RE>New Thread!!!
Best thing to do if you want to start making music is buy a sampler - you can
get a used Ensoniq EPS for $700 or even less. They sound decent and they are
easy to use. It also has a built-in sequencer which is fine for doodling. Once you
get into sampling, you'll find that you can create some amazing textures with a
small amount of effort.
Next item to buy would be a cheap old synth. Preferably analog, of course,
since this is IDM we're talking about. You can get used Sequential Circuits
gear for dirt money - $300 or less in most cases. Make sure you get one that
understands MIDI. Most of the old Sequential gear gives you access to all the
sound creation parameters via MIDI control, which is cool for making sounds warp
and evolve. Once you've got two pieces of gear, you'll need a mixing board and
something to record your creations on. DAT is definitely the way to go in this
era. You can send your DATs off and have records or CDs made with no problem,
and it costs a lot less to mail a DAT than an open reel! Also, finding stuff on
a DAT is a piece of cake.
I'm not too up on what the cheap mixer market is like, unfortunately. The big
news for bedroom studios seems to be the Mackie 1604 which gives you 16 channels
in a very small space for under $1000. I've used it extensively though and I think
it really sucks for dance music. It just has no bottom end.
Anyway, that's my 10 second overview. You can probably get started making stuff
that is "professional enough" for under $2000. If that sounds like a lot of
money, just remember that five years ago it would have been $5000 for a lot less
flexibility.
/jon
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Date: 5/20/94 1:08 PM
To: Jon Drukman
From: Kent Williams
I'm looking for some advice on equipment. Like what is really, really cheap,
but usable for recording/playing.