i want to learn how to make a rhythm track on my computer.
the software that i have found is protools and sonar.
are there any others?
which would be the easiest for me to learn?

Could you be more specific as to what you're trying to do. Sonar is much cheaper than ProTools for a reason. If you're trying to do something simple, than it would not make sense for you to get a ProTools set up. What other gear are you using? Are you working with outboards? Do you plan on sampling and using plugins? What kind of sound generator and sequencer are you using?

i want to learn how to make a rhythm track on my computer.
the software that i have found is protools and sonar.
are there any others?
which would be the easiest for me to learn?


Pro-Tools and Sonar are generally used for mastering and final mixes. They can be used to create tracks but they require a re-wire client and that can be a pain.

I reccomend using Fruity Loops or Reason to create tracks in. Those programs are designed to make music, whereas Pro-Tools and Sonar are used for mastering purposes.

Fruity Loops is very easy to use once you get the hang of it. And reason is also. Fruity Loops is cheaper than reason too.

http://www.fruityloops.com/ - A Link to Fruity Loops

http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/ - A Link To Reason

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/tutorial/floops/floopsmain.asp A Fruity Loops Tutorial

a novice in da computer generated beat game would find reason and recycle the best choices imho...good luck man....

one love
khasm

i will research all these links.
tanks........................................... :bowdown:

also: are there any books out that would give me basic info before i try the software?

I would not recommend Fruity Loops to anyone. Reason is ok, but again it depends on what you're trying to do. ProTools can, and often is, used to create, not just for doing final mixes. The only problem is that ProTools needs a lot of plugins to be a truly workable, good setup, it's really not a 'starter kit' type of program. But if you have a good ProTools set up and know what you're doing, there's nothing better (although DP is pretty close). The way it's usually used is, people create the beat using outboard gear (MPC), then they fly it into protools for the rest of the stuff. Of course, different people have different methods, but that's a common one.

James, are you using a G4 or G5? Apparently the newest version of Logic and the new G5 OS (Tiger) were designed together and are kinda meant for each other.

James, are you using a G4 or G5?
if i could afford a G5, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

i got an olde PC and i don't no nothing.
i just think i can come up with better beats than these young punks make.
can you point me to some basic reading? and i do mean basic.

I have to disagree with that Five.

9th Wonder used fruity-loops to make a track on Jay-Z's Black album. And I know countless producers who use Fruity Loops to make great music tracks. Fruity loops is the quickest way for a novice to create a music track on a PC; moreover, Reason is also a great program but the cost versus Fruity Loops is staggering.

Moreover, reccominding Logic and Pro-Tools to a novice user is not helpful in the sense that it sounds like he just wants to make simple tracks. An MPC is just a sampler it does not contain a plethora of sounds. Usually people sample with the MPC and make the other elements of the track via workstation like a Roland Fantom or a Korg Workstation then they go make their final mixes and masters in Pro-Tools.

Once again the above scenario I just mentioned costs at least $5000 to $10000 to utilize depending upon your setup. So James if you are reading this and you own a PC, Fruity Loops is the way to go on your endeavour of making sounds.

You can download a demo for free and try it out yourself. I really think it would be a great fit for you if you gave it a chance, If you give me your email address I can email you some sounds that were created in Fruity Loops by a label I am affilated with to let you see for yourself that Fruity Loops is a great tool to create music in.

If you give me your email address I can email you some sounds that were created in Fruity Loops by a label I am affiliated with to let you see for yourself that Fruity Loops is a great tool to create music in.
if you click on my profile my email is right there.
i am very available to folks.

James if you are not a premium member you cannot view profiles :-(.

James if you are not a premium member you cannot view profiles
my bad, james.morton8@verizon.net

James that was sent. It is about a 5meg download since it is the full mp3.

Manasiac, I agree that the price of Reason and ProTools can be staggering. Which is why I kept asking James what it is he's looking to do. I'll defer to you on Fruity Loops. I personal opinion is that I wasn't impressed when I worked with it, though I do know a lot of producers like it.

And I never made a recommendation as to what program he should use. I did not recommend Logic or Reason, my mention of Reason simply said that it's an ok program depending on what you're doing, and I noted that Logic and Tiger are linked, so if he's working with a G5, that might be something to look into.

James, it's not true that if you had a G5 this convo would be unneccessary, your question would still remain--what program to use with the computer. I was also getting at the question of whether you're using a PC or a Mac. I've never used music apps on a PC, so again, I'll defer to Manasiac on opinions of what works best on a PC.

James, it's not true that if you had a G5 this convo would be unnecessary, your question would still remain--what program to use with the computer. I was also getting at the question of whether you're using a PC or a Mac. I've never used music apps on a PC, so again, I'll defer to Manasiac on opinions of what works best on a PC.
i was thinking that if i had MAC money i would probably be laying on a beach somewhere sucking on a drink. (not Aruba, though)

Even on the Mac they got alternatives to begineers versus Logic and anything Digidesign.

i use akai mpc, reason, sound forge, fruity loops, and pro tools m-box.

i would suggest the m-box from digi james. it is a cheeper version of pro tools 01/02 sytems (starting at $1300) Mbox is about $450 comes with hardware and protools le software. and some great plug ins.

Mansiac the mpc not only a sampler, its a sequencer,drum machine and sythesizer. there are no sounds in it but you can sample anything, and freak it so it sounds totally different. you can cut an entire album on an mpc, off of pure samples. or you can use it in unison with key boards, software ect.

james if you use reason, f-loops, sound forge , or cubase id suggest a midi keyboard. the oxygen series are good.

for final mix down pro tools is the way to go.

i have some free samples of these programs if you want to try them. not sure how long it would take to down load in an e mail.
check www.musiciansfriend.com

peace