Getting started

What is needed to get started is the following:

*Fasttracker II (Software)
*Instrument files (XI)
*Lots of patience
*A true will to creat music

Out of these four things, the last one is the most important.....
If you're missing that then its highly certain
that this wont be something you will be doing
when you come home after school/job.

Its quite hard to control FT2, i,m sure there exist many other program that is much more
difficult to master, but that doesnt make it easier..

Dont get scared away now..
Its quite easy to get started, you start making simple music, but it's when you want to do
other things than just putting notes in when it gets hard.
But this is something that is just a question of time to solve.
And you dont need to start making the most advanced songs righ away, its better to start making some easy composition with only a few instruments.

               Here we go

First you need to get Fasttracker 2 from starbreeze.com
You install it and then you must have some instruments to use.
From starbreeze there is a link to a "depository of some 230 meg"
When you get there its very easy to find instruments sience they are sorted very well.
You could for example download a drum, hihat and an piano.
With that you are ready to start making music.
You start up FT2, unfortently its quite common that you recive
a message that says you need to start it from Dos, but that isnt recommended.
You will just ignore the message and enter ft2 anyway, when you are in you enter the "config" button and set all the settings for your soundcard, its not easy and you may need help to set the correct settings.

When that is fixed (or did not happend) you are ready to select your instruments from the instr button in upper right corner,
press that one and in the window next to in you look up one of your instruments.
And as you then notice, the name of the instrument appears in the upper left corner in the square "1".
To select another instrument you must first select "2" right under the first and then add you instrument.
To select a third you do it the same way as with the second, do the same for all instruments until you get to the 10th with you must first press "10-11" button in the very far upperright corner, and then select 10.
In the big field filled with sqares is where you put in you notes.
The computer starts playing from top to bottom, you can see what i mean by pressing "play pattern" once and then press "stop".
to put a note in the field you first select the instrument bu pressing in in the top right corner and then press Spacebar and use the keyboard arrows to go up and down, and the "tab" botton to go tothe right and "shift+tab" to go to left.
Wehn you have come to a square you wish to enter a note in you press enter to insert it.
By doing this you can do a 10 seconds long song.
To be continue.....