Hello people, Im afraid as the subject suggests i am a brand spanking newbie without a clue and im hoping one or two of you wise old mentors out there could give me a hand. I want to get into PD as im bored of the samplers and synths i have been using and also unable to afford much in the way of software and want to move to the next level. As far as i can tell that is PD.
I am using Windows XP and would be interested in using PD as standalone or VST instrument but preferably stand alone if possible. Im interested in mangling samples audio, sequencing/beat making and synth making.
I have worked out getting PD to run gem picture stuff but cant really find any suitable audio stuff. Can any of you help?
I would REALLY, REALLY appreciate some simple step by step instructions on what externals to download how to install them and exactly how to get them going !
Please help
Stocky

Hey stocky,

i'm far from an old wise mentor, but i'll give it a try anyway

You've already managed to install pd and run some gem stuff, so i assume you've downloaded an extended package. I'm still on 0.38.4 extended; this version is really quite stable and contains everything you need (only graph on parent is not very functional).

The most important advice i can give is : allow yourself enough time (at least a couple of weeks) to get familiar with pd, don't expected to create the coolest patches after a couple of hours with pd. The help browser looks arcane, but work your way through at least the control examples and then the audio examples (although the latter can be a bit overwhelming). Then, if you're looking for other examples of synths, drummachines, samplers,... search the patches section of this forum. There's plenty of nice stuff to dissect and learn from.

But then again, give yourself time to learn and don't give up to fast. I have been making music for years with flstudio + zillions of plugins, but since i've discovered pd (and gave it 1 month nearly fulltime to learn), i never want to go back.

Hope this helps (a little),

Domien

Cheers for the reply
It sounds like you use it standalone - is that correct??
Are there any particular patches which would have an environment to create tracks on to get a feel of what it can do ? For example a patch with would include sequencer - beats, synths and samples??
Can it record the output to wav etc ?
Im aware i have a lot of learning to do but id really like to see how to use it to build complete tracks before i invest my limited time and very limited brainpower into it!!!
Many thanks Alan

Oh yeah Damien checked out your my space and your tunes are wicked. Particularly like onesixzero, were those beats done in PD ?
Good work Lad

Hello Stocky, welcome Pd forum,

Have a look around the forum and you will find plenty of fun things to make noises. The pleasure of Pd is modifying and configuring things to do what you want, bcause you can take everything apart and see how it works, swap filters and oscillators around....Many people use Pd in conjuction with other software sequencers and tools for making unique music.

best regards,

Andy

Thanks mate, ive been having a look around but when i try and download a drum machine for example it just comes up as file and doesnt even have an extension. Damn im so lost
If anyone could point me to exactly the right thing to get a drum machine - synth - sequencer patch i would be very happy...... especially if its step by step for dummys like me
Cheers Al

Alan,

thanx for your nice comments on our music. Ziggy electric is my mate on Reaktor/EWI and myself on pd/guitar. For onesixzero it was him doing the beatz, and me doing the other stuff. If you want you can check the two songs i've just posted in the output section of this forum. Those were completely done in pd (with the help of the occasional free vsti).

Now, concerning your quest for an environment to create music in, you should be aware that this doesn't come "out of the box" with pd, it's more up to you to create your own thing. That's a disadvantage but at the same time the biggest advantage of pd. Once you're familiar with the basic constructs you can create whatever you have in mind or build upon what you come along by accident. You have to start small and gradually things will fall in place. Oh well, that's how it works for me. Like obi said, download patches (they should have the .pd extension) and fire them up, play them, deconstruct and re-use.

If you have particular technical questions, post them here and you can be sure you will get help.

Enjoy,

D.