IDM Mailing Archive

1999-06-10 04:25Jeff BarszczTo anyone that can help: (BTW, please excuse the cheesy subject line) First, let me say to

From:: Jeff Barszcz <jmb@vt.edu>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 00:25:07 -0400
Subject:: (idm) I want to make music; please help!

To anyone that can help: (BTW, please excuse the cheesy subject line) First, let me say to you guys/girls on the list that are making music (that I've heard, of course), you're doing a great job. I don't think there's anyone on this list that I've heard a track from that wasn't at least interesting. And usually, they're way beyond just interesting. On to my point: I very much want to get back into making music. My only experience with "producing" electronic music was several years ago when I played around with tracker programs (mostly Scream Tracker). The problem is this: I'm a poor college student--soon to be a poor college graduate--and I don't have the money to buy any musical equipment (except maybe a slide whistle or a kazoo). Even if I did have some money, I wouldn't know where to start. I've tried using trackers again and can't get any of the better ones to even work on my PC. I've tried Impulse Tracker (it's a DOS program and won't run with this damn Win95; I've tried every which way). Same goes for Fast Tracker. I've tried the newer made-for-Win95 ones (ie Buzz) and they cause my processor to grind to a halt. Basically, I guess I'm looking for a way to (for now, anyway) write music solely with my PC. Here's a brief description of what I'm unfortunately working with: Pentium 100 32 Megs ram ~800 meg HD (mostly used up) Win95 a crappy, generic Soundblaster Pro clone soundcard Yeah, I know. I'm gonna get a new computer someday. Anyway, one thing I was thinking of doing (since it's not too expensive) is getting a new soundcard. I've hated the thing since I bought my PC (just about 4 years ago). Can someone please recommend a good one for my purposes? Second, I'm looking for programs that will run well on my computer. I'm especially looking for a sequencing program. Here are some music related programs that I have and run decently for me: Sound Forge Granulab/Coagula RubberDuck So, do any of you electronic music wizards out there have any suggestions? I just really want to get back into it. Please don't say I have to go buy a Mac! Anyway, thanks for reading this and if you have ANY (and I mean ANY) ideas for me, they'd be very much appreciated. Please respond off-list. Thanks, Jeff PS: Sorry if I'm coming off as a lazy bastard. I've really tried to work it out myself. I'm also trying to get my damn degree, so I don't have loads of time for researching stuff, etc. -Thanks, Jeff

1999-06-10 05:04John CountsHa- your profile is so close to mine it's creepy. I too am a poor college student who has

From:: John Counts <polycyclicism@yahoo.com>
To:: Jeff Barszcz <jmb@vt.edu>, <idm@hyperreal.org>
Cc:: <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Wed, 9 Jun 1999 22:04:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject:: Re: (idm) I want to make music; please help!

Ha- your profile is so close to mine it's creepy. I too am a poor college student who has an insatiable love of listening to and creating IDM. My computer is only a P166 with 32 MB of RAM. Limitations notwithstanding, I've made some rather interesting music simply by spending days and nights exploring only a few software titles. Here is what I use- VAZ- A software emulation of the old analogues that is actually credible Hammerhead Drum Sequencer (Freeware!) Goldwave- Best Grass Roots Sound Editor IMHO Multisequencer- a laughably simple program that allows you to put your tracks together WinBPM- a handy BPM counter that uses the space bar so everything will match up beatwise Only two items of gear: Yamaha DJX and the classic PSS-170 Yes, to the common IDMer this stuff will look sophomoric and cheesy. But it's not what you own, it's how you use it. For example, Hammerhead is admittedly a campy program but try putting in sound files that don't adhere to the RAW/Mono/16 bit format that it requires. The result? gritty, industrial blips that are right at home in LP5 or a Funkstorung release. Or better yet, force Goldwave to accept a text file or an icon and listen to the digital chaos that ensues. That mess can be edited to create phenomenal breaks and even melodies. As far as the machines go, the combined cost of the Yamaha synths is about $400 and enough flange/delay/distortion/etc. can make anything sound like...well, anything. The DJX is also a little campy, but its on-board DSP, cutoff/resonance filters, synth pads, and drum kits have surprised me with their potential. All of the software can be found at www.hitsquad.com (Shareware Music Machine)All synths at your local Best Buy. Threw in a CD-R burner last month for only $200, so all music can be burned in glistening 44.1 kHZ (or whatever the value is). So, there you go. Tell me how things progress. What's your degree going to be in? _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

1999-06-10 05:22John CountsWhoops, I forgot also... I don't even know what DSP stands for, maybe Digital Signal Proce

From:: John Counts <polycyclicism@yahoo.com>
To:: <idm@hyperreal.org>
Date:: Wed, 9 Jun 1999 22:22:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject:: Re: (idm) I want to make music; please help!

Whoops, I forgot also... I don't even know what DSP stands for, maybe Digital Signal Processor, who knows? I just like what it does. Basically, you pick any voice from the sound bank and when you turn on DSP you can have effects such as flanger, all different speeds of delay, distortion, reverb, a wah-wah peddle simulation, phaser, tremolo, modulation; just a ton of effects that can really alter the original sound. By the way, I'm a complete amateur so if anyone else on the list is catching these words- elaborate or correct them freely John _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

(idm) I want to make music; please help!