Being inspired by the exploits of Madlib and MF DOOM, I’m realizing more and more how very possible it is for me to start making my own music. What particularly appeals to me about the above artists is how low-profile their production methods are considering how good their music is. I just can’t shake this Quasimoto-esque fantasy of a dwelling in a bomb shelter/basement/studio all day long, doing nothing but laying down tracks. What’s more, Madlib (and probably most prominent rap artists as well) figured out entirely by experimentation how to produce music using little and relatively cheap equipment. From what I’ve gathered, he basically just uses a sampler and turntables. No computers, no Logic Studio. All he needs is a colossal record library and DJ skills. I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Madlib literally has the “beat tapes.”
Until about a week ago I knew nothing about recording and production technology but felt a sudden, insatiable urge to learn how I could get up and running. So I did what any resourceful, 21st-century digital boy would do: I went on a lengthy Wiki/Google quest, reading up on such basics as mixing, sampling, synthesizers, sequencers, MIDI, turntables, DAWs, etc. I still only have a basic understanding of each, but enough to know what I need to get started. I also searched various shopping sites and checked out what kind of gear and software is out there and what kind of prices I can expect to pay. I found quite a bit of good stuff, though even the low-end gear is quite expensive.
My research has coalesced into a vague plan, which is as follows:
- Because I’m broke, I’m going to start off with the cheapest stuff possible. This will also force me to learn the basics.
- I’m going to scour thrift stores, record shops, libraries, and yard sales for equipment. What I’ll need is turntables, speakers, a cassette player, CD player, microphone, and later on, a sampler.
- At the same time, I’m going to start collecting records, and continue collecting CDs.
I’ll post updates from time to time, but this is going to be a long process, especially with how busy next year is going to be. Much farther down the line, I hope to get a nice keyboard and Logic Express and do all the advanced, digital stuff that goes along with it. But until then, this starving student is going to begin at Humble Beginnings.
