I still have not upgraded my midi controller keyboard. I just never got around to it. I was highly interested in the M-Audio Pro Series keyboards but I think I have found a newer board that comes with a little more value in my opinion.
This is the Arturia Keylab Essential MK3 and it is absolutely beautiful. It has a sleek design and comes loaded with all the features you need to get creative right away. I love the color and the way the controls are laid out. I also believe the chord and scale modes are a nice addition to play with.
The last and probably most important feature with this keyboard is the Analog Lab software that it comes with. I have heard nothing but good things about its sound library and because it is also designed by Arturia, it has tight integration with this keyboard. If I am to upgrade in the near future, this product is currently at the top of my list.
I was 16 years old when I first started recording digital audio. Cakewalk Sonar
Home Studio was my first DAW that had been recommended to me by a friend. I
loved Sonar in the beginning and started using it along with Fruity Loops, a
couple Zoom drum machines and a giant Casio keyboard. I had purchased a Lexicon
interface and I thought my setup was superior. However, it wasn't long before I
had grown highly interested in virtual instruments. I would make regular visits
to Guitar Center in Boise, Idaho with my father.
I remember when Studio One had first been introduced and it had won awards
for best new recording software. They had recommended it to me several times
at Guitar Center but I was hesitant at first. I thought Sonar was
everything. It took a little while for me to warm up to the idea but I did
feel like Sonar was lacking in MIDI features. So I took a shot with Studio
One and bought an Audio Box interface that came with the free version of
Studio One Artist. At first I thought it was just a scaled down version of
Sonar. It just looked simpler. But over time I noticed I was opening the
program more and more. Before I realized it, I wasn't even working in Sonar
anymore.
The Drag and Drop feature of Studio One was so much easier. It seemed to be
a much faster workflow. As an aspiring beat maker, I automatically loved
Impact Drums and Presense. I no longer had to link audio and midi tracks.
Just drag and drop an instrument, arm and record. Within the first year I
had decided to upgrade to the Pro version. Again I was impressed. I found
the mastering features to be extremely useful. I was hooked. I felt so
empowered by Studio One.
It has pobably been about 15 years and I still feel that
Studio One is my confort zone. I have used Cubase, Reason, Pro Tools,
Ableton, FL Studio and Mix Craft but Studio One is still the winner in my
mind. The only program that I don't have much time with is Logic. I normally
run PC instead of Mac. This may change in the near future but I doubt I will
be switching from Studio One anytime soon. I am still running version 4 Pro.
I will be looking to upgrade to 6 soon. I haven't even been introduced to
the video features yet. I'm sure that will save a lot of time. So in
conclusion, if you are looking to get serious with audio production or beat
making, Studio One is a weapon of mass destruction and should not be
overlooked. It's worth the money. Take my word for it and thank me
later.
While I currently prefer working in Studio One, I also believe that FL Studio is a great digital audio workstation to start with. There are many reasons to support that belief. Working in FL is extremely simple. Their drum sequencer is a no brainer for programming beats. You don't even need a midi controller to input notes and you can use your computer keyboard as an instrument. The program comes loaded with sounds, samples and effects. With the new updates they have even included AI Mastering and to me, that is simply amazing. All the new upgrades they have introduced have got me interested in making some beats in FL again. I will definitely be giving it another try in the near future. Check out the video below for more info.
So I recently upgraded my audio interface! I decided to stick with Presonus for the time being simply because I use Presonus Studio One as my go to DAW. I am enjoying making music with the Presonus Studio 24c. I think the 24c has been a nice upgrade from the Presonus Audiobox iTwo. This unit has upgraded analog to digital converters and sweeter sounding preamps. The 24c has also proven to be more stable than the iTwo. The iTwo was starting to experience occasional pops and glitches. As long as you are not looking for advanced onboard DSP, I feel that the Presonus Studio 24c is a really nice budget friendly interface for anybody that wants to get serious about beat making or digital music production. Check out the video below to learn more.
If you are interested in modern rap and hip hop music, head over to www.808bobby.com. This is the official website for 808 Bobby's songs, beats, videos, collaborations and contact info. Please feel free to leave a comment on the page and ask questions about beats and recording services. Thanks for visiting www.obsessionaudio.com and happy recording!
I have used several different music players for my beats and Beat Stars continues to be my go to platform. While I believe Airbit is a good option as well, I find that I enjoy the Beat Stars community and chatting with like minded producers. Take a listen to some of my beats and songs that I have uploaded on my custom store below.
So I have been using PreSonus interfaces for the last several years and it has been a difficult for me to decide if I want to switch or not. While the Audio Box line of interfaces is a fantastic way to get started making music quickly, I am starting to think I would like to get the highest level of quality possible. So I am thinking that this might be the answer. Universal Audio has really nice Pro level interfaces that come equipped with shark processors in them and just to get started, I think I might invest in the Solo version just to see what all the hype is about. If I do make the upgrade, I will be sure to review and compare.
If you are trying to lay down some nice vocal tracks or record some acoustic instruments, you will need to get your hands on a good condenser mic. These mics are a lot more sensitive than dynamic mics and there are a lot of them out on the market. If you are just starting out then you may not want to spend several hundred dollars on a new microphone so I will provide a list of cheaper mics that I believe will get the job done nicely. Please be aware that in most cases you will just want a standard cardioid condenser mic and will probably not need multiple polar patterns. Cardioid pattern will pick up sound coming from the front of the mic. Figure 8 will pick up sound from front and back and Omni-directional will pick up sound from all directions. Again, standard cardioid will be just fine. Here is a short list of budget friendly mics that will have you on your way.
When getting started with digital music production, you will need to select a DAW, also known as a Digital Audio Workstation. I don't recommend spending too much time worrying about which one you should use. Do a little research and pick one that looks interesting to you. I started with FL Studio and Sonar Home Studio almost 14 years ago but I currently Use Studio One 4 as my go to DAW. Many companies will have free trial versions of their software that offer the basic features to get you started. You can also shop around online retailers for deals or you may acquire a new DAW when purchasing a new MIDI controller or audio interface. Here is a list of Digital Audio Workstations that I recommend:
