This is the item to discuss making music on your computer. Discuss both technical aspects, ie. full duplex sound cards, software, etc, and your experiences good or bad in general with computer sound. Right now I'm just getting into mixing and recording on my computer and I'm enjoying it a great deal. I downloaded a virtual mixer, wave editor, and drum machine software from the net, and I have been mixing beats, a friend of mine singing and my poetry (or spoken word if we want to get pretentious).25 responses total.
Other issues to consider are midi or not to midi and the related issue of sequencers. I'm not a big fan of sequencers as I think they make compositions sound too mechanical, not leaving room for expressive improve, but I admit to a lack of experience using sequencers so jump in with a different opinion.
Er... a drum machine *is* a sequencer...
I've got a Korg somethingorother connected to an old Mac SE in my basement. So, I've done some pieces on it, either instrumentals or reciting poetry over music. I find that a sequencer works fine, but it is difficult to make expressive melodic lines. One thing that I've had some degree of success with in that regard is creating two tracks for each instrument - one for the notes, and one on which to record dynamic changes. That way, I can go back later and add finer articulation and phrasing and such like. I'd be interested to see some of the stuff you've come up with, raven, and likewise where you got your software.
There are a pair of pirated remix programs roosting in my hard drive right now. I think I still have some NIN, Newsboys, and Sarah Mchlachlan remixes sitting on it. mostly fragments, but I have a complete song or two. Unfortunately, my speaker setup makes it kinda difficult to hear it correctly.
WHat's the deal with remixing, Steve? How does one capture, for instance, just the vocals, without picking up background too?
There are programs that somehow manage to isolate the tracks based on frequency (which isn't unheard of). It isn't perfect, but it does the trick.
Oh damnit, some of you are just too rich! I have *never* been able to afford MIDI systems. I worked with it at school-- with sound modules, a drum machine, a digital reverb/sound effect machine, an electronic keyboard, a synthesizer, a watered-down version of MasterTracks for the AppleIIgs, a 12-channel mixer, a sampler, a Denon tape deck, and a 4-track recording deck. Trouble is, I never really learned how to use it all. raven-- where did you download all this stuff? (I would never be able to download even if I could-- too little memory, and it's my folks' comp)
Try an altavista search for music spftware. There is a great site in Britain where I got all of the software, I'll give the URL next time I'm on if I can remember it...
I am so not rich. my remixes don't sound all that great, the just do some stuff that I wanted to see done to the song :) Like I said, though, pirated. I should only dream of affording a MIDI system.
See the electronic music item for an article I copied from Newsweek about Thomas Dolby and the Beatnik program. Read it, try it, and let me know what you think.
Please do give the URL...I'll be waiting with baited breath...
ThThe web site is in the article.
I'm studying sound production, technology and engineering at MTSU. One of the first things I discovered is that producers and engineers have a good deal of creative input into a composition, where as many peole are under the impression that the musicians do it all. In order to develop technique and style in production I realized I needed as much time as possible doing tracks, mixes and mastering, so I decided to build a "virtual studio" using a computer, A/D converters, two track open reel master and other odd and ins. Here's what I found: -Check out the Steinberg software for sound recording. It's expensive but it does everything. Cubase for sound, WaveLab for media. Almost any plug-in will work with Stienburg software. www.steinburg.com -Fast CPU speeds will be needed if you plan to use alot of tracts simultaniously. Most of us might record a guitar and vocals, maybe keyboard drums. If you plan to have several tracks for your drum kit, a bunch of guitars, patched tracks, lot of vocals, etc. You see what I mean! If you want to mix this stuff and have it sound right you'll need a Pentium II 266, preferably a 300. -You'll need a large hard drive for major projects. SCSI is actually a good thing to have here. -Memory is cheap, get lots of it. -For clean recordings you need to put the computer in a seperate room. If you're using professional equipment, the fan on your computer will get recorded. -Outboard A/D, D/A converters are necissary for professional aps. The insides of your computer produce too much electronic and RF noise to put them inside. Some newer cards on the market are shielding the plug in card for interference. Abdigital is one of these companies (abdigital.com). -Greater word length gets a better (higher) signal to error ratio, but the sound recording will take up more storage space. By this I mean 16bit vs 20bit vs 24bit. Many low priced cards use 24bit conversion on recording and playback and most allow you to select between 16, 20 and 24 (CDs use 16bit). -You'll need mic preamps unless you're using a mixer, line amp or direct input. I obviously love to talk tech, so if anybody wants to give me some tips or ask questions mail me at aws2b@mtsu.edu or just post a message to this conference.
Hi Aaron, do you know BJ Hill? He'sa former student of mine who is now going to MTSU.
hey goose, it's good to meet people interested in this stuff too! Unfortunately I do not know of BJ Hill. Is he in the recording industry program? Are you still in touch with him? I can get his number for you if you would like.
Has anyone had experience with the Roland MC303, it's a synth, a drum machine, and a sequencer, in one cool little silver box. I'm thinking about hooking it up to my PC and using Cubase VST, to control it all. For anyone interested in Electronic Music I recommend it it's powerful and inexpensive (about $550 retail, and I got mine for $350 used) and it looks cool too!
When I've looked at MIDI and sequencing (granted I have no experience with MIDI) I was planning to use sound cards and wavetables to load sounds from those instrument CD's or just sample the sound and load it onto the card. Mainly I was planning this because it extremly versitile and cost effective, but hearing what you've said about the MC303 has got my attention. I'm looking at my Roland catalog and I see alot of Sound Canvas equipment new for $400 - 800, but I don't see any MC-series equipment. You must have been lucky. I more concerned with finding a MIDI controller with all the great features like 16 polyphony, velocity and after-touch, but those things cost thousands!
The MC-303 is aimed a little more at the "electronica" area of music... more retro sounds, etc. I've got a Yamaha QY-70, which is more of a regular set of sounds (keys, drums, all sorts of things) with a pattern sequencer (like a drum machine) and a 16 track linear seqencer. About $475 new, lots of fun.
MTSU = ?
I love it! I'm learning alot of useful stuff already from this conference. So, are linear and pattern sequencers the only two types? Can't a computer serve as a sequencer. provided the right software and sound card? Does anybody know if there are any drawbacks to using the computer port (serial) rather than the MIDI port for a simple connection to a computer? MTSU = Middle Tennessee State University There is a very well funded Mass Communications department at MTSU, which includes Radio, TV, Journalism and Recording Industry. The Recording Industry department includes business, production, engineering, soundtrack, MIDI, and probably a few others I'm forgetting. It's one of those programs that hits the nail right on the head for those of us who want to make records, publish artists...oh well, take your best shot at it, this program covers alot of bases. There are two very nice recording studios, one with a Neotech console (set up for soundtracks in Dolby 5.1 I think) and an Otari, both of which have fader automation. In-state tuition is about $1,000.
Anybody interested in studing the technical or business side of the recording industry should take a look at MTSU. Try www.mtsu.edu
Indeed you can use a computer as a sequencer, there is a fair amount of software running from free to several hundred dollars. Sound cards can be used (there are some expensive ones for cleaner sound, more channels), or just MIDI out to other units. MIDI itself is just a serial protocol; early MIDI interfaces plugged into a serial port (19.2k baud). A pattern sequencer is like a drum machine; you work in little loops of one or more measures, then assemble the loops into songs. Linear is like a tape recorder, just continuous recording. There are some others, more experimental things which I don't know much about.
I've heard that because MIDI is serial, if you try to control too much at one time you will experience a lag in the music. Is this why one would want more MIDI channels? Is the baud rate a standard or can it be user defined?
the Baud rate is fixed. In the very early days of MIDI (early 80's), there was a lot of debate over the limited speed. A number of people were busy hatching schemes to improve MIDI (ignoring the fact that just getting a standard like MIDI was a miracle and unlikely to happen again). Ultimately the problem was seen to be: a. not a big deal b. easily solvable by running multiple cables c. most delays could be traced to the instruments' CPUs, not MIDI.
Now if I could just get the money to buy some equipment! Then I'd be really be learning.
You have several choices: