Help a newbie

Alright so i've been playing the guitar for 15+ years and occasionally (very occasionally) screwing around with music making software (rebirth, acid). But what i want is a program/language that i can play with and get some immediate results. Help, please. Here are my requirements:

Platform: XP or linux

Learning curve: I don't mind learning but i want to be able to make something right out of the box, so to speak.

Price: Free

Must not require midi (i neither have a midi controller, nor intend to get one)

I've read some stuff about Pure Data and SuperCollider, but they look like the learning curve might be too steep. Reviews? Suggestions? Experiences? Like I said i don't mind learning a programming language but if i can't make some moderately satisfying noise within the first 15 minutes w/o having to consult some gargantuan tutorial all bets are off.

thanks.

ps -hello ekt, i'm new to this part of the site . .

Wait wait wait... so you want a free music program with absolutely no real learning curve that will have you making real music automatically the first time you open it?

lol

*

to be more helpful...

A lot of people on this board I think have started with FL studio. It isn't free but it is fairly easy to pick up on and is simple enough for a beginner. It would help to know what kind of music your making too. Ambient? Breakcore? Techno?

free huh? well renoise is pretty cheap

and in this thread: http://forum.watmm.com/index.php?showtopic...=linux+opensuse

which tells of renoise being ported to linux with good results.

but for absuletely free you can try Audacity to record

and KVR Audio for a good source of free VSTs

  The Pod said:

simple enough for a beginner. It would help to know what kind of music your making too. Ambient? Breakcore? Techno?

thanks for the, ahem, edit. i guess what i'm looking for is a way to start with a blank screen, and turn it into something, not necessarily something i would be willing to share but something, which i can then transform and process to my heart s content. i'd be happy making white noise if i could screw it into something vaguely pleasant. i'd like to make noise/glitch/generative stuff (sort of). not necessarily sample based.

synthedit is fun program for making synths and effects. It's not really a programming language, but it's free to use and easy to understand. If you know the basics of synthesis, then you can start to make patches within 15-30 minutes. Audiomulch and Bidule are also fun for playing around with audio in real time.

Jeskola Buzz

http://www.buzzmachines.com/

Always been a program that made me wish I had a PC. An easier intuitive approach to modular software. A lot of Andreas Tilliander/Mokira albums have been made exclusively with Buzz.

hmm... every choice you'll make will involve reading some manuals/tutorials. you can start out with a tracker, or a "regular" digital audio workstation (heres a list i found on wikipedia lol).

also, since a big part of making music on PC is all about samples & vst instruments/effects, you could easily find an introductory guide to all that on teh google.

IMO... stay away from super collider/pure data if you want to "get some immediate results".

LMMS on linux.

it's free and easy