Getting Started Purchasing List

[HIMbeats]

Minus 1000 points for wanting to use Beats By Dre Headphones.
Minus another 1000 points for no interface.

[ObiK]

Exactly, he really needs to have an interface for quality sound and room for expansion.

[krushing]

Unfortunately, my computer is a lenovo thinkpad (which I cant add a soundcard) so I have to get a new computer.

No you don't. Most audio interfaces are external & connect via FireWire or USB.

[SwagProductionz]

books? u don't need it... beats are made by feeling.. not with all that extra shit...

[krushing]

books? u don't need it... beats are made by feeling.. not with all that extra shit...

Books don't make beats, but it doesn't hurt to know how stuff works.

[zuzz]

Don't forget to buy some sort of back-up storage device.

[innerstatejt]

I agree with Pumpthrust. Focus on making music itself. Focus on organizing song ideas in your head before you try to know everything about everything. all of us know that we never read the full manuals for anything. I get much better results working until I get stuck, searching for a solution & moving forward again. This is the best way to learn anything. You need to get experience under your belt much much more than music information.

Just understand that your success is a slow process & you've got to accept that some of your work will crawl & walk before it'll run. The best artists are the ones that keep going fearlessly.

These forums can often be a better source of answers than all the books you've mention. Don't get me wrong, I buy books & magazines, but I've also put a crapload of experience behind it.

[sully1313]

Thanks Everyone for all of the help. Here is what I have come up with in three steps, with probably about a year in between each step to get to learn the new technology. The last step is more flexible and will likely be changed as I gain more experience.
Getting Started
-Ableton Live 8
-External Sound Card (need suggestions)/audio interface
-HD 25-SP II Sennheiser
-External Hard Drive
Next Steps
-Akai MPK49
-Monitors (need suggestion cheap but good quality)
Further Down the Road
-Akai MPC Studio
-M-Audio Torq Xponent (I'd like to experiment with Dj'ing and these seem reasonable, unless there are better quality turntables for cheaper)
-Ableton Suite 8

Thanks

[Diza]

Best get the best rig you can afford. You need a beast of a computer to handle all the VST's.

[krushing]

I'd probably try to include the next step - MIDI controller & monitors - fairly early. Both are pretty essential.