RE: Getting started with music production
You definitely don't need the latest and greatest computer. Even something over 10 years old is usable, just not with the latest greatest software. Some people even use antique computers for various things.
You will more than likely need a ton of hard drive space though, as you said, unless you're only saving your songs as MP3, which you shouldn't.
I disagree on needing speakers or headphones though. You need both. You need speakers that aren't utter crap, basically anything other than laptop speakers, and halfway decent over the ear headphones. Thanks to china, there are actually headphones under $20 that will work just fine, if you order online. You can technically start out with either or, but that's not gonna last you long at all. You need headphones to do stereo properly, and you'll want speakers to hear what it sounds like normally.
For software, there's tons out there. Not all of it even qualifies as a "DAW". The DAW is your entire workstation, including any hardware, your computer, and the software. DAW as far as software is the standalone stuff that turns any computer into a DAW all on it's own.
There are tons of different styles, and you basically have to find the software that fits you. There are different styles of music producers, and different styles of different styles. You can put two guys who create music by looping clips next to each other, and they might have completely conflicting production methods. You gotta find the programs that fit your production style. Someone might even think they're not made for music production, when it's just the software they're using.
Lastly, a point you didn't mention that I think is extremely important. Don't listen to salesmen. They will sell you all sorts of crap you don't need, and never use. I think I have 3 different USB audio adapters for guitars/mics that various people bought and just left at my house eventually because they never use them. And they were like $50-250 each. Also had various friends and family spend $90 or so on software that doesn't do much more than some freeware.
Basically you can get started with a friend's old laptop, or desktop, some scrounged speakers, and open source or free software. That's not gonna last you though. Eventually you might have equipment that takes up more space than your computer, or like one of my friends, who has an extra house for all his gear. No joke.
Wow, first of all, thanks for reading through it and sharing your opinions!
I totally agree a producer needs both headphones and monitors to get tracks sounding right!
However, this specific guide is for people who have zero experience, so I'd rather have people start out with a good pair of headphones and see how they like messing around with it. I've seen too many people invest thousands into a crazy setup, only to sell it for half the price a few months later because they realized it's not their thing.. Of course, buying a lower budget set of speakers is always an option too.
Your final point regarding salesmen is very true, which is why I would advise people to do their research online before ordering anything. Plenty of comparison videos on YouTube regarding gear/software/..
I'll add it to the guide with a mention!
Thanks for contributing!
That's probably someone lead down the wrong path. If they had talked to different people, they might have ended up being music producers. Instead they wasted a ton of money on things they didn't need, or weren't the right things for whatever kind of production is right for them.
A pair of half decent headphones isn't a bad purchase for anyone though. As long as you don't buy some of the $150 crap that claims to be good these days. $40 over the ear headphones are fine. If you get them from china, $20 ones will do you well, if they got good reviews.