The minimum - if you're happy to sample exclusively from CDs - is:
1. A computer with a CD drive and a sound card. Doesn't have to be super flash and meaty, but the greater the speed and memory (both RAM and hard drive) the less hair you'll tear out.
and
2. Software for recording, editing and processing sounds. CoolEdit Pro will do all of these (and generate pure tones, so theoretically you don't even need to sample), and is extremely user friendly. Check out computer mags for cover mounted discs with demos and shareware software - there's a good one called Computer Music, though it's a bit pricey at 5 bleeding quid.
3. A CD writer to put your finished masterpieces onto.
That's the bare minimum.
If you want to sample from vinyl and tape, or external instruments, you'll also need:
4. A stereo with tape-in/out and AUX sockets.
5. A soundcard with same so you can link the two up with phono leads. I get by with a fairly basic sound blaster thingy with just 2 inputs (mic and stereo line in) and one output, but you can get monstrous great things with dozens of different inputs with built in effects and knobs and stuff, so you can plug guitar leads etc straight in.
Also VERY handy:
6. Sequencing software - if you're working with samples, Sonic Foundry's 'Acid' is fantastic. Lets you map out your songs across unlimited numbers of tracks, and move bits around with ease, change pitch, transpose, chop and rearrange. Automatically adjusts things so that different length samples fit together. It turns your samples into Lego blocks, basically, but magic Lego blocks which you can resize and change colour etc. Exremely user friendly. Used and endorsed by grant, amongst others.
7. Midi keyboard, to play your samples piano-stylee in real time. I've not used one, but often wanted one. Using software to create tunes can be a bit like writing music down on paper and then asking someone else to play it. Not very spontaneous. It's much easier to muck about with tunes if you've got a nice responsive keyboard in front of you. Alternatively, you could record yourself playing a tune on your guitar or keyboard or whatever, sample it and then fit everything around it. |
