Sound Hardware
by James Hamar · in Technical Issues · 12/15/2001 (10:22 am) · 6 replies
I was just curious to see what kind of sound setups everyone has in terms of creating sfx and music. Im trying to get away from doing "midi tests" and was wondering what hardware and other software/utilities I should get.
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Boss DR-770
Roland GR-30
Line6 POD
Phillips Seisemic Edge
MidiMan 5 channel mimi-mixer that I out to Nova 90 headphones or some Harmon-Kardon speakers.
05/14/2002 (2:50 pm)
I have a M-Audio Omni/IO w/Delta 66 for sampling.Boss DR-770
Roland GR-30
Line6 POD
Phillips Seisemic Edge
MidiMan 5 channel mimi-mixer that I out to Nova 90 headphones or some Harmon-Kardon speakers.
#3
One old Digi001 (digidesign) sound card.
One HDI3 (digidesign) card('s) + vst,tdm,htdm & etc... plug-ins.
Creamware Pulsar MK2 and Luna.
Also an old Atari 1040!!!
Sound design:
Kyma System 5 + Capybara 320 expansion card with (4) four channel I/0 expansion.
James;
When you come up to the crossroad of buying your very first sound card I suggest that you'll go with regular card and start up with MIDI. Study it and try to learn everything you can of it (you'll going to need it in the future) ;)
Nowadays ''non midi'' music production is mostly on tdm (digidesign/access music hardware card) or loop/wav based composition (there's others as well, but here's only some samples).
These non midi production methods have always the benefits, that when you're using only one synth with like 16 note polyphony it's so great to use recorded loop and put it to track, without loosing any polyphony (as in midi progress you do and you can't use tracks when using this method).
But as well when you're using loops, you must be like 100% accurate doing things right when recording, because you won't be able to erase your mistake by one click (like you can, when using midi methods).
Anyway I just wanted to tell you what are the benefits and losses when using midi or non midi methods.
I suggest that if you're interested into sound design, an Creative Audigy Platinum EX, will be perfect sound card for beginning. About software, if you wan't create music I suggest that you'll try out Propellerheads Reason. With sound design I suggest Sound Forge 5 and if you're into loop based methods I suggest Sonic Foundry ACID 3.
And with monitors you don't have to buy expensive ones at all, if you're having stereo speakers, they'll do the job!!!
06/22/2002 (9:13 am)
Music:One old Digi001 (digidesign) sound card.
One HDI3 (digidesign) card('s) + vst,tdm,htdm & etc... plug-ins.
Creamware Pulsar MK2 and Luna.
Also an old Atari 1040!!!
Sound design:
Kyma System 5 + Capybara 320 expansion card with (4) four channel I/0 expansion.
James;
When you come up to the crossroad of buying your very first sound card I suggest that you'll go with regular card and start up with MIDI. Study it and try to learn everything you can of it (you'll going to need it in the future) ;)
Nowadays ''non midi'' music production is mostly on tdm (digidesign/access music hardware card) or loop/wav based composition (there's others as well, but here's only some samples).
These non midi production methods have always the benefits, that when you're using only one synth with like 16 note polyphony it's so great to use recorded loop and put it to track, without loosing any polyphony (as in midi progress you do and you can't use tracks when using this method).
But as well when you're using loops, you must be like 100% accurate doing things right when recording, because you won't be able to erase your mistake by one click (like you can, when using midi methods).
Anyway I just wanted to tell you what are the benefits and losses when using midi or non midi methods.
I suggest that if you're interested into sound design, an Creative Audigy Platinum EX, will be perfect sound card for beginning. About software, if you wan't create music I suggest that you'll try out Propellerheads Reason. With sound design I suggest Sound Forge 5 and if you're into loop based methods I suggest Sonic Foundry ACID 3.
And with monitors you don't have to buy expensive ones at all, if you're having stereo speakers, they'll do the job!!!
#4
Oh well.. i guess i should get back to learning.
06/22/2002 (10:20 am)
The Sound blaster card that you mentioned is the one that I have. I have been doing midi work for almost 2 years now, and the midi sound isnt exactly the sound i want to implement in actual work, hehe. I use cakewalk home studio pro 9.0 and I have sound forge 5. I also have protools, but I have no idea where to start on how to use it. I know some basic stuff, but that is about it.Oh well.. i guess i should get back to learning.
#5
06/22/2002 (12:24 pm)
hehe i use the windows sound recorder,along with the on board sound system on my p4 mb, cuz im not a serious sound person
#6
Also as you probably know, that the quality of your midi sounds depends almost 100% your hardware gears. This means that, you won't have complete ''dope'' track with like 10 years old synth and granmama's drum-machine. :)
And when you're using midi, you don't have to use always ''multi'' sounds, you can chop the perform. sound into a pieces and construct good sounded low polyphony sound/('s). And use for example at the background, audio file drums. But be careful with these because you'll have to do a lot of time correcting when working with audio files. ;)
Now if I remember right, Cakewalk 9 PRO supports audio and midi tracks. So if you own a synth, I suggest that you'll write one track of the song in midi (the main track) and the rest you can work as audio files. Create them as decoration, background etc... sounds, but try to avoid creating them as main sound (you can always do it, but you'll have a hell of a work to time correct it).
You also mentioned that you had pro tools (software I assume). The thing with pro tools is that its motto is *the more hardware you have, the more benefit you'll get* So if you're having only pro tools soft. I think that it'll be more benefit for yourself that you'll use Cakewalk. And if you're ever going to go for *Pro Tools*, I suggest that you'll buy a simple digi soundcard (currently Mbox and Digi001) and you'll get some hardware behind the program.
I'm still suggesting you to try ACID 3 Pro, it's completely loop based full blooded audio software.
And if you're tired into multi sounds, I suggest that you'll buy more hardware. If you're having synth equipped with keyboard, I suggest you'll find some desktop/rack module. You'll get same sounds as when using with keyboard equipped synth, but with less money!
Studying is good, you won't become dope pianist, without practising and studying the music theory, eitherway good sound designer without studying about its theory. :)
06/23/2002 (12:07 am)
Right, about learning; If I remember right you get a good software manual with SB Plat. EX of ''how use midi & audio together''. I suggest that you'll take a look at it, especially ''audio and midi (hybrid)'' section.Also as you probably know, that the quality of your midi sounds depends almost 100% your hardware gears. This means that, you won't have complete ''dope'' track with like 10 years old synth and granmama's drum-machine. :)
And when you're using midi, you don't have to use always ''multi'' sounds, you can chop the perform. sound into a pieces and construct good sounded low polyphony sound/('s). And use for example at the background, audio file drums. But be careful with these because you'll have to do a lot of time correcting when working with audio files. ;)
Now if I remember right, Cakewalk 9 PRO supports audio and midi tracks. So if you own a synth, I suggest that you'll write one track of the song in midi (the main track) and the rest you can work as audio files. Create them as decoration, background etc... sounds, but try to avoid creating them as main sound (you can always do it, but you'll have a hell of a work to time correct it).
You also mentioned that you had pro tools (software I assume). The thing with pro tools is that its motto is *the more hardware you have, the more benefit you'll get* So if you're having only pro tools soft. I think that it'll be more benefit for yourself that you'll use Cakewalk. And if you're ever going to go for *Pro Tools*, I suggest that you'll buy a simple digi soundcard (currently Mbox and Digi001) and you'll get some hardware behind the program.
I'm still suggesting you to try ACID 3 Pro, it's completely loop based full blooded audio software.
And if you're tired into multi sounds, I suggest that you'll buy more hardware. If you're having synth equipped with keyboard, I suggest you'll find some desktop/rack module. You'll get same sounds as when using with keyboard equipped synth, but with less money!
Studying is good, you won't become dope pianist, without practising and studying the music theory, eitherway good sound designer without studying about its theory. :)
Michael Pillitiere