| If I have to listen to another person saying that their | | | | occasions. Cubase has been going on for ages, they |
| way to create techno is the best, I swear I am going | | | | invented a whole range of electronic music |
| to scream. I read in a magazine the other day that | | | | applications, and were one of the main music making |
| someone bought a bit of software because their artist | | | | packages out there. The problem that I have with |
| idol had the same software. | | | | Cubase and the other two when it comes down to |
| The guy now can not use the $X software. We all | | | | create techno is that they are complicated and |
| knew that was going to be the answer, but so many | | | | completely overshadowed by other bits of software. |
| people fall into that trap. Software demos are there | | | | When Reason and Ableton came on the scene |
| for a reason...also what someone likes is never a good | | | | Cubase, Sonar and Logic wasn't in on the game, they |
| system to buy something else. Personal reviews are | | | | never even had a pair of dice. |
| just that- personal. | | | | FL Studio, Reaper |
| So I am going to list the 5 best ways of creating | | | | Now this is the part where you won't particularly hear |
| techno. They may not be ways that you have heard, | | | | of. If you created some piece of software that costs |
| and they may not be to your liking, but they are the | | | | over $100 would you want an upstart coming in on |
| best out there at the present time. I am also going to | | | | your turf? No...neither would I. But this is exactly what Fl |
| give my reasons why- rather than say "its great". | | | | Studio have done and more so Reaper. |
| So then, first up: | | | | FL was called Fruity Loops, stupid name and sounded |
| Ableton Live 5,6,7,(take your pick). | | | | very childish, so they changed it to FL. Now this is |
| I bought number 5 because I wanted to create mix | | | | where it gets good and bad for FL. They are cheap |
| tracks. Now I think Live 5 is great at that, I don't believe | | | | compared with the others but they are trying just too |
| however that it excels in the area to create techno | | | | hard. Their interface is too stylistic and cluttered. They |
| music. If you want Dj mixes, if you want something | | | | are trying to be Reason...plus some more. However, it |
| that adds great effects and an extra professional | | | | is a powerful bit of software. |
| quality to your music...then Live is the one to go for. | | | | You will hear some people put it down, but don't listen |
| Many DJs use Ableton because you can throw in two | | | | to them (they probably bought the expensive titles). It is |
| completely different MP3 files and it will beat match | | | | a little powerhouse, and a cheap one at that that does |
| those files. All those Mash-Ups on MTV, all those | | | | far more than people give it credit for. |
| strange tunes that are two tunes mixed together are | | | | Reaper on the other hand, is a good way to create |
| using Ableton. It has become revolutionary. It | | | | techno. It is a bargain price that features a lot of bits |
| completely loves loops- you can keep on adding loops | | | | that rival software have but at ten times the cost. It |
| to loops and it will keep on matching them up. | | | | has a good reputation, but because it is cheap people |
| Awesome for that, but not to create techno. | | | | tend to shy away from it and go for more expensive |
| If I was to pick, I would go with whatever Live you can, | | | | techno makers (which feature the same stuff). |
| if you can afford Live 7, go for that, if not, Live 5 does | | | | Trackers |
| exactly the same job and cane be found for cheap | | | | Now this is my favourite. Do you know what I was |
| money. | | | | saying about cheap and people shying away from the |
| Reason 4. | | | | software. Well Trackers really wind those people up. |
| I have bought Reason and I think that it is a leap in the | | | | Why? Because trackers are free. Even better is that |
| right direction to create techno. I think that all tracks | | | | they feature everything that you need to create |
| should be made with reason sounds. And unfortunately | | | | techno. |
| that is what you find. A Reason track sounds very | | | | They use loops, they use samples, they use software |
| similar to another Reason track. This is probably the | | | | synths (VSTs), they use ReWire (allowing you to use it |
| reason for the refills (sound updates and injections | | | | with another application, say Ableton). Also they don't |
| which can be bought separately). | | | | assume that you need any music knowledge to start |
| I am not really putting down reason, but for over $150 | | | | out creating techno. If you are used to Reasons Drum |
| you want something that you can create techno with | | | | Machine (ReDrum), then you will be right at home with |
| that sounds like your own work. I mainly use Reason | | | | the main interface. |
| for its sounds and effects (the distortion and echo | | | | I have created all my music with Trackers, and so |
| effects are great, and no-one has got a better drum | | | | have a few others. Calvin Harris made music with |
| machine yet). I can create a drum beat and then add | | | | Octamed. The James Bond Game music maker |
| the effects. Save off as a WAV file. This can be | | | | created all the game music tunes using a Tracker. |
| done within minutes and is quite easy to do. | | | | What you have to realise that this type of application |
| Reason is a good system if you are new to the whole | | | | that allows you to create techno is a threat to a lot of |
| music making process, but you need to work at it. If | | | | people who have spent a lot of money of applications |
| you don't have a keyboard or have any music skills | | | | (research, wages etc). So when a cool upstart comes |
| then it can be a bit hard going. | | | | in, they try and rubbish it. |
| Cubase, Sonar, Logic. | | | | Look at them, and then look past them. this is the |
| I tend to find that Cubase, Sonar and Logic are the | | | | future of creating your own techno. With free tools |
| relative that comes out to your house only at special | | | | that is available to everyone. |