Getting Started pt. 1

Being the first post I think it's appropriate if it's about how to get started. Note that I am not a hardware elitist and I'm not against it either. But in my opinion you won't become a better producer just by spending tons of money on software and equipment. I know people who make amazing tunes on the saddest rigs out there but there are loads of others who can't create a decent arrangement even though they have everything you can imagine. Try to find a sweet spot in the middle. But for the sake of getting started easier I'm going to focus on the very basic needs right now. Moving on...

1. The computer

This is pretty obvious isn't it? You're gonna need something to produce on right? So it may be obvious, but choosing the right computer for the job is a must. In my opinion anything would do which has at least 2 cores and 4 GB of ram. (You'll be freezing tracks a lot though, but that's another post...)
I am not willing to get into the Windows vs. OSX argument you can read plenty on that if you Google it. I'm on OSX and even though I prefer it over Windows you can't argue that there is more software available on the Microsoft side and also, in my humble opinion, OSX is more stable, but it can be placebo...It all comes down to personal preference, but be sure to double check everything considering the following factors:

• What kind of music do you want to produce?
• Which OS has more and better software available to do so? (Logic is MAC-only and FL Studio is Win-only you see?)
• Will you use any external equipment? (Cause it's a bummer if you don't have the necessary ports/buses.)
• Do you plan to produce more on the road or in your bedroom/studio? (A battery which can last for 9 hours may not be necessary in your house.)

Bottom line: don't rush with the decision, I think you don't want to buy a new laptop every year. (With this section I'm assuming you don't wanna buy a desktop setup.)

2. Soundcard

Not an absolute must in my eyes but if you want less stress on your CPU and want more IN/OUT channels you must seriously consider purchasing one. I don't recommend USB ones (unless 3.0), if you have the chance, stick with Firewire/Thunderbolt interfaces. Mostly because Firewire can reserve bandwidth for itself which nothing else can touch. But this is also a never-ending argument which too, comes down to personal preference. The more you try the more you can see what's the best for you.

3. DAW

A very, if not the most important part. I tried out a lot, but for me, nothing came close to Live. The reason is simple.  It's simple. I don't have to switch between pencil and cutting tools and whatnot, I got familiar with the built-in effects and instruments, the interface and of course the ability to switch between Live and Arrangement View. That's me, but I always envied FL's pattern based step-sequencer or Logic's massive built-in sound library and even Reason's ability of routing synths/effects to each other.  But I am an Ableton dude, I wouldn't have been able to finish any tunes without it. Be sure to make an informed decision based on your personal requirements and experience with these software. It's more than enough to know just one DAW inside out.

To be continued in pt. 2