Producers using FL, Reason, & any Software

  • Thread starter Thread starter thunderkyss
  • Start date Start date
thunderkyss

thunderkyss

Member
I read a post in another thread, a guy's friend was "groovin" with a mouse, point and click.
I'm just curious, how many of you software guys don't use midi controllers?
My setup is both hardware, and software. I use Vsampler, B4, and Sonar. But when I'm using this software, I'm playing from a midi controller, bass, or a guitar. I don't see any difference between using an MPC, or S5000, and using Vsampler. I play my parts in from a Keyboard, or the pads on my drum machine.
Are there really guys out there making music with nothing but a mouse?? I know it can be done, but why would you want to??
 
for most guys, i dont think they "want" to, or at least i didnt. i had no othr choice. i started when i was 13, but only startd making beats seriouslywhen i was 14(only a year ago), and up to a couple months ago, i was only using the "point" and "click" method, not because i wanted to, but because buying a controller was out of the question.

now, i hooked up an old radioshack keyboard that just so happens to have midi, and it works fine, luckily.

I use Fruity...

www.soundclick.com/x7
check out my older stuff.
 
I like hardware for some things but honstly ive been using software, all the top software out there, and its easier making hotter beats on software than it is on hardware. In hardware you have to have all these things and you have to move around a lot, in software you just stay in one place. And if your smart enough you can make hardware type beats with software any day
 
It is easierfor me to sequence using a hardware sequencer (MV-8000), but other than sequencing and sampling with it, all my sounds come from software synths inside of Sonar 4 as my host. Once the sequence data is recorded into Sonar from the MV, it is "bounce to tracks" all the softsynths...record any samples from the MV, and start mixing.

Honestly, the hardware sequencer route is the best way to go. Hook a midi controller to your hardware sequencer and midi out of that to your computer. Dead easy. If your computer freezes or crashes...you still have your sequence data safe in the hardware sequencer. Not that crashes happen often...but you never know.
 
So, Ak9ine, does that mean you point & click, or do you use a controller.
 
I have done the point and click.

Actually I have done type only songs. In the early days before inexpensive MIDI sequencers and DAWs, I used to do a thing where by you had to type the note and octave along with a code for various effects. For example, you wanted to play a sound note E at octave 3 and have it fade out you had to enter something like:

E-3 V20
--- V18
--- V10
--- V08
--- V00


Last time I did a click only song in FL was after I bought a new computer for my wife and wanted to use FL but I didn't have my gear set up in that room. Listen to "First Gate" (it was the FIRST song on the GATEway computer) on my page (see the sig). All point and click.

I much prefer to use a MIDI keyboard though because I think you can capture moments and feeling much better.
 
Being able to play on a controller allows for more expressive music. But like someone said earlier. Most of these guys are starting out young and have little to zero money to buy equipment. So they start up making beats in the piano roll. Nothing wrong with getting started. The important thing is that you are making compositions. :)
 
yep. i Agree with the "if its not broken dont fix it" method. but at the same time, you may start off with point and click, but its important to know when to move up and on.
 
i used to point and click when i used FL,now it's midi-contoller until i build up my hardwarare
 
I started out using the point and click method about a year ago. The problem I had with it is that I kept making the same patterns over and over, and not on purpose. I couldn't figure out how timbo and just blaze did those crazy snare and kick patterns. I got a cheap controller ($40) and it changed everything. You do get a better "bounce" feel to your drums and soft synths. I just got a MicroKontroller for Xmas and I love it. I still point and click sometimes but the pads are really fun to vibe with. My advise is grab any keyboard with a midi out or a usb port and go at.
 
I actually started at 13 as well, and I have been pointing and clicking for 3 years now, and "if its not broken, don't fix it" saying goes perfectly with my situation. I have not run into any repetitive problems or anything yet. However i am dying to explore a different production experience. which is why I'm jumping from minor to full blown major because i'm chasing after a Triton right now. I cannot honestly say which is better (pointing or clicking, and hardware) because i have not yet experienced both. But like i said, I am completely satisfied with a lot of my outcomes so far. I almost never feel limited and if i do i always find some way around it. However, with hardware, it seems that the sounds are more "customizable" and more rich. Like they dont just sound like a 2 second sample of a crappy soundin guitar, it sounds as if that key you're pressing is actually triggering a real guitar. Kinda like everything is literally in your hands.


(By the way, i Use FL5 and Cool edit pro 2.)
 
Last edited:
I point and click and I use the midi, I just got the midi so I'm still trying to get used to it, but using the mouse is not an issue for me, I got so good at using it that people didn't even believe I used it until they saw me do it and that's when the hate starts, but later for people and their dumbfounded a$$ opinions I just do whatever works for me.
It's kind of awkward for me right now using the midi for drums cause I always end up hitting the next key over and it's just a pain, so I've considered an mpd 16 to do drums, but I'll probably never just let the mouse go completely for drums unless when I get the mp it just blows using the mouse out the water, that's how I learned though, with my ears and the mouse. Most likely I'll use both.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top