Lets Start at the Beginning

[akira]

So I have a laptop with Fruity Loops Studio 5, Reason (which I haven't used ever), and a Yamaha cs1x synth. For some reason I find it much easier to get nice sounds out of the synth then from using software.

 

But what I want to know is how do I hook them up so I can record sounds into FL or if I ever get brave enough, Reason.

 

I've ever only messed around on hardware or software, and have no experience in getting them to talk to each other. They don't seem to be telepathic. Or are they and I'm just not tuned into the correct frequencies?

 

Pls help.

[Malevol3nt]

You're auditioning the synth externaly? Or is it already connected to the laptop's soundcard and you're listening to the synth in fl studio, for example?

[akira]

The synth isn't connected to anything currently so externally, yes.

[Malevol3nt]

Do you have some sort of external soundcard, or you're using an internal soundcard that came as default with the laptop? Probably named Realtek or Intel multimedia.

[Veracohr]

For some reason I find it much easier to get nice sounds out of the synth then from using software.

Not uncommon. Softsynths actually kind of suck to work on. IMO.

 

I don't know anything about FL Studio, but you can't record audio in Reason. Propellerhead has just come out with a new software called "Record", but I don't know how good it is.

 

I'd suggest finding a good DAW you can ReWire FL and Reason into (does FL support ReWire?) so that you can also record your hardware synth.

[Veracohr]

You can easily find a cheap Firewire or USB audio interface to record the hardware. You'll also want a MIDI interface so you can control the softsynths with the keyboard. Many audio interfaces have a MIDI port. The PreSonus Firebox isn't that much.

[Otto Matta]

akira - I was in your shoes about 4 years ago. I got interested after I wrote a couple of tracks in FL Studio. I bought a new computer, Reason 3.0 and a soundcard with MIDI (MAudio Delta 1010LT, which is still warmly regarded, even if it's not the best). With moderate effort I outgrew my setup within less than two years, then upgraded to Cubase 4, which is magnificent.

 

My recommendation to you would be to skip many expensive and time-consuming steps and get yourself a half-decent soundcard and Cubase, both of which you can find used if money is an issue. Also make sure you have the fastest computer you can afford, one that you can upgrade as the need arises. Speed makes all the difference. You can have great gear but a slow computer will more than likely kill your inspiration.

 

No matter what you decide on, making electronic music is always going to have a fairly steep learning curve (your effort will be the most important driving factor), so you're better off having the right equipment to start with and learn with. If I'd known better, that's what I would have done. In other words, don't be intimidated by this stuff - you, just like many, many people, can master it if you put in a modicum of effort.

 

FL Studio can be very powerful in the right hands, and offers more flexibility than Reason, which is also very powerful and extremely sturdy, but ultimately limited.

 

If you're interested, but not interested enough at the moment to splurge on a bunch of equipment, I'd say, one, forget Reason. Two, get yourself a half-decent soundcard with MIDI inputs so that you can hook up your Yamaha and use it as a controller with FL Studio. Three, if you like the process thus far, get Cubase as soon as possible, before you get all warm and fuzzy with FL Studio and don't want to part with it.

 

The main advantage to programs like FL Studio and Cubase - not Reason - is that when you're ready you can acquire, for free and/or for money, software synthesizers and effects (VSTis) that will greatly expand upon the palette with which you can paint your music.