MIDI sounds

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JR Productions
Member Since: Mar 03, 2005

Im new to MIDI recording and the only reason im getting into it is because a friend of mine whos video i did the sound for won some pretty big prizes at a film festival in milwaukee. Im looking for a program that allows me to use my midi keyboard except get better samples and sounds than those in cakewalk home studio. as far as price...some where around the sub 200 range.

Thanks for the help

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


May 01, 2006 10:36 am

Why not just buy new virtual instruments to add to Home Studio, Cakewalk's Kinetic or Project5 both come to mind...

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 01, 2006 02:25 pm

Reason is also good and will run inside of cakewalk....

Member
Since: Apr 22, 2006


May 01, 2006 03:30 pm

And i have magix 2005 deluxe and it comes with a midi studio recording program that has MANYYYYYYYYYYYYY different sounds and its only about 60$ so you can look and research about that if u need too. -Mellow-

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 01, 2006 10:39 pm

REason wont run in Home Studio as HS does not support ReWire.

Kinetic or Project 5 will give you a much larger choice of instruments to choose from. And I do believe you can pick up Project 5 for under the $200.00 range since y9ou are allready a registered Cakewalk user with Home Studio.

JR Productions
Member
Since: Mar 03, 2005


May 02, 2006 01:17 pm

Excellent thanks for the replies. I looked into project5 and kinetic yesterday. The cakewalk site made it seem like kinetic was more for hip hop producers so ill most likely go with the project 5. Thanks for all the help.

we prefer "percussionist"
Member
Since: Jul 21, 2004


May 03, 2006 10:41 pm

Hijacking this thread a bit, but have virtual instruments and the like pretty much replaced hardware tone modules? I'm contemplating finally making the jump to 1990 and recording on the computer instead of hardware, but there's just so many choices out there!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 04, 2006 02:22 pm

andrew, software hasn't completely taken over, but it is close. I have replaced most of my hardware synths now with software. Even my beloved Juno 106 is now gone and replaced by a couple software units. I am down to only 5 hardware synths now. And honestly they havent been powered up much lately. They too may soon be departing.

I suggest trying a few of the free demo downloads out there to get your feet wet. You will likely find something that will work for you and make the jump easier then you think.

Noize

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


May 04, 2006 02:57 pm

I like the freedom of free soft synths, but like the sounds and feel of a good harware analog synth. I'm wanting to break out of the computer actually, still use it to track and mix, but use outboard effects and instruments.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 04, 2006 07:46 pm

I have to very honest here. Having spent way to many years playing and tweaking the analog gear, I am now loving the software. I can honestly do so much more in the software I dont think I will return to hardware any time soon.

Take RGC Audio's z3ta+ synth for an example. There isnt much need for any external processing since most effects I might use and an arpegiator are allready onboard the single software synth. Dimmension Pro is very similar as is the new Rapture.

But the freeware synths out there are excelant as well. And when I use them in Project 5 I have all the processing I would need.

Now I also must confess there are a couple pieces of hardware processors I havent found a way to do with DSP yet, but I will.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


May 04, 2006 08:06 pm

well with the software you have to have an awesome pc just to beale to run the synths, and reverbs, and everything all at once. Using external stuff saves CPU drain.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 04, 2006 08:30 pm

Oh definately agree there. But my purpose is to eliminate the rack gear and the PC is built to run the synths.

And as I stated above, I like the much deeper tweaking I can do with the software. It would take 4 or 5 pieces of rack gear to do what I can do in z3ta+.

But you make a good point. And you can indeed find some of the gear for a decent price. But for the pure analog stuff that is in demand you will definately pay a premium price for it. And for that kind of money, you can build the ultra fast PC to run the software. So for me it was a simple decision.

we prefer "percussionist"
Member
Since: Jul 21, 2004


May 04, 2006 11:07 pm

My sound needs are pretty simple - I tend to stick with "real" instruments for the most part. The thing hitting me now is that a hardware recorder with more than 2 inputs is way more expensive than a pci card. It's just nice that I've never in my life had to deal with "latency" (not on my own system, anyway!). I'm thinking of getting a Delta 44, but keeping the Fostex around for times when the computer gets "dicey". I'm betting (hoping) I'll be able to transfer .wav files back and forth as needs arise, and use the hardware or software sounds as needs dictate.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 05, 2006 07:27 pm

Absolutely, you can use the 2 of them together in perfect harmony. Flieing files out of the recorder into the PC for editing. And most modern Audio interfaces such as the Delta dont really have much for latency to speak of.

we prefer "percussionist"
Member
Since: Jul 21, 2004


May 06, 2006 10:10 am

Cool, I just got the Delta 44, got it installed into my system, and I'm downloading all the newest drivers and updates to the software that comes with it. Guess now it's just a matter of figuring out what all this software can do and get to work!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 06, 2006 03:18 pm

Take your time and read the help files for sure. And ya can always ask here if ya get really stuck.

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