in this keyboard (which you won't for a long time) It has a feature that lets u mix its sounds so u can put 2 or 3 different basses or mix a string and a piano sound together and add hella crazy effects to it or somthing. ITs the shiznit YO. All you really need is that keyboard a microphone and maybe a computer program and your set

 

[N.U.G.]

Whatup CaptainCommando,

I'm in a similar situation to yourself. I primarly use Fruity Loops but feel the need to expand, primarily to get more quality sounds and to learn more about music production.

Some options for you and I include;

- getting a MIDI keyboard
(relatively inexpensive, approx ($150-$300). combined with some decent samples, soundfonts and VSTs you can make banging beats with FLoops and a MIDI keyboard)

- get a Yamaha Motif http://www.yamahasynth.com/pro/motif/
(expensive but fantastic quality, approx ($2500-$4000)

- get a Korg Triton Studio http://www.korg.com/gear/product_info.asp?A_PROD_NO=TRITONSTUDIO
(expensive but fantastic quality ($4000-$5000)

- other software options such as Reason, Pro Tools etc
(cost varies. powerful programs that when used well can produce great results.)

- other options depending on who you speak to or what you have available to you.

personally my next purchase will probably be a decent MIDI keyboard as well as learning Reason. Once I am making quality music with these as well as mastering Fruity Loops (now FL Studio) and am making signicicant $$$ from this, I will then consider a MOTIF or TRITON.

best of luck to you and let us know how you go with it.
p.s. I am not an expert in hardware or even software, the above is just my opinion from what I have researched.

peace