Advice for a budding (10yr old) producer...

Hello,

My 10yr old child is a budding EDM producer. He loves to play around on those free "beat making" apps on his iPhone but really would like to move into something more real/advance. While I have a musical background, I do not have any experience with producing/sequencing electronic music but would love to encourage him.

I have been looking at both Maschine Mikro and Ableton Push. Does anyone have any advice on which would be the better route for someone this young? I plan on learning along with him but want to provide him with the easiest entry point into production - something that's quick to pick up and going to reduce the chance of too much frustration

Any tips on good ways to encourage and nurture his interest are greatly appreciated!

 

Then buy not the maschine mikro buy the maschine instead, the middle one I mean. It's easy to learn and you can do really complete songs. But he needs a powerfull computer too with maschine or push.

Uwe

 

The lower price point of the Mikro was appealing as it's his first entry into this... is there a reason why to avoid the Mikro?

 

The mikro has only one knob to control parameters and for techno or EDM it is essential to move some things and record that or tweak own sounds quickly. Even mixing is faster like the whole work flow. I had the mikro first and sold it quickly for the middle maschine. And i forgot maschine jam this is also a good option but has no screens itself.
So maschine jam cost 400 bugs I think so that's a great deal you only have to look on computer screen. And you can later buy a maschine mikro as addition if you want and if you need velocity sensitive pads.

So I would buy maschine jam and maybe later more

 

IMHO it is not essential to tweak multiple parameters at the same time. Except for live work perhaps. While producing you can just do multiple passes with different parameters. One disadvantage of the mikro is that it has less knobs/buttons so some for some functions you need to dive into it, so you have a slightly steeper learning curve. Other then that I love my mikro for it's small footprint. Jam is also an option.
As to the difference between maschine and ableton live, I have to say I love both, but perhaps live (being more complex) would be a bit more daunting.

 

maschine is more functional when it comes to creating than a jam.
what kind of edm, what are the artist using that he likes?
does he play video games, and does he use a computer for school, if he's only 10 and spends most of his time on a computer I'd go with something else to get him involved in a way that his ears could take priority over his eyes.. I'd go with the maschine mk2 and have him use it with the computer screen closed. Or some other beat machine that didn't even connect to the computer that he could just plug a pair of headphones into and go at it

 

Yeah, something like a Novation Circuit or a Korg Electribe 2. Lucky 10 year old, whatever he gets anyway!

 

I'd let him continue with beat apps on the iPad. Sooner or later he'll gravitate towards a more pro product and be able to appreciate what it does better. I remember starting out at a similar age and I definitely knew what I wanted.

 

My thought exactly. IMO, this would be a better introduction to more advanced electronic composition without bending the learning curve too far. However, it may be that part of the intrigue for him at this point is the visual aspect of the iOS apps.

 

One question - many opinions

but it would be nice to know what apps he actually uses does he program own patterns or does he mix up some pre sequenced/recorded stuff there are also cool options if he has a I pad
https://us.novationmusic.com/launch/launchpad-app#
This app with a launch pad or launch pad mini pad is also great
https://us.novationmusic.com/launch/launchpad#
But best is to ask him to avoid disappointment.

Gesendet von meinem SM-A510F mit Tapatalk

 

Number one advise... Protect your hearing! Esp at that age. Headphones are the worst. I would go the training course route if you can, groove3 do quite good videos for instance. Better still if he is able to read the Maschine manual from beginning to end (frankly I think an 8 year old would understand it) so much the better. It's very easy to get distracted by the bells and whistles, if he's serious he would do it. Same advise for other gear. Get them to learn rather than muck about all the time like us 40 year olds do.

I would definitely encourage him though to get more into music theory, how to play a piano keyboard for instance.

 

Oh man i wish i had a Dad like you dude when i was a kid, its so cool you encourage your child to be creative.

Sorry to be a party pooper but in my humble opinion depending on the EDM style he likes Maschine might not be the best option, especially the Mikro. Can you elaborate a bit more on what kind of EDM he likes?
FL Studio is probably the number #1 child producer software.

 

The tag line of FL Studio's next major release.

 

10 years old and is using the phone and pad apps. For a less expensive then machine route I would look at the Roli lighted blocks which works with their noise app and can be set up to work with other synths and such. I have a lightpad only and use it with Logic and my iPhone noise app etc and it was 179$, it is at least worth looking into. It seems like easy switch to something very powerful he should be able to jump right into. Maschine there is a learning curve you need to be on a computer and it is a bit more expensive.

 

I'd go this route

 

I have a one of the PO and it is fun to play with.

 

How about getting a controller that can be used with the ipad and stepping up to a non-free app? Korg Gadget is currently on sale. And the desktop version was just released last week.

 

PO could be loads of fun, then again if what he wants to do is boom bap rap beats or wants to do Skrillex-type-dubstep its defiantly a no-go. (imo)
To best advice someone we need to understand the expectations and what they want to do.

If the child is already decent with computers and has his own laptop i would advice a small little keyboard with some pads and a software to start off, something like Novations Launch Key Mini

Works with iPad and with the PC for (Ableton, FL, etc..)

If he really gets into it consider buying a more in depth controller like Mashine or Push later on.

Then again if dad can afford it and wants to learn himself go straight to maschine/push and share it with the child if he loses interrrest fast like its common on is that age at least you got yourself a new hobby.

 

To be honest, I say this as someone who hasn't touched the application is years. If you have a computer (I'm assuming yes since you plan to get Maschine or Ableton Push), if you are on a PC just get FLStudio. All the kids are using it to do EDM and it's pretty easy and fun to use. Lot's of tutorials online, lot's of resources available and free updates so if the kid decides this is not their thing (as all kids do) then at least you can keep on using for as long as you need to.

Every kid I know has a bootleg copy of FLStudio (sigh) that they are using to make music anyway. So imo that's the way to go for a kid. If they become serious they can keep on using FLStudio, nothing wrong with that, but at that point you would want to maybe move on to something like Ableton, Cubase, etc.

Get a cheap drum controller if you really need them to have some sort of tactile control.

 

The Korg Nanokey Studio & Korg Gadget app will come in at about half the price of a Mikro.

It's beginner friendly and with the addition of Ableton at a later date is a very powerful combo.