Of course, you're still going to need a computer and speakers/headphones... And no, I'm not going to post a link to a cracked version...

For months, I thought i needed to save up to get some software and a keyboard (midi controller). I could have started a lot sooner, had I known that:

-There is a downloadable trial version of Ableton Live 8 Suite (it's what I use, don't know if this works for other DAW's), limited to 30 days per email adress you are capable of inventing. After 30 days, saving and exporting are disabled, you just enter another (valid) email adress, and there you go, don't even need to download the whole thing again! But you will need an internet connection everytime you start Live so that it can check and activate saving. No need to used a risky cracked version!

-You don't need a keyboard/midi controller, since you can either "paint" the notes in the built-in piano roll, or use your computer keyboard to press notes and start having great fun! It's also a good way to get a feel for what midi controller you might want to get later on.


(I hope all this doesn't sound like spamming or cheating, just thought it's good to know for broke people who wanna get making bleeps and booms!)

I'm going to do this, spending time making attempts to make psychedelic trance sounds like time well spent. I was listening to Infected Mushroom's Saeed as I wrote this, maybe I'll try to imitate it.

Your right you dont need a midi keyboard but what a difference they make. I mean you dont get knobs to turn on a laptop, assigning knobs to vsts is amazing, gives you hands on fun with fat synthesisers! Also the novation launchpad is a great contorller and quite cheap and if you get it you get ableton light, making upgrading a bit cheaper, something Im going to do in the next few months. I want max for live and having had a lifetime of cracked programs think its time to finally part wiith some money but great advice never thought of the email adress change, of course you can make good stuff with just a computer but what a difference a controller can make to the creative process!

i absolutely love reason! Its like a never ending video game (kinda). I've never heard of albeton live... Is it better than reason and recycle?

Cubase 5 ftw!

Pricey, but worth it if you want to get serious.

I wouldn't say it's necessarily better, just different. Personally I prefer the interface in Live. Though there's no reason you can't use both with ReWire.

Reason is definately the best in terms of CPU usage.

Ableton's the master for hands on tweakery and easy control assigning options.

ableton rocks I love it

Another vote for Live. It's phantastic.

I want Logic...to bad those mac bastards are so expensive=(...