The FSOL Message Board

Either
No
No. It's just how you use it.

Simples. Thanks.

Any recommendations for good PC software with plenty of plug-ins and such available?

Anything that supports VST/i s basically. Then head to KVR and find whatever delights you want !

That site looks great, thanks!

I think I'll give FL another go. Just a matter of finding the time now - Usually I spend too much time listening to music to find time to learn how to make it

If you want more of an all-round DAW, Reaper is good - you can use the unrestricted trial version for as long as you like (or pay for a license if you have the money - it's not too expensive.)
I haven't used Fruity since I switched to Logic halfway through the Vacuum Road Songs sessions (around 2004) so I can't offer advice with it, although I hear FLStudio is pretty good. Huerco S uses it so it's obviously pretty powerful.

Honestly though, I would say when it comes to your own setup, experiment and play around until you find what's good for you. There are no go-to packages or setups, there are no rules as to what to use or not. The more you follow examples, the more your music will sound like other peoples'. I've always made my own way and I encourage people to do the same.

As Aphex said in his recent Pitchfork interview: "I used to be a bit secretive and didn't want people to know what I was using, or get too fixated and waste their money buying equipment, because it's not about what equipment you have, it's what you do with it."

Thanks

My main problem usually is that I have certain sounds in my head that I want, but I ultimately have no idea how to get them. So I'm clicking around for hours trying to create a few seconds of music the way I want it, or I never manage to get it at all.

But yes, thanks for your thoughts and I will give Reaper a look too

So today I remixed a Gary Numan song... spent several hours on it and now wish I'd done it completely differently! Oh well, I'm sure I'll find time to try again in a few months