new to computer recording...how to get beats??

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Member Since: Jan 15, 2008

Using LEXICON Omega/Cubase Le
Also playing around with Fruity Loops

Questions- 1.) Is it possible to open up FL studio "within" Cubase? If not, is it easy to export a loop and use it in cubase?
2.) Do any drum sounds (plug ins?) come with Cubase LE for MIDI control?? If not, what's the best way to get a few realistic sounding drums??? Can I use the stuff from FL studio..or do I need a REASON 4 like program??

Right now I'm using a CHEESY boss dr rhythm into the Lexicon to get beats...which suck!

Thanks in advance for any help!

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I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jan 28, 2008 12:01 pm

Fruity Loops works with Cubase via Rewire. I didn't do anything special on my computer to get it to work, it was just there somehow.

I open Cubase, then open FL. At that point, I get a Rewire box that opens, then FL opens. Now Cubase and FL act as one app. I use the Rewire box to toggle between the 2 applications.

In FL, set each channel to whichever FX output you wish. For instance, I put the kick on channel 1, snare on channel 2, and everything else on channel 3. In Cubase, under the Devices... menu item, there is a FL Studio item. If I click on that, I can enable the outputs from FL one by one. In this case I'd enable outputs 1, 2 and 3.

Now these outputs show up as tracks in Cubase, and anything played on those channels in FL Studio come through these tracks. I can now treat them just like any other track in Cubase...add effects, pan, etc.

Toggle over to FL and make a pattern, loop it and it'll come thru Cubase.

Member
Since: Jan 15, 2008


Jan 28, 2008 03:44 pm

Thanks for the reply...I can't wait to go home and try it out! I'll be back with the issues I'm sure to have later!

Member
Since: Jan 15, 2008


Jan 30, 2008 10:26 am

I still haven't been able to find this "rewire" you speak of to get FL studio opened up in Cubase, but alas, I am a noob and will hopefully find it.

NEW PROBLEM: when I open cubase and start recording a track, there's a 50/50 chance I get a **** buzz that ruins the track...or it just sounds perfect. ANy ideas?? Could my cables be faulty? Are there good/bad cables for going from guitar/fx pedals/etc... to OMEGA?? thanks again for responses!!!

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jan 30, 2008 01:23 pm

Here's a page that describes ReWire:

www.propellerheads.se/tec...ction=mainframe

The key sentence in there says that you enable ReWire in your mixing software, then open your synth software. That's all there is to it.

As for your intermittent buzz, I'm not sure. First thing I'd do is make sure no other applications are running in the background. Maybe go through the process list in TaskManager and get rid of any unneeded background tasks.

Also make sure that you have the latest drivers for your sound card, and all of the latest updates/patches to Windows and all of your recording/synth software.

Do you hear this sound while you're recording and monitoring the input signal, or is it only during playback?

Member
Since: Jan 15, 2008


Jan 30, 2008 02:32 pm

Thanks I'll check that out...where is the mixing software? Is that in my PC or part of Cubase? The sound is only during playback and only half the time...ex: I'll lay a guitar track-gorgeous dry sound. Then, I'll lay a bass track...stinky buzz. I'll save and restart cubase, and then the buzz will be gone for a track...and sometimes it comes back, sometimes it's gone for good...frustrating!!

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jan 30, 2008 05:16 pm

Cubase is your mixing software, and FL is your synth software.

As for the buzz:

Definitely make sure all of your drivers and software is up to date.

The only other obvious suspect would be the buffer settings in Cubase. But I'm no expert on suggestions for settings. Several people around here fiddle with their buffer sizes and use different settings while recording versus while mixing.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Jan 30, 2008 06:12 pm

Yeah, usually buffer problems cause clicks and pops which sounds like your PC struggling to keep up, which is actually the case.

For a buzzing noise, are you saying you can record a track, it sounds good, but then later it will start buzzing? And if I am correct, you restart it and the buzz may or may not go away? That definitely sounds like drivers or perhaps you missed some updates to your software.

Make sure the drivers for your motherboards chipset are up to date as this updates the USB port drivers also.

Curious, how do you monitor the sound coming out, through the headphone jack on the lexicon, through your PC speakers or do you have the line outs running to monitors?

Member
Since: Jan 15, 2008


Jan 31, 2008 04:12 pm

You got it...headphone jack to computer for guitars and headphones for vocals.

So I'll check my drivers/software updates and get back..thanks for the help so far!

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Jan 31, 2008 04:18 pm

Just a thought, you are recording through the lexicon but monitoring playback through your PC's soundcard. You may want to simply set the output from Cubase to the Lexicon and monitor playback from there to see if the buzzing goes away. If it does then your PC's sound card may need driver updates.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 01, 2008 11:17 pm

It may also be that the PC sound cards internal audio clock is not syncable with the Lexicon. Moxt PC internal cards are bunk when it comes to playing nice with an outboard interface.

Member
Since: Jan 15, 2008


Feb 02, 2008 11:30 am

OK...thanks a bunch for the help so far.
I got better cables and made sure USB was plugged in well, and no more buzz for now.

Back to the real topic...BEATS! I think because I have cubase 'LE' I can't open this "rewire" window. If I buy the boxed cubase 'SE' will this solve my prob for 100 bucks or do I need to get the 400/800 $$ version???
Because Cubase LE has no rewire anywhere I can find within the program...

Also, if I upgrade will all my original LE tracks be transfered automatically or is that a whole other mess?? Thanks again for the help...

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Feb 02, 2008 12:19 pm

I use the $100 version of Cubase SE and ReWire works fine for me. Does LE really not support ReWire? I'd have to look into it before recommending buying new software.

Member
Since: Jan 15, 2008


Feb 04, 2008 07:53 am

yeah...I went to that propellerhead site rec'd above and LE is def NOT on there...oh well, at least it makes sense!!

Now that I know what I need to know, when I install the new cubase, will it replace the old and transfer all the stuff already recorded automatically? That would be nice!

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Feb 04, 2008 11:26 am

I doubt that it'll transfer anything from install to install. But the project files should be compatible between the 2 versions.

But short of using new software, I'm sure that there are ways of getting around this. I think that FL can be used as a VST or VSTi, so maybe look into getting that set up before dropping $100 on new software.

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