DAW thoughts

[.Tyson Studios.]

I'm planning to use reaper getting started. I may switch later on. Im planning to use a MIDI controller too. What are the industry standards or good other software for the MIDI stuff. Im going to use guitar rig for an amp sim. what other add-ons/softwares should I use? Thanks

 

[moresound]

You mean stuff that's free ware?

 

[.Tyson Studios.]

That'd be best, but I am willing to spend a little. No one thing for over 125. well unless it's reeeeeaaaalllllyyy good stuff.

 

[Dr. Varney]

What are the industry standards

Pro Tools and a Mac and a really, really looooonnnng mixing desk...

Heh... you ain't gonna get industry standard in freeware... but I don't think you need worry about that. Reaper, IMO, is a VERY good way to get started. Personally, I use FL Studio for tracking and Reaper just for final mixing. That's because FL, for it's sins, has very good MIDI support and the instruments that come supplied as 'native' are just brilliant (if you're into synths). It also has built in recording and wave editing, which is very handy and simple to use. You also get a demo of 'Amplitude' which is a really great little guitar amp (I love it). The demo comes with FL but I believe you can upgrade that to the full rig for a reduced price. Reaper, on the other hand, is still shaky on it's MIDI support and it has no built in wave recording or editing facilities.

Just one suggestion. Hope it helps.

Regards

Dr. V

 

[TimOBrien]

I'm planning to use reaper getting started.

You'll probably find that you dont need anything else.

...what other add-ons/softwares should I use?

You pick a tool to solve a problem. When you have a need you find a solution, not the other way around.

 

[.Tyson Studios.]

Pro Tools and a Mac and a really, really looooonnnng mixing desk...

Heh... you ain't gonna get industry standard in freeware... but I don't think you need worry about that. Reaper, IMO, is a VERY good way to get started. Personally, I use FL Studio for tracking and Reaper just for final mixing. That's because FL, for it's sins, has very good MIDI support and the instruments that come supplied as 'native' are just brilliant (if you're into synths). It also has built in recording and wave editing, which is very handy and simple to use. You also get a demo of 'Amplitude' which is a really great little guitar amp (I love it). The demo comes with FL but I believe you can upgrade that to the full rig for a reduced price. Reaper, on the other hand, is still shaky on it's MIDI support and it has no built in wave recording or editing facilities.

Just one suggestion. Hope it helps.

Regards

Dr. V

Thanks! that was alot of good advise. I wanted to use ampltube intead of guitar rig but it was alittle out of my price range. If i did just get the upgrade, do you know how much that would be? I was wondering if the 'final mixing' was mixing and mastering. I checked out FL and kinda like it. If i did get it which one should get; fruity, producer, or signiture bundle edition. Please get back to me and thanks again!

 

[Dr. Varney]

If you go for FL, then you should assess what you need carefully and make sure you buy accordingly. Producer Edition is about the best it gets and I'd recommend it to avoid future frustrations. The other versions are quite limited, more like toys and so you'll probably end up using Reaper anyway. Not all have wave editing, automation, export functions and the full gamut of mixer tracks. That's where Reaper scores, because for a small price you get everything Reaper has to offer, whereas FL gets progressively more expensive.

But there's good reason for the extra cost, because FL Studio is simply streets ahead of Reaper when it comes to MIDI support, native VSTi instruments and reliability - and with Producer Edition you're really getting a very well rounded package.

Can't tell you off the top of me head what it costs for a full version of Amplitide so you'll have to look that up. Just do a search. I'm currently using the LE version (Light Edition) and it does all I want it to.

If funds are limited, it might be worth checking out Ebay. Sometimes you can pick up used software titles quite legally, if you're willing to settle for a slightly older version.

As for other stuff, I would suggest getting started with the native plugins and as and when the need arises, you can add extra VSTs downloadable from various sources. There are actually some very good free universal VST FX out there which work with most packages.

Dr. V

 

[Dr. Varney]

You'll probably find that you dont need anything else.

Not really, because if he wants fancy amps and instruments, chances are, Reaper won't be quite enough. He will need to go in search of those extra VSTs to build himself a complete solution. For a start, anyone wanting to capture live instruments or vocals will need additional recording software.

You pick a tool to solve a problem. When you have a need you find a solution, not the other way around.

True, but I reckon some needs are just inevitable, so he might as well be armed with a complete package from the start.

Dr. V

 

[diggy_dude]

In either case, it would be wise to read a couple of books first. Knowing a bit about mixing and mastering techniques will help the OP make better choices as to what gear or software will be best suited to his approach.

 

[.Tyson Studios.]

Someone was wondering about prices. Here they are: (acording to guitar center)

FL Fruity Edition: 100$
FL Producers Edition: 200$
FL Signiture Bundle: 300$
Amplitube 3 Education Edition: 200$
Amplitube 3 Cross-Grade:230$
Amplitube 3: 300$

300$ for a software is a little out of my price range for any type of software. Would good if I got the fruity edition just for MIDI and used Reaper for everything else? Or should I just stick to Reaper. I would consider Producers Edition if it was worth it. Thanks for helping out!

 

[buzzard bass]

Check this out:
http://www.amazon.com/Image-Line-St...NCCW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291558576&sr=8-3

Not sure what the education edition is, sometimes they actually include additional stuff to help you learn the software, the description of the program is identical to the regular version. Be worth a look.

 

[.Tyson Studios.]

I saw that too. Does anyone know what the differances between regular edition and education edition? Thanks.

 

[squibble94]

I use Reaper, and I've chosen over Sonar. I used to think because it was cheap it was a piece of crap. Not true at all! I've found there is more flexibility than your $500 programs. The learning curve isn't even that bad.

As for your amps, try these out. (THEY ARE ALL FREE!!!)

http://lepouplugins.blogspot.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/nickcrowlab/
http://www.voxengo.com/product/boogex/ (This one might be a trial)
http://www.esnips.com/doc/c9125127-60bd-4472-9aec-7e2d868011d4/650-Assorted-Cabinet-Impulses

 

[Dr. Varney]

Check this out:
http://www.amazon.com/Image-Line-St...NCCW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291558576&sr=8-3

Not sure what the education edition is, sometimes they actually include additional stuff to help you learn the software, the description of the program is identical to the regular version. Be worth a look.

I believe the education edition software is merely a price description. If you can prove you're a music student, you get a discount.

I have Producer Edition (I didn't know about 'Signature Bundle') and it does pretty much anything I want it to do, plus I'm still exploring it's possibilities. Even without Amplitude, there are plugins which allow amping and controlled distortion for guitars. Amplitude is just a case of having everything in one place, under one wrapper and it's good for impressing your friends. It's still possible to combine plugins to get a more than passable guitar sound.

I think the main thing to look out for is that it comes with a full working Edison recorder and FM synthesis, such as Sytrus or Poizone. It already has an array of very nice subtractive synths as standard. Otherwise you could just get the cost effective Reaper and then you'll have to go hunting for similarly priced synth modules and a recorder. That might work out cheaper, plus you can spread the cost.

Seeing as Reaper is 'free to try' (without the lack of functionality you get with most demos) you might as well just download it and see if you like it. You might find things you love about it and that I have missed.

Fruity Loops is indeed a luxury and not absolutely necessary to get started. The advantages are (like Garage Band) you're making music the second you get it, it's stylish and reliable and there's bags of info and support. Everything is modular, so you don't have to worry about compatibility or setting things up. The workflow is a synch and the interface is very comfortable to look at for long hours. Some people justifyable prefer Reaper because the workflow is more reminiscent of Pro-Tools and FL does have it's own idiosyncratic layout, which you either love or hate... but that's just a matter of taste.

Like I said, you could piece together a very cost effective solution with Reaper at the heart of the system as a mixer - but, for all it's excellence, that's really all it will do. It's got a slightly steeper learning curve and I've found it crashes sometimes but you get what you pay for. It has incredible flexibility with signal routing for it's price but I have to say, I don't think there's anything FL Studio won't do for me. For something with such a silly name, it's amazingly powerful as an all-round music making solution.

The choice is yours. Hope this helps.

Dr. V

 

[Dr. Varney]

I use Reaper, and I've chosen over Sonar. I used to think because it was cheap it was a piece of crap. Not true at all! I've found there is more flexibility than your $500 programs. The learning curve isn't even that bad.

As for your amps, try these out. (THEY ARE ALL FREE!!!)

http://lepouplugins.blogspot.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/nickcrowlab/
http://www.voxengo.com/product/boogex/ (This one might be a trial)
http://www.esnips.com/doc/c9125127-60bd-4472-9aec-7e2d868011d4/650-Assorted-Cabinet-Impulses

Those look rather tempting. I will have to try them out!

Cheers

Dr. V

 

[buzzard bass]

Went through the regular ordering process, no need to prove I'm a music student. One will soon be on it's way. Thanks for the input mate. Move fast, these aint gonna last methinks.

As soon as I saw this I was reminded of Autocad Lite Education Edition. Before retiring My Dad did design work for Orion bus, they liked people to work from home. They used Autocad Lite, a $600 dollar program. I found Autocad Lite Education Edition at the College I was going to for $90. The difference? The Education Edition had an additional tutorial disc not included with the regular edition. The program software was identical.

 

[kcearl]

Reaper will cover most of what you need....in fact Reaper along side Wavelab 7 elements would cost $140 and give you a complete solution

I doubt Reapers midi shortcomings are ever going to effect any casual user and even someone like myself who uses midi a lot would get by with reaper...I mean velocity control and quantize is all you'll prolly ever use anyway


as for guitar stuff do not forget Acmebargig...some of these freebies are excellent..Like I said in another thread I have a load of amp sims, both software and hardware, and my favourite is the cheap v-amp pro


http://www.acmebargig.com/products/

 

[Dr. Varney]

I doubt Reapers midi shortcomings are ever going to effect any casual user and even someone like myself who uses midi a lot would get by with reaper...I mean velocity control and quantize is all you'll prolly ever use anyway

Not for me. Exactly why I dumped Reaper and went back to FL. I'm what you'd call a casual user and I need MIDI control. Reaper sucks at MIDI which the makers freely admit on their own website. Admittedly, they will probably improve this over time.

Dr. V

 

[kcearl]

fair enough...cant say Ive used either much, but for free Id try Reaper first

 

[tmx]

as for guitar stuff do not forget Acmebargig...some of these freebies are excellent..Like I said in another thread I have a load of amp sims, both software and hardware, and my favourite is the cheap v-amp pro


http://www.acmebargig.com/products/

The acmebargig stuff is great.

After spending the better part of the day installing and playing with the acmebargig sims, using an assortment of Marshall and Mesa speaker impulses loaded through Reaper's Reaverb plugin, I'm absolutely convinced that you don't have to spend a dime on the big name sims (amplitube, revalver, etc...) to get great guitar sounds. You'll have to spend a bit more time assembling and tweaking rigs, but it can be well worth it.

The deeper I get into this, the more blown away I am with the abundance of high-quality freebies and nearly-freebies out there. It's really quite cool.

-Bob