Joeywhat
100+ Head-Fier
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To (hopefully) make things easier for you, here is the equipment you need...this is not a definitive list by any means, just what I recommend:
Live recording - M-Audio mic/pre amp bundle.
Interface - Good sound card or interface. If you get an interface, the pre amp above is not really needed. The pre amp should really only be used if going to a sound card. Interestingly enough, there is a package on guitar center for $99 that includes both mics as in the above package (990/991). Same price, but without the pre amp. The Mbox is a good interface, and Presonus gear is generally good budget stuff. I think you can make a good decision and pick out what you need. Reading up on it all will give you some experience.
Controller - M-Audio Keystation. I prefer the 61 key, although the 49 key is a lot cheaper. They're both the same except for the number of keys.
That's it for hardware (minus cables and the such). For software, you'll need:
DAW program - You have this, Fruity Loops.
Soft Synths - I'm sure Fruity Loops has at least some...look online for more. There are TONS of reviews and "best of" lists that show what the best synths are. Google is your friend. I'm particularly fond of a program called Reason. It deals only with MIDI, but it has TONS of great synths, and a good drum machine. It also features a plugin called "rewire" which allows it to be slaved to your DAW. This means it acts like it's part of FL, when in reality it's a separate program.
Sampler - If you get reason, it has a sampler. A pretty good one, at that. All a sampler is is a program (or hardware) that takes a digital audio clip, and allows it to be played back when MIDI data is received.
I think that covers everything you need for what you have described so far. I personally suggest getting a decent audio interface to start. The presonus firebox looks alright. My friend has it, and has had no complaints. That would take the place of the pre amp listed above, so all you would need are the mics.
Hope this helps.
Live recording - M-Audio mic/pre amp bundle.
Interface - Good sound card or interface. If you get an interface, the pre amp above is not really needed. The pre amp should really only be used if going to a sound card. Interestingly enough, there is a package on guitar center for $99 that includes both mics as in the above package (990/991). Same price, but without the pre amp. The Mbox is a good interface, and Presonus gear is generally good budget stuff. I think you can make a good decision and pick out what you need. Reading up on it all will give you some experience.
Controller - M-Audio Keystation. I prefer the 61 key, although the 49 key is a lot cheaper. They're both the same except for the number of keys.
That's it for hardware (minus cables and the such). For software, you'll need:
DAW program - You have this, Fruity Loops.
Soft Synths - I'm sure Fruity Loops has at least some...look online for more. There are TONS of reviews and "best of" lists that show what the best synths are. Google is your friend. I'm particularly fond of a program called Reason. It deals only with MIDI, but it has TONS of great synths, and a good drum machine. It also features a plugin called "rewire" which allows it to be slaved to your DAW. This means it acts like it's part of FL, when in reality it's a separate program.
Sampler - If you get reason, it has a sampler. A pretty good one, at that. All a sampler is is a program (or hardware) that takes a digital audio clip, and allows it to be played back when MIDI data is received.
I think that covers everything you need for what you have described so far. I personally suggest getting a decent audio interface to start. The presonus firebox looks alright. My friend has it, and has had no complaints. That would take the place of the pre amp listed above, so all you would need are the mics.
Hope this helps.