The perfect, "BEST GEAR FOR BEGINNER BEATMAKERS" video I've ever came across. It's phenomenally honest and transparent. Beautiful my guy. I hope this reaches many of beginners and professionals in this journey. Keep flying with that Octatrack. 💪😤
What I always tell ppl is ... don't buy anything. Before you start your beat making adventures just try any free stuff you can find for your pc , laptop or phone. Most daws, vsts etc have free tryouts... Don't start and buy an MPC Live II right off the bat just because you've seen such and such using it... Try the free stuff first and If you really like it and you get into it you can start buying shit .... like a midi controller or something... then move on to bigger things ... and always buy shit from the second hand market. There's so much stuff ppl buys and after a week they realize is not for them and it automatically goes for sell in almost brand new condition... also if you look at ppl like us ... gear freaks ... a common mistake is to think the machine has some magical powers and it does all the work for you... just because we make it look easy sometimes... when in fact is the opposite most of the time... Thinking of getting an sp1200 to auto become the new Pete Rock or getting an MPC to turn into DJ Premier... that's just a fantasy ... in many cases getting one of these vintage devices it's only going to give you frustration specially if you are an amateur at making beats. Try to enjoy making music with ease first and go from there. It supposed to be fun and not a frustration game.
Peace Cookin Soul. Yeah, great advice and it needs to be louder from us because it’s our work that might lead some to believe the machines are the answer to their problem.
I have never messed with a more infuriating piece of gear than the 404 SX. The new model seems to have fixed a bunch of nonsensical things you couldn’t do in the SX. Still.. just focus on software if you’re a beginner.. Cheaper.
I used to hang out in a nearby Barnes & Noble when I was a kid. I came across a Computer Music magazine that was giving away a free DAW called 'Making Waves.' I was so elated that it was possible to make music on my computer! This was back in 2003-04. All it does is allow you to edit and sequence samples. That's it. And that was enough for me as a beginner. I made hundreds of songs in that thing over the course of a couple of years before I moved on to other DAWs and hardware workstations. I made basslines and chords from samples before I even knew what those were. I had no idea what I had or what i was doing. I didn't even care if I made a good song or not. I was just elated to be making music at all. Honestly, some of the best songs I've ever made are still those first Making Waves tunes. All this to say: If you have the passion, it doesn't matter what your first pieces of gear are. The best gear for beginners are the ones they happen to come across first and have the will and patience to learn.
you don't understand, jon. i don't want to actually MAKE music, i want to spend thousands of dollars to FEEL like i'm making music. now if you need me, i'll be taking out my digitakt, making 8 bar loops on it for an hour, then shoving it back in my closet for a month.
Seems like that’s what the people who spend thousands buying every new thing do. Meanwhile there’s people out here with 20 year old computers making songs every day. Tools don’t make the artist. You either have the drive or don’t
Yknow, when I was younger, I would have never imagined you would be making TH-cam vlogs. I imagined you as an extreme introvert. I’d say you still are, but seeing you make videos like this really inspires me. Thanks brother
The internet as a whole can benefit from this level of transparency It's so fuckin human and as empathetic as one could be to the wide array of people who will be engaging with the content The real answer comes before the actual deep dive. Beautiful format, man
Hey Jon thanks so much for the shout out - I really appreciate it! I totally agree with you BTW, after initially trying to work with people to sort out their needs when they ask about two pieces of gear only to have them choose a third, I think buying an instrument is kind of like choosing a car, there are plenty of ways to get from A to B and the decision involves emotion just as much as it involves specs and budget. Seems like you did however recommend opening a finance youtube channel, so now I need to look into that!
Thanks for checking it out man. Have no problem sending people your way when it comes to all of this. You provide what is essentially the Library of Alexandria on all things music equipment on TH-cam. Keep up the great work
Wow! it’s exactly what I say to people but said in a better way. I will often reference this video in the future. This will always be true. It was true 30 years ago when I began and it will be as true 30 years from now. Thanks to make a complex answer simple. Thanks alot! 🎉
Very well spoken. There is so much gear out there…yet none of it is necessary, since you can make hits on free software. It's just about having the right mindset and enjoying the process.
As someone who started exclusively on the 404sx, this was well said! Chase the passion and compatibility to your flavor, not the latest and greatest gear. Buying the top of the line stuff is not going to automatically make a great producer, only your dedication will💎
Ive been tryna find these words. dayum. thank you. Ima share this video to all those who asked me about how I started. I started on Fruity loops 5. and didnt know how to arrange so I just exported my seperate patterns and arranged in Cool Edit Pro.
I remember talking to Jon at the first Low End fest about the Maschine (in comparison to SP404) and he also had this same healthy response at the time. It's not about which instrument is best, but really learning how to use it and figuring out what you enjoy most. Basically you can make great music on anything.
It's crazy to think that the guy who got me into getting my mk2 and music production went through the same exact thing with it being put away for a couple of months and staring at it for a while lmao. Honestly inspiring and give me a bit of a push to learn my machine more rather than look for the "easiest" or "best" gear so thank you Jon!
It’s a journey starting out, I have bought to much gear only to use a few select pieces. Find something that inspires you and just learn the dang thing, there is no magic. The magic happens when you start understanding the gear you have and learning it also wrapping your head around production in general takes a while to get. I spent way too much money looking for something that does not exist. Once I started to focus on the actual production and my problem areas is when I started to progress a lot faster. Stick to one piece of gear if possible until your grasp the production side of things would be my advice to myself if I had to start over.
My first machine is the BOSS BR1600CD. Then i went for the Korg MS20. Then the YPG235. Then even the Yamaha 32 channel mixer for No input Mixing. All of that veing said. The best thing thats worked for me is like the man said. The flow of the charts on the Korg helped me understand the most.
One of the first pieces of gear I bought when I started making music a few years ago was a microlooper called the Red Panda tensor. I only recently figured out how to use it a few months ago after fiddling around with it off and on and now I'm so glad I never sold it. But it was a situation where I bought something that was too complicated for me to understand when I first started producing.
Octatrack was the first sampler I ever bought. I remember buying the MK1 second hand from a guy, and telling him it was my first sampler, and he was like “you sure want this thing?” I was so determined to learn the instrument, but didn’t realize that learning it was basically akin to learning a whole new language. It would take me YEARS to really get an understanding of the instrument to the point where I felt comfortable using it live. Needless to say, that octa still frustrates me sometimes, with its quirks but the journey and time spent with it, I wouldn’t trade for any experience with any other machine.
Well said Jon. It's mostly trial and error when it comes to what your looking for...... And even then, there will be always be something else that peak's your interest when it comes to hardware.
Thank you Jon, I had a similar experience starting out with the Maschine 2 when I was 16 years old. Put it down after it was too complicated for me. The passion never left tho. I ended up learning the fundamentals of beat making a few years later using ableton & the po-33. But after picking up the MPC 500 I was hooked. 10 years later I’m still using an MPC (the Live II for the most part) and have loved the journey so far. To anyone who is starting out, if the passion is there don’t give up!
I relate to this, I bought the maschine mk2 when I was like 18 after having fun with fl studio for a few months. The workflow ended up being so different than fl that I immediately got stuck and frustrated. I sold the hardware after a year but held onto the sound libraries that came with it and those alone have lasted me almost 10 years.
The “feel” and tactility of the creative platform and it’s interface seems to be such an impetus builder for igniting that path to actually MAKING. So much tech just stretches the launch runway and drains the creative fuel before take off. P.S. that “How to Use Your 4 Track” book was such an incredible quick-learn for demystifying recording to me in my 20s...your tutorial-ish vids remind me of that engaging tone
This man is the actual GOAT ! Holly what a great take on music creation ! I do think I found my way with the gear I use today and funny enough i started with an SP mk2. But for anyone how is still going though the process of finding the adequate tools to realize their vision, this video is a must. !
Appreciate you using your platform to impart wisdom that needs to be heard. Hopefully it will be taken to heart for patience is severely lacking. Respect sir.
Great advice! I spent years bouncing off Ableton. Decided to try Bitwig and it clicked perfectly. Bought used synths on Reverb, fell in love with a couple, sold off a couple that I didn't. It takes time & effort to figure out what works for you.
I fall into the category of bought it and it’s collecting dust in a box. I bought a digitakt from instagram and it was too complicated for the limited time I tried to put into it. It makes me want to get back into it, inspiring work Jon. I need to learn the patience to be excited.
Do it dude! Honestly i think its one of the best machines out there for the price/quality and feature set it offers. The layout is streamlined and more conducive ( or easier ) to making full tracks then say a 404 cause it has patterns and now song mode. Also i feel it gives you all the essentials and a bit more to sound design and shape accordingly. Good luck, have fun.
Great vid Jon and thanks for including me in the screenshots! I agree it is really difficult answering this question for people. I started on MPCs and struggled, then I got an SX and it was a huge learning curve at the time but all the artists I was inspired by were using them so I kept grinding and managed to get relatively ok with it in the end. I personally think the SX is quite a difficult machine to learn on asa lot of the things you need to make beats are done through hacks or workarounds which isn't intuitive to new users, and its very limiting. The MK2 is a huge step up but I still think the learning curve is quite steep, but maybe thats the same with all gear. I think you just need to try and find a bit of gear that really resonates with you when you check it out online or if you see it in a shop. That feeling is what's going to push you through those dark days of hardcore learning!
When I was first interested in making beats at 14 (2008) I really really wanted an MPC but my parents couldn’t afford it. I ended up downloading the FL Studio demo which had all the functions of the paid version, except the ability to save projects. You could still export your song. I ended up using that for about a year until my parents got me the $200 FL signature bundle for Christmas. Year after that I got a job and saved up for an MPD 18 and a Numark TTUSB. That combo was my “budget MPC” lol. 15 years later and I’m still using it thanks to their lifetime free updates. I’m so grateful I stuck with it because today it’s one of the most capable DAWs available (stem separation anyone?) This is getting long winded but I guess I’m trying to say is that if you’re reading this and you’re a beginner, accessibility is key, so consider giving FL a shot. It can be as simple or deep as you want it to be :) Good luck!
honestly fl gets you where you want but i have been producing for 5 years and buying more and more gear my production is way better but as jon said you need to put energy and time to really learn, if you start from that, it make take you a year before dropping your first good beat or finished projet
My first hardware was the octatrack, for 4 years it is my only hardware. I was looking at this machine for years and after finishing university I know I was going to get one. It took a long time the control on a manner that let me making track and to this day I still learning new things BUT the infinite depth of it was what made my put in the hours of my time into it. For ME it was the perfect first hardware
Got my digitakt ~3 years ago? Still was on the fence about it a year after that and I picked up a bass. After that, it was all just me grinding on it. Recently bought myself an octatrack after buying/selling returning a couple synths. this week it all clicked. i love samples and have a OT mk2 in the mail. Thanks jon. been with you since the rap game and i hope to stick around. the fact we all still messin around w this stuff speakes volumes.
Great advice and thank you for making a dope video! One of the issues I had in the past was Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I would ended up buying all this equipment that I didn't need or bought because I thought having cool gear would make me a better musician. Looking back, it made me think a lot on how much money I could of save and how I should of focus more on learning the fundamental and driving my passion that made me get into music.
i think ppl should start with a cheap MIDI controller and a DAW just to learn the basic mechanics of music making and figure out how to find your own sound. i think if i bought a bunch of expensive gear and went thru the process of making trash ass beats (just about everybody has to go thru the growing pains of making bad beats before they start making good ones lol), i would’ve gotten discouraged like Jonwayne said. after making and releasing a couple albums in Ableton with cheap/free gear, i finally went to a Digitakt and i’m loving it despite still learning it. but i also don’t really get overwhelmed with an abundance of options in a DAW like other ppl do. i only had the $100 version of ableton so if anything i had to learn how to work around limitations (no sampler, EQ 3, etc) similar to how a lot of hardware samplers also limit you. but that’s just me, hope that helps someone that reads this
Messing around with a DAW before buying your first beatmaking hardware is very important because you will better understand what limitations you are OK with and not feel regret that the machine you bought is missing something important to you. The main reasons I went with the Novation Circuit Rhythm were: 1. It could sample 2. It has 8 tracks 3. It has sidechaining 4. No menu diving This is not a push for anyone to get the Circuit. This is what was best for ME... Also... Watch a shi7load of videos before buying
Very well put together and a refreshing change when compared to other youtube videos on this subject. I’m not into hip hop much but always enjoy your jams showing your workflow, and your philosophical videos too. 🔥✊
Old school underground started on the 404 too, not just AKAI. When you mention or make beats with the MKII, personally there's a stronger connection because it's like, "wow, Jon made THAT kind of beat on the same machine as I have?" That's neat as hell and highly motivational to make more of my own music.
I can relate to this on so many levels. Although my first gear was native instruments mikro (which is the best beginner gear imo), my 2nd was the sp404sx because I saw madlib produce on it and boy was I stressed. Dropping $400+ and not knowing what to do with the limited sample space made me use it as a prop for my studio for the longest.
way to be a real person and not a influencer my friend. this video is the direct opposite of a lot of the recent gear tube vids. it makes me happy as a old 42 year old head who been making beats since that 404 you mentioned
I try not to vilify influencers because that’s a huge portion of music TH-camrs incomes. Kind of a necessary aspect and I do it every now and then (only if I truly agree with it). But yeah I think measured advice not hinging on commerce is also needed. Thanks for watching
just get the KO II and anything you had before as well as anything you might get afterwards will make complete sense. it sparks great ideas and works very well with others. a truly revolutionary piece of machine art.
Even though I'm a previous professional producer. When getting back into making music. Without knowing it, I went along the complexity graph in my head. From Cirtcuit tracks to Digitakt to Octotrack. I ended up, going for the Circuit, as i wanted to just get a device i could get into straight away. Now i just fire it up, headphones on and play.....Perfect decision for my situation, with limited time due a young family.
Two pieces of kit I regret selling many years ago are.. the Zoom SampleTrak SP-224 and the Korg Electribe ES-1. These groove box samplers are absolutely perfect for beginners or anyone because they are simple to operate. Many can be found online secondhand.
Man, i remember hearing "Words are everything" back in the day, i had no idea Jon was making youtube videos now. Amazing work on this video, couldn't have laid out a better opinion on this topic. Trust the process! Thanks Jon~
It is a very good overview of how the selection process should be. I had tried a few machines, and found in the end Polyend Tracker Mini works the best for me. I like its rather methodical approach, the overview you have of the tracks, and how it invites to return to your patterns to further polish them. And I didn’t even have tracker experience, but FOR ME I found this workflow working better than more immediate devices
You could compare it to learning how to ride a bike for example. When you're just starting out, you don't need the most expensive bike. You just need one that you can ride on but if you can effort it you could buy a more expensive bike. Ones you know how to ride it, you could buy a moutain bike, elektric bike.
This... is a very valid & important contribution to youtube's musicmaking. :heart: And I'd like to add (well, if you're a beginner *beatmaker,* it may not apply but) when you're about to set foot into making electronic(ally produced) music, maybe the stuff that you *see* yourself doing isn't even what you *should* be doing - 1:04 - that is, what wants to come out of you in terms of self expression and what's meaningful to you (and then others, ideally), so how could a stranger possibly tell you what tools to use?
I've heard you name drop la habra ofc and remember your low end residency with fond memories, but to hear your guitar center was also my local, was mind blowing. An artist of your caliber, from down the street and of my time, goes way beyond hometown hero. Forever a fan
Came here looking for the answer to what can k buy my son to help him learn and grow his love for making/playing music. He’s expressed interest in getting into using samplers and so here we are. Amazing insight shared here and I greatly appreciate it. I’ll show this to him and we’ll see how we can translate this into next steps. Big love homie! ❤
Absolutely phenomenal answer. I haven't had a lot of money to spend on gear, but I've bought a couple things, and found that I only really clicked with one or two of those things. Everyone thinks that a good piece of gear is an objective truth, and while in some ways it is, it's also very subjective, just like as an artist, what art program you use, and what brushes you use inside that program, is all going to depend on the artist. It ain't the brush, it's the artist.
Great video man, I saw that you showed the Koala app, could you make a video making a beat in that app? See, I make music with Koala and sometimes I get frustrated because I don't know how to do certain things, so i think a video of you trying it will help me a lot!
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The perfect, "BEST GEAR FOR BEGINNER BEATMAKERS" video I've ever came across. It's phenomenally honest and transparent. Beautiful my guy.
I hope this reaches many of beginners and professionals in this journey. Keep flying with that Octatrack. 💪😤
What I always tell ppl is ... don't buy anything. Before you start your beat making adventures just try any free stuff you can find for your pc , laptop or phone. Most daws, vsts etc have free tryouts... Don't start and buy an MPC Live II right off the bat just because you've seen such and such using it... Try the free stuff first and If you really like it and you get into it you can start buying shit .... like a midi controller or something... then move on to bigger things ... and always buy shit from the second hand market. There's so much stuff ppl buys and after a week they realize is not for them and it automatically goes for sell in almost brand new condition... also if you look at ppl like us ... gear freaks ... a common mistake is to think the machine has some magical powers and it does all the work for you... just because we make it look easy sometimes... when in fact is the opposite most of the time... Thinking of getting an sp1200 to auto become the new Pete Rock or getting an MPC to turn into DJ Premier... that's just a fantasy ... in many cases getting one of these vintage devices it's only going to give you frustration specially if you are an amateur at making beats. Try to enjoy making music with ease first and go from there. It supposed to be fun and not a frustration game.
Peace Cookin Soul. Yeah, great advice and it needs to be louder from us because it’s our work that might lead some to believe the machines are the answer to their problem.
THIS
Amen!
Instructions unclear. Purchased an SP-404 and got frustrated when it didn't magically turn me into a producer.
Bought a guitar , had the same problem !
@@bobjary9382said well
I have never messed with a more infuriating piece of gear than the 404 SX. The new model seems to have fixed a bunch of nonsensical things you couldn’t do in the SX. Still.. just focus on software if you’re a beginner.. Cheaper.
love cutting these kinds of eps :) thanks for watching everyone!
Appreciate the editing
we appreciate u!!
I used to hang out in a nearby Barnes & Noble when I was a kid. I came across a Computer Music magazine that was giving away a free DAW called 'Making Waves.' I was so elated that it was possible to make music on my computer! This was back in 2003-04.
All it does is allow you to edit and sequence samples. That's it. And that was enough for me as a beginner. I made hundreds of songs in that thing over the course of a couple of years before I moved on to other DAWs and hardware workstations.
I made basslines and chords from samples before I even knew what those were. I had no idea what I had or what i was doing. I didn't even care if I made a good song or not. I was just elated to be making music at all.
Honestly, some of the best songs I've ever made are still those first Making Waves tunes.
All this to say: If you have the passion, it doesn't matter what your first pieces of gear are. The best gear for beginners are the ones they happen to come across first and have the will and patience to learn.
Very true. Thanks for sharing your experience
Love that brother. Never even heard of that program.
It looks cool. Several of UK's #1 hits lol. Its 20 pounds rn.
I had making waves back in the day
you don't understand, jon. i don't want to actually MAKE music, i want to spend thousands of dollars to FEEL like i'm making music.
now if you need me, i'll be taking out my digitakt, making 8 bar loops on it for an hour, then shoving it back in my closet for a month.
Underrated comment 😂
Seems like that’s what the people who spend thousands buying every new thing do. Meanwhile there’s people out here with 20 year old computers making songs every day. Tools don’t make the artist. You either have the drive or don’t
Yknow, when I was younger, I would have never imagined you would be making TH-cam vlogs.
I imagined you as an extreme introvert. I’d say you still are, but seeing you make videos like this really inspires me. Thanks brother
Good news is making TH-cams doesn’t require face to face interaction lol
the message all beginners need to hear!
Indeed. Respect to TAETRO
The internet as a whole can benefit from this level of transparency
It's so fuckin human and as empathetic as one could be to the wide array of people who will be engaging with the content
The real answer comes before the actual deep dive. Beautiful format, man
Hey Jon thanks so much for the shout out - I really appreciate it! I totally agree with you BTW, after initially trying to work with people to sort out their needs when they ask about two pieces of gear only to have them choose a third, I think buying an instrument is kind of like choosing a car, there are plenty of ways to get from A to B and the decision involves emotion just as much as it involves specs and budget. Seems like you did however recommend opening a finance youtube channel, so now I need to look into that!
Thanks for checking it out man. Have no problem sending people your way when it comes to all of this. You provide what is essentially the Library of Alexandria on all things music equipment on TH-cam. Keep up the great work
Because of your videos, my first piece of gear was the polyend tracker. Seriously thank you, those tutorials helped me out a ton.
The most honest video in this genre. NO DEVICE WILL MAKE YOU A GENIUS.
Learning how to utilize that tool is the most important.
Man, that intro expresses in a few minutes what others needed lifetimes to find out.
It’s definitely something that took me a while to learn on my ownb
Wow! it’s exactly what I say to people but said in a better way. I will often reference this video in the future. This will always be true. It was true 30 years ago when I began and it will be as true 30 years from now. Thanks to make a complex answer simple. Thanks alot! 🎉
Feel free because I’m about to link people to this whenever they ask me this question in the future lol
Your 404sx analogy hit close to home man **wipes tear ... standing ovation for this video.
Much love
Very well spoken.
There is so much gear out there…yet none of it is necessary, since you can make hits on free software. It's just about having the right mindset and enjoying the process.
Exactly
This is the only gear video everybody should watch! If I watched this 10 years ago, it would have saved a ton of time, energy, money
Hold up let me drop in 2013
As someone who started exclusively on the 404sx, this was well said! Chase the passion and compatibility to your flavor, not the latest and greatest gear. Buying the top of the line stuff is not going to automatically make a great producer, only your dedication will💎
that was relatable
BRO! THATS JONWAYNE!!! THE GOAT
Awesome video man, you speak truth instead of going with the flow of what a youtube list type video normally use. Thank you.
bangers left and right
The most honest video I've seen on this subject, and rare to see these days on this platform. Thank you for sharing this my friend!🙏🏾✊🏾💚
And thanks for watching it
Ive been tryna find these words. dayum. thank you. Ima share this video to all those who asked me about how I started.
I started on Fruity loops 5. and didnt know how to arrange so I just exported my seperate patterns and arranged in Cool Edit Pro.
Please share it. I’m going to do the same when I get asked this question from now on haha
I remember talking to Jon at the first Low End fest about the Maschine (in comparison to SP404) and he also had this same healthy response at the time. It's not about which instrument is best, but really learning how to use it and figuring out what you enjoy most. Basically you can make great music on anything.
It's crazy to think that the guy who got me into getting my mk2 and music production went through the same exact thing with it being put away for a couple of months and staring at it for a while lmao. Honestly inspiring and give me a bit of a push to learn my machine more rather than look for the "easiest" or "best" gear so thank you Jon!
No one is born good. The work must be put in regardless
It’s a journey starting out, I have bought to much gear only to use a few select pieces. Find something that inspires you and just learn the dang thing, there is no magic. The magic happens when you start understanding the gear you have and learning it also wrapping your head around production in general takes a while to get. I spent way too much money looking for something that does not exist. Once I started to focus on the actual production and my problem areas is when I started to progress a lot faster. Stick to one piece of gear if possible until your grasp the production side of things would be my advice to myself if I had to start over.
One amazing thing to mention is that ableton for full time college students has a 60% discount and saves literally hundreds of dollars!
Wish I was a student still! Lmao I'm really digging Ableton lite but 2 midi tracks sucks!
My first machine is the BOSS BR1600CD. Then i went for the Korg MS20. Then the YPG235. Then even the Yamaha 32 channel mixer for No input Mixing. All of that veing said. The best thing thats worked for me is like the man said. The flow of the charts on the Korg helped me understand the most.
good video, inspired me to rethink what ive been considering buying
One of the first pieces of gear I bought when I started making music a few years ago was a microlooper called the Red Panda tensor. I only recently figured out how to use it a few months ago after fiddling around with it off and on and now I'm so glad I never sold it. But it was a situation where I bought something that was too complicated for me to understand when I first started producing.
Octatrack was the first sampler I ever bought. I remember buying the MK1 second hand from a guy, and telling him it was my first sampler, and he was like “you sure want this thing?”
I was so determined to learn the instrument, but didn’t realize that learning it was basically akin to learning a whole new language.
It would take me YEARS to really get an understanding of the instrument to the point where I felt comfortable using it live. Needless to say, that octa still frustrates me sometimes, with its quirks but the journey and time spent with it, I wouldn’t trade for any experience with any other machine.
Well said Jon. It's mostly trial and error when it comes to what your looking for...... And even then, there will be always be something else that peak's your interest when it comes to hardware.
Your initial explanation on expressing oneself was beautiful
Thank you Jon, I had a similar experience starting out with the Maschine 2 when I was 16 years old. Put it down after it was too complicated for me. The passion never left tho.
I ended up learning the fundamentals of beat making a few years later using ableton & the po-33. But after picking up the MPC 500 I was hooked.
10 years later I’m still using an MPC (the Live II for the most part) and have loved the journey so far. To anyone who is starting out, if the passion is there don’t give up!
The intent is what matters
I relate to this, I bought the maschine mk2 when I was like 18 after having fun with fl studio for a few months. The workflow ended up being so different than fl that I immediately got stuck and frustrated. I sold the hardware after a year but held onto the sound libraries that came with it and those alone have lasted me almost 10 years.
The “feel” and tactility of the creative platform and it’s interface seems to be such an impetus builder for igniting that path to actually MAKING. So much tech just stretches the launch runway and drains the creative fuel before take off. P.S. that “How to Use Your 4 Track” book was such an incredible quick-learn for demystifying recording to me in my 20s...your tutorial-ish vids remind me of that engaging tone
Love that book
This man is the actual GOAT ! Holly what a great take on music creation ! I do think I found my way with the gear I use today and funny enough i started with an SP mk2. But for anyone how is still going though the process of finding the adequate tools to realize their vision, this video is a must. !
bought and learned the octatrack in a weekend.
Very impressive
Appreciate you using your platform to impart wisdom that needs to be heard. Hopefully it will be taken to heart for patience is severely lacking. Respect sir.
Great advice! I spent years bouncing off Ableton. Decided to try Bitwig and it clicked perfectly. Bought used synths on Reverb, fell in love with a couple, sold off a couple that I didn't. It takes time & effort to figure out what works for you.
I fall into the category of bought it and it’s collecting dust in a box. I bought a digitakt from instagram and it was too complicated for the limited time I tried to put into it. It makes me want to get back into it, inspiring work Jon. I need to learn the patience to be excited.
It won’t do the work for you
Do it dude! Honestly i think its one of the best machines out there for the price/quality and feature set it offers. The layout is streamlined and more conducive ( or easier ) to making full tracks then say a 404 cause it has patterns and now song mode. Also i feel it gives you all the essentials and a bit more to sound design and shape accordingly.
Good luck, have fun.
You're a really fucking solid dude. Love that.
The best video on this topic ever. Thanks so so so so much for spreading this message!
Wow thank you for saying that. Comments like this make the work worth it
Great vid Jon and thanks for including me in the screenshots! I agree it is really difficult answering this question for people. I started on MPCs and struggled, then I got an SX and it was a huge learning curve at the time but all the artists I was inspired by were using them so I kept grinding and managed to get relatively ok with it in the end. I personally think the SX is quite a difficult machine to learn on asa lot of the things you need to make beats are done through hacks or workarounds which isn't intuitive to new users, and its very limiting. The MK2 is a huge step up but I still think the learning curve is quite steep, but maybe thats the same with all gear. I think you just need to try and find a bit of gear that really resonates with you when you check it out online or if you see it in a shop. That feeling is what's going to push you through those dark days of hardcore learning!
Every platform has quirks. Everyone has a different brain. Just have to find a workflow that fits how you think. Nothing is better or worse than
Beautiful point. Very well made. Much love
Thanks
beautiful message from mr. beats :)
Mr beast’s brother
Saving this video to forward to anybody who asks me what they should get as initial gear.
Please do. I’m gonna do the same thing lol
When I was first interested in making beats at 14 (2008) I really really wanted an MPC but my parents couldn’t afford it. I ended up downloading the FL Studio demo which had all the functions of the paid version, except the ability to save projects. You could still export your song.
I ended up using that for about a year until my parents got me the $200 FL signature bundle for Christmas. Year after that I got a job and saved up for an MPD 18 and a Numark TTUSB. That combo was my “budget MPC” lol.
15 years later and I’m still using it thanks to their lifetime free updates. I’m so grateful I stuck with it because today it’s one of the most capable DAWs available (stem separation anyone?)
This is getting long winded but I guess I’m trying to say is that if you’re reading this and you’re a beginner, accessibility is key, so consider giving FL a shot. It can be as simple or deep as you want it to be :) Good luck!
honestly fl gets you where you want but i have been producing for 5 years and buying more and more gear my production is way better
but as jon said you need to put energy and time to really learn, if you start from that, it make take you a year before dropping your first good beat or finished projet
My first hardware was the octatrack, for 4 years it is my only hardware. I was looking at this machine for years and after finishing university I know I was going to get one. It took a long time the control on a manner that let me making track and to this day I still learning new things BUT the infinite depth of it was what made my put in the hours of my time into it. For ME it was the perfect first hardware
You rose to the occasion
@@jonmakesbeats and some
Love a Jon talking vid. Ever considered doing a podcast? Would love to hear you talk more in depth about so many things.
I don’t have THAT much to say lmao
Got my digitakt ~3 years ago? Still was on the fence about it a year after that and I picked up a bass.
After that, it was all just me grinding on it. Recently bought myself an octatrack after buying/selling returning a couple synths. this week it all clicked. i love samples and have a OT mk2 in the mail.
Thanks jon. been with you since the rap game and i hope to stick around. the fact we all still messin around w this stuff speakes volumes.
Great advice and thank you for making a dope video! One of the issues I had in the past was Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I would ended up buying all this equipment that I didn't need or bought because I thought having cool gear would make me a better musician.
Looking back, it made me think a lot on how much money I could of save and how I should of focus more on learning the fundamental and driving my passion that made me get into music.
Jon, thanks for being the voice of self expression. Perfect.
I love king jon
I love your intro fam! Well said. Even as someone who’s done music for decades that was touching.
The way you explain everything is so amazing, concise and clear!
Thoughtful and well rounded video as always. Thanks jon ❤
Much love
i think ppl should start with a cheap MIDI controller and a DAW just to learn the basic mechanics of music making and figure out how to find your own sound. i think if i bought a bunch of expensive gear and went thru the process of making trash ass beats (just about everybody has to go thru the growing pains of making bad beats before they start making good ones lol), i would’ve gotten discouraged like Jonwayne said.
after making and releasing a couple albums in Ableton with cheap/free gear, i finally went to a Digitakt and i’m loving it despite still learning it. but i also don’t really get overwhelmed with an abundance of options in a DAW like other ppl do. i only had the $100 version of ableton so if anything i had to learn how to work around limitations (no sampler, EQ 3, etc) similar to how a lot of hardware samplers also limit you. but that’s just me, hope that helps someone that reads this
This is so good what the hell Jon
Thanks bud
😮 Theo makes beats?
Messing around with a DAW before buying your first beatmaking hardware is very important because you will better understand what limitations you are OK with and not feel regret that the machine you bought is missing something important to you. The main reasons I went with the Novation Circuit Rhythm were:
1. It could sample
2. It has 8 tracks
3. It has sidechaining
4. No menu diving
This is not a push for anyone to get the Circuit. This is what was best for ME...
Also... Watch a shi7load of videos before buying
Don’t look for the right pencil, look for the pencil in the room
Saw you commenting on StlnDrms' stream yesterday, you are a busy dude, love the content
Shoutout STLNDRMS
Very well put together and a refreshing change when compared to other youtube videos on this subject. I’m not into hip hop much but always enjoy your jams showing your workflow, and your philosophical videos too. 🔥✊
Love You Jon, and love what You bring to the world
Love this take Jon, so rad to hear man. Truth!
Thanks for watching
the essential video on the topic right here
I’m glad you think so. I hope it reaches more people
@@jonmakesbeats let's hope the algorithm is kind
Old school underground started on the 404 too, not just AKAI. When you mention or make beats with the MKII, personally there's a stronger connection because it's like, "wow, Jon made THAT kind of beat on the same machine as I have?" That's neat as hell and highly motivational to make more of my own music.
Roland 808!
I can relate to this on so many levels. Although my first gear was native instruments mikro (which is the best beginner gear imo), my 2nd was the sp404sx because I saw madlib produce on it and boy was I stressed. Dropping $400+ and not knowing what to do with the limited sample space made me use it as a prop for my studio for the longest.
These words are everything. JW you the man!
one of my favorite rappers /beat makers, teaching me things. thanks so much!
Always great !!
I think this video and the ideas in it can be applied to almost all types of creative expression, if not actually all of them.
Yup
way to be a real person and not a influencer my friend. this video is the direct opposite of a lot of the recent gear tube vids. it makes me happy as a old 42 year old head who been making beats since that 404 you mentioned
I try not to vilify influencers because that’s a huge portion of music TH-camrs incomes. Kind of a necessary aspect and I do it every now and then (only if I truly agree with it). But yeah I think measured advice not hinging on commerce is also needed. Thanks for watching
@@jonmakesbeats for sure. And it is real nice to have when you want new stuff. Way better than the music mag reviews of childhood
I know its weird but i fucking love splice ,take the sounds and just smash them .feel blessed with this platform
Im also a Splice addict!
Really cool that you got into the philosophy of it! Luv it
great video, I honestly wish I had this when I first started shopping around for gear.
Sell everything and then watch again. Problem solved
UR SO REAL FOR THIS ONE @@jonmakesbeats
I’ve tried a lot of tools and for some reason the mpc 3000 does it for me. I’m fast on the live and ableton but the 3000 is magical
man i love you jon
this is the greatest beginners guide for anything in general thank you for being like this
Best video about this topic ever. Good on you sir.
Merry Christmas mr wayne
Spell316 was super helpful for learning how to flip samples. Sometimes just watching someone's workflow is enough to get you going in a DAW.
Shoutout Spell
Love to hear your candid opinions, keep rocking man
Respect 🙏
Love this macro look on stuff. Your Bowser album was fire
just get the KO II and anything you had before as well as anything you might get afterwards will make complete sense. it sparks great ideas and works very well with others. a truly revolutionary piece of machine art.
Even though I'm a previous professional producer. When getting back into making music. Without knowing it, I went along the complexity graph in my head. From Cirtcuit tracks to Digitakt to Octotrack. I ended up, going for the Circuit, as i wanted to just get a device i could get into straight away. Now i just fire it up, headphones on and play.....Perfect decision for my situation, with limited time due a young family.
There is a situation for all types of musicians at this point
Agree the Circuit is a brilliant machine for beginners and for those looking for simplicity.
The great piece of advice that I picked up on, pick the equipment that excites and motivates you. Great video
Two pieces of kit I regret selling many years ago are.. the Zoom SampleTrak SP-224 and the Korg Electribe ES-1. These groove box samplers are absolutely perfect for beginners or anyone because they are simple to operate. Many can be found online secondhand.
Man, i remember hearing "Words are everything" back in the day, i had no idea Jon was making youtube videos now. Amazing work on this video, couldn't have laid out a better opinion on this topic. Trust the process! Thanks Jon~
It is a very good overview of how the selection process should be. I had tried a few machines, and found in the end Polyend Tracker Mini works the best for me. I like its rather methodical approach, the overview you have of the tracks, and how it invites to return to your patterns to further polish them. And I didn’t even have tracker experience, but FOR ME I found this workflow working better than more immediate devices
This is an awesome video dude
I still look at the octatrack like "shit, this was too pricey just to look at."
You could compare it to learning how to ride a bike for example. When you're just starting out, you don't need the most expensive bike. You just need one that you can ride on but if you can effort it you could buy a more expensive bike. Ones you know how to ride it, you could buy a moutain bike, elektric bike.
Great video as usual my man 🔥🤙
Thanks
This... is a very valid & important contribution to youtube's musicmaking. :heart: And I'd like to add (well, if you're a beginner *beatmaker,* it may not apply but) when you're about to set foot into making electronic(ally produced) music, maybe the stuff that you *see* yourself doing isn't even what you *should* be doing - 1:04 - that is, what wants to come out of you in terms of self expression and what's meaningful to you (and then others, ideally), so how could a stranger possibly tell you what tools to use?
I've heard you name drop la habra ofc and remember your low end residency with fond memories, but to hear your guitar center was also my local, was mind blowing. An artist of your caliber, from down the street and of my time, goes way beyond hometown hero. Forever a fan
Came here looking for the answer to what can k buy my son to help him learn and grow his love for making/playing music. He’s expressed interest in getting into using samplers and so here we are. Amazing insight shared here and I greatly appreciate it. I’ll show this to him and we’ll see how we can translate this into next steps. Big love homie! ❤
Absolutely phenomenal answer. I haven't had a lot of money to spend on gear, but I've bought a couple things, and found that I only really clicked with one or two of those things.
Everyone thinks that a good piece of gear is an objective truth, and while in some ways it is, it's also very subjective, just like as an artist, what art program you use, and what brushes you use inside that program, is all going to depend on the artist. It ain't the brush, it's the artist.
Word, man ❤️
Great video man, I saw that you showed the Koala app, could you make a video making a beat in that app? See, I make music with Koala and sometimes I get frustrated because I don't know how to do certain things, so i think a video of you trying it will help me a lot!
I'm 42 seconds in. Was looking for a recommendation, got a summary of my purpose in life. Thank you