blackscot
New member
I’ve been skulking around a couple other parts of the forum for a few weeks, learning how to make acoustic treatment to my spare-bedroom studio, and posting a couple of my recording projects (and finding them to be pretty rough compared to much of the other material being presented here). Much of my work is MIDI based though, so finally figured I ought to post some general background and questions here.
I started home recording a few years back, mostly 70’s rock classics that have especially good lead guitar parts. I don’t have the circumstances to jam with a group, so wanted to create a “virtual backup band” that I could play the lead to. As things have turned out, almost all of the backing parts are MIDI, and the lead guitar (the strat in my avatar) is usually the only audio track (other than some rhythm strumming on an acoustic guitar for a couple of tunes). So with MIDI making up really most of what I’m doing, I should probably be connecting with like-minded folks here.
I early-on got a Roland JV1010 synth, which I have been using ever since (although I upgraded my keyboard controller once along the way). At first I was recording on one of the ultra-cheapie Tascam 4-track cassette “porta studios”, so here the synth was purely an instrument with no basis in MIDI. After a year or so of becoming frustrated with the obvious limitations of this arrangement, I bought a PC along with the Digidesign Mbox with Protools, in which all the synth parts are recorded as MIDI tracks. I’ve been working along these lines for a couple of years, and feel I now have a fairly decent novice level of experience with it. I especially like the adaptability of editing compared to audio. Where I think I now need to learn more about is with the various machine controls.
As described above, I use the synth for almost everything, and all mixing is done in Protools, so there’s really nothing else in the way of gear other than the controller, my guitars and amp, and a pair of rather smallish monitors. My studio looks somewhat anemic compared to those of some of the gear junkies with pics in the “let’s see your room” thread.
I’m curious as to any consensus about the Roland JV1010. It seems to me to have some strong points and some weak. I was amazed when I first got it how many voices it has (thinking how would I ever need more than that?), but gradually came to realize that it’s not really all that vast. For one thing, some of the voices just aren’t very good, in particular individual string instruments. It seems a lot better on individual instruments with winds and various keyboards, and generally better with multi-instrument voices. Drums are usually acceptable for what I do, although I sometimes am wishing for a particular snare or tom sound that just isn’t there. Conversely, I rarely need all that Latin percussion stuff. Of course there’s a huge array of purely synthetic voices, but again for me is of more limited need. I’d be open to any general advice on the application of synths for the kind of recording I’m doing.
Another issue for me, that is a major limitation, is the complete inability to record any kind of vocals. My voice sounds very nasal, and I wouldn’t be able to stay on-key to save my life. Every once in awhile I try to record some singing, but always with the same result: “delete selected track”. Many of the original tunes I’m trying to make projects of have prominent vocal parts, so I have to arrange each of my versions to come up with some kind of alternative. I’ve used different synth voices as substitutes for the vocalist on various projects, ranging from individual instruments sounds (usually one of the winds), some string-ensemble sounds, and some of the “VOX” synthetic sounds. This approach works to some extent but creates a significant departure from the original tune, and I have found to many listeners results in the dreaded MUSAK character. Again, I’d appreciate any advice for improvement.
Also more by way of commentary here, I am forever dumbfounded by the MIDI program-numbering system! A more complex, arbitrary, and archaic arrangement I have never encountered (and I’m a scientist by profession and used to dealing with some complexity). I’m also struck by the phenomenon of the apparent dichotomy/rivalry between MIDI and audio recording. Seems to me that both sides have their merits, even though for my needs MIDI fits most of th bill.
OK, that’s plenty for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you.
I started home recording a few years back, mostly 70’s rock classics that have especially good lead guitar parts. I don’t have the circumstances to jam with a group, so wanted to create a “virtual backup band” that I could play the lead to. As things have turned out, almost all of the backing parts are MIDI, and the lead guitar (the strat in my avatar) is usually the only audio track (other than some rhythm strumming on an acoustic guitar for a couple of tunes). So with MIDI making up really most of what I’m doing, I should probably be connecting with like-minded folks here.
I early-on got a Roland JV1010 synth, which I have been using ever since (although I upgraded my keyboard controller once along the way). At first I was recording on one of the ultra-cheapie Tascam 4-track cassette “porta studios”, so here the synth was purely an instrument with no basis in MIDI. After a year or so of becoming frustrated with the obvious limitations of this arrangement, I bought a PC along with the Digidesign Mbox with Protools, in which all the synth parts are recorded as MIDI tracks. I’ve been working along these lines for a couple of years, and feel I now have a fairly decent novice level of experience with it. I especially like the adaptability of editing compared to audio. Where I think I now need to learn more about is with the various machine controls.
As described above, I use the synth for almost everything, and all mixing is done in Protools, so there’s really nothing else in the way of gear other than the controller, my guitars and amp, and a pair of rather smallish monitors. My studio looks somewhat anemic compared to those of some of the gear junkies with pics in the “let’s see your room” thread.
I’m curious as to any consensus about the Roland JV1010. It seems to me to have some strong points and some weak. I was amazed when I first got it how many voices it has (thinking how would I ever need more than that?), but gradually came to realize that it’s not really all that vast. For one thing, some of the voices just aren’t very good, in particular individual string instruments. It seems a lot better on individual instruments with winds and various keyboards, and generally better with multi-instrument voices. Drums are usually acceptable for what I do, although I sometimes am wishing for a particular snare or tom sound that just isn’t there. Conversely, I rarely need all that Latin percussion stuff. Of course there’s a huge array of purely synthetic voices, but again for me is of more limited need. I’d be open to any general advice on the application of synths for the kind of recording I’m doing.
Another issue for me, that is a major limitation, is the complete inability to record any kind of vocals. My voice sounds very nasal, and I wouldn’t be able to stay on-key to save my life. Every once in awhile I try to record some singing, but always with the same result: “delete selected track”. Many of the original tunes I’m trying to make projects of have prominent vocal parts, so I have to arrange each of my versions to come up with some kind of alternative. I’ve used different synth voices as substitutes for the vocalist on various projects, ranging from individual instruments sounds (usually one of the winds), some string-ensemble sounds, and some of the “VOX” synthetic sounds. This approach works to some extent but creates a significant departure from the original tune, and I have found to many listeners results in the dreaded MUSAK character. Again, I’d appreciate any advice for improvement.
Also more by way of commentary here, I am forever dumbfounded by the MIDI program-numbering system! A more complex, arbitrary, and archaic arrangement I have never encountered (and I’m a scientist by profession and used to dealing with some complexity). I’m also struck by the phenomenon of the apparent dichotomy/rivalry between MIDI and audio recording. Seems to me that both sides have their merits, even though for my needs MIDI fits most of th bill.
OK, that’s plenty for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you.
Also, since you say your voice tends to be nasal, you may want to look at mics that de-emphasize higher frequencies specially around 4-5kHz... which probably will rule out most chinese mics 
