Any music creators on this site?

Hey guys. 
 
I've just started to get into making electronic music, and would like to create something myself. Problem is I don't know where to start. I got a Macbook Pro with Garage band, and that's about it. I'm considering Logic express/pro, but I don't feel I need something so sophisticated just yet. First off I need to learn the basics. My problem must be where to find samples. Do you make them yourselves, or do you "loan" them from existing songs? Do you use the loops that follow the editing program or do you create your own? 
 
Do I need a keyboard? I enjoy dubstep, and would like to attempt to make something within that genre. How do I make the wobbly sounds? :) 
 
I appreciate all tips on where to go from, how to get started, and general tips :) Thanks.

Hey guys. 
 
I've just started to get into making electronic music, and would like to create something myself. Problem is I don't know where to start. I got a Macbook Pro with Garage band, and that's about it. I'm considering Logic express/pro, but I don't feel I need something so sophisticated just yet. First off I need to learn the basics. My problem must be where to find samples. Do you make them yourselves, or do you "loan" them from existing songs? Do you use the loops that follow the editing program or do you create your own? 
 
Do I need a keyboard? I enjoy dubstep, and would like to attempt to make something within that genre. How do I make the wobbly sounds? :) 
 
I appreciate all tips on where to go from, how to get started, and general tips :) Thanks.

You should talk with Hamst3r from the site.

I just dont have the creativity in me.. 
 
I learn how to play rock/metal songs on my electric guitar via tabs, and i can play hundreds of em, but writing stuff myself is meh !

" You should talk with Hamst3r from the site. "

I'm more of a hip-hop kind of guy, but making hip-hop and electronic are very similar. 
 
There are two things you should look at, first is an MPD.  I feel for making drum loops or manipulating samples that is key.  I have a Maschine (thats the name of the product) and its really good.  Real easy to use, hard to master, comes with 5 gb of samples but it pretty expensive ($600).  If you have the money laying around then get it.  But there are definitely other products you can use.
 
To create melody and stuff a good keyboard is good too.  I have a keyrig 49 by m-audio.  Pretty cheap and works well with GarageBand. 
 
I would say play with garageband right now and not invest in anything yet (you could get the keyboard its $100). To get samples just use the stock sounds in garageband, make them or use them from other songs you have heard them from (i don't think you have to deal with legal problems in the beginning just yet, unless you make an awesome song, but you can deal with that later), No matter how much equipment you get, it all comes down to creativity and that comes from you.

" You should talk with Hamst3r from the site. "

if you're thinking of going down the pro tools/logic route right away - don't. it's a complete mindfuck if you aren't already sure what 90% of the buttons do. garageband + audacity is a pretty good starting place in regards to software. it's pretty futile for me to try and fully explain sampling here (just google it - there are tons of comprehensive guides out there), but when you get comfortable with it, make sure that if you sample anything that was made and copyrighted by somebody else in a track of yours, give the track away free. it's very unlikely that you'll run into any problems if you make sure you don't charge for somebody else's work.

also: for hardware, i would recommend m-audio.

 I HAVE attempted to make my own music, but just am not technically inclined enough to do so.  I've used Fruity Loops Studio in the past which is a pretty robust music program.  Shadow Dancer made their first album entirely in FL Studio (although its not dubstep):
   

i occassionally, when i have the tools, diddle around with synths and what not. I do help friends trying to record music as a drummer, but other than that, my stuff is just... i mess around :P

I always write think of songs and music, but I have nothing to bring it all to life. It sucks. I have these great images in my mind that I can't do anything with.

i think you should start off with garage band and audicity. i made some good songs with garage band. i used audicity for editing the music. it comes with windows and mac version, just FYI for other people reading this.

" You should talk with Hamst3r from the site. "

Yeah, I've written and performed a whole rock/alternative album with my friends, and I've also helped with some beat production and lyrics for some other friends that rap.

I've made some stuff. 
 
http://hematurge.bandcamp.com/  
  I don't know much about the Mac side of things. Don't spend any money on it, there's tons of free software for music production. 
 
http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/  
 
Look there. ^^ 
 
Couple good electronic music production sites. 
 
 http://www.em411.com/ 
 
 http://www.idmforums.com/

I also recently got a MacBook Pro along with Logic Studio with the intentions of using it to write music. Having used FL Studio to write multiple songs I figured it would be fairly easy for me to get into Logic...I was wrong. Logic is incredibly deep and takes a really long time to even start to grasp. I have been reading about it, watching videos, and just playing around with for about 2 months now and I am only starting to get an idea everything that can be done with it. I would say stick with Garage Band for a while and get a USB keyboard to use with it. Once you get a hang for that you can move on up to Logic. I would suggest that you get the full studio edition of Logic when you do though since it comes with all five JamPacks which are worth the $500 price tag alone. As far as dubstep goes you can check out this video and the others that go along with it. The guy that made the videos used Reason but many of the things he talks about can be applied to any DAW.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the answers :) 
  
@Meltac: I guess I'll bother him if I get desperate enough hehe!  
@Ahmad_Metallic: For now, I atleast feel that I have the creativity in me... I might be proven otherwise though. 
@DanielJW: Ok, so it's called a pitch changer? Thanks :) I'll look it up.  
@jediknight00719: Thanks. 600 is too much to spend at this moment. But I'll google around for a good beginners MPD. If I ever feel that whatever I use limits my creativity, I guess I'll look into it :) Thanks for the keyboard tip. Yeah, I'm not going to buy something expensive so I'll look at the one you have.  
@Toms115: I'm not trying to make it as a musician and making money out of it, so giving my songs away for free won't be a problem :) If I ever make songs that people appreciate I guess that's enough for me.  
@Heylook: Cool, thanks. I won't ever buy express then.And I'll check out the other programs. Have you made anything btw? 
@mikevanpwn: Impressive! As I'm writing this I'm 16 minutes into the first mix. Think I'll check out Deckadance. Hey if I need help I'll send you a PM. Thanks! (I'm now listening to your second song. 2 minutes in, love the bass)
@Interfect: At first I thought you were being sarcastic, but then I realized that it probably was a program. Hehe, thanks :) 
@nofx4208: Hehe. How's it going in your pursuit to become a director? Made anything yet? 
@AlwaysAngry: Me too. That is why I'm trying to learn this crap haha. 
@iam3green: I usually use audacity to make ringtones, but I think I'll use it to cut up songs. 
@InfamousBIG: Awesome. Do you have a myspace? 
@hematurge: Thanks. Have you uploaded your stuff to the internet? 
@zAMERICANLIONz: Thanks for the link. Really helpful :) Have you made anything yet?

Hi,
 
try this: 
http://audiotool.com/. Free. Works in your browser. Great Emulations (303, 808). Good Samples. MP3/Ogg export coming soon. Sequencer functionality. Unfortunately no guide for now. Check out this user created song: 
http://audiotool.com/app/dubtexno/0 allday long dub.

" @Ahmad_Metallic: You should get a book of scales to accompany a book of chords (if you don't already have one). Practice those scales over and over until you get a feeling for which ones you feel the most comfortable with. After that each written song should be confined to a single scale in the beginning, once you get better with scales and song writing it should come naturally. This is the advice I've received a few months ago and it's coming along nicely for me! :) Not that I've written any songs but my playing in general is getting better. "

"I just dont have the creativity in me..  I learn how to play rock/metal songs on my electric guitar via tabs, and i can play hundreds of em, but writing stuff myself is meh ! "