| So you want to get into hip-hop/rap/R&B production | | | | comfortable with. Now, you have your software and |
| and you don’t really know how? Well, it’s way | | | | have made a sick beat. Now what? The following is |
| easier than you may think. With just a few items, you | | | | my recommendation for recording & mixing |
| could be well on your way to being the next | | | | software: |
| Timbaland, Dre, or Alchemist. | | | | Adobe Audition – This used to be called Cool Edit |
| So where do you start? First off, you need to make | | | | Pro. It uses a very simple interface in which you are |
| sure you have the right software. A lot of people out | | | | able to load your beat tracks and record your vocal |
| there like to sample beats and use other people’s | | | | tracks. This can also be great if you want to use live |
| music, but you want to be original. At least in the | | | | instruments in addition to your beats. |
| beginning, because if you are like I was, you probably | | | | That’s really all you need for software. Something |
| want to develop your own style. Here is my list of the | | | | to make the music, and something to record it on. Now, |
| essential start-up software you need to make beats: | | | | you ask, what about hardware? |
| Reason 4.0 – Propellerhead’s Reason is one of | | | | Samson CO1 Cardiod Condenser Microphone – |
| the most dynamic pieces of software you can have in | | | | This is a great studio mic. It runs about $70 and sounds |
| your arsenal. It’s relatively inexpensive, yet it allows | | | | great. Make sure to get a few cables, boom stand, |
| you to produce nearly any sound you can think of via | | | | and wind screen. (about $50) total. |
| a vast range of synths, drum machines, and effects. It | | | | Samson S 48v Phantom Power Supply – You will |
| is very user friendly, and produces a powerful, | | | | need this to power your mic. Since studio mics create |
| professional sound. Nearly every major producer has | | | | their own power, the phantom power source is |
| used Reason at one point in his or her career. | | | | basically the device that harnesses that power and |
| Fruity Loops Studio – Many producers use Fruity | | | | sends it through your mic. |
| Loops to create entire productions. What really | | | | Any MIDI capable keyboard – This is one of the |
| separates FL from Reason is that it has the ability to | | | | tools you will use with Reason or Fruity Loops to |
| become a VST instrument when used with some | | | | make beats. MIDI will allow you to play the sound files |
| mixing and recording programs such as Cubase or | | | | on your keyboard, rather than on your computer. Make |
| Pro-Tools. (These are the crème’ de la | | | | sure to also get a MIDI to USB cable so that you can |
| crème’ – but not necessities when you are just | | | | attach it to your sound card. |
| starting out) | | | | M Audio Audiophile 2496 Interface – This is your |
| Sony ACID Pro – This is a cool application that | | | | awesome sound card. It runs less than a hundred |
| allows you to manipulate the beats you created in | | | | bucks and allows you to hook up all your gear to your |
| Reason or FL. It is user friendly as well and works | | | | pc. |
| great on any system. | | | | Samson Resolv 40a Active Studio Monitors – While |
| That’s pretty much it for making beats. My choice | | | | ordinary stereo speakers will do just fine, these all you |
| is Reason, but as you try them all out, you may find | | | | to hear exactly how your tracks will sound when |
| that you like FL Studio better or a combination of the | | | | played over your mp3 player, radio, or local club. |
| two. Its all about finding what you are most | | | | And that’s it! You have all you need to get started. |