Beginner Needs Help, how to use samplers Options

[moneytrain]

hi,
i'm new to the whole digital autio thing an have some questions cause i know basically nothing. in several months i'll be buying an ibook, and i would like to create some music on it. so i have read something about samplers and stuff, but can you use them as standalone products, or do you need programs like garageband, and why? as i am into hip-hop, i took a look at the jampack2 from apple, and i kinda like it, but i read you need garageband to use it. i also took a look at native instrument's battery 2, would i need garageband to use it? i have no clue.
which programs would you recommend for a total beginner?

thanks a lot,

(p)

[zaaresh]

hi,
on a new OS X you should have Garage Band installed and, although I did not try this software yet it could be worth a try to start with - as far as I know, you can also get a Hip Hop set for it. But...
if you have had a look on Battery 2 already - I´m using version 1 but have read about the features in v. 2 - the best thing to do is to invest in Logic Express 7 -( my advice: do not even think about Cubase..., it´s poor compared to Logic quality) since Logic has already quite a lot of Audio Instruments and editing tools integrated (read the overview on http://www.apple.com/logicexpress/ ) . Get Battery 2 and use it as a VST instrument inside Logic - or as a standalone to prepare samples and/or drumsets and save them.
I don´t really know if you can use Battery with Garage Band , - I doubt - but if you´re interested in making proper beats, you will be happier with LOgic Express (or Logic Pro).
- just one more thing : the more music software you use on your ibook, the more RAM and CPU you´ll need. Rather go for 512 MB Ram (or more , - anyway it goes to 1.25GB ) and a max of CPU ... maybe a powerbook would be more suitable. anyway

good luck then

zaaresh