Drums, strings, samples, arranging?

[qwerty007]

I've got a Digidesign rack and Protools LE, and want to record a Jazz CD with drums, strings, possibly other instruments like trumpet and keys using virtual instruments and or samples. Tracks will be arranged so I need to be able to manipulate sounds easily preferably without a keyboard.

I'm not new to recording but am new to the world of samples sounds and virtual instruments. For strings and other instruments can I simply convert say my guitar parts into other insruments sounds, for example a convincing trumpet. For realistic drums, it is easy to get the drums to play within an arrangement without a lot of knowledge of how to play the drums? What is the best way to go about this?

 

[malgovert]

Sounds to me like you are talking about a midi set-up which would involve a keyboard. You can get midi guitars but I don't think they are very common. As for drum patterns, these can be constructed from pre-recorded midi files so you don't need to know how to play the drums, you just build up a track by putting your chosen files together. If you wanted to create your own midi drum tracks using the keyboard though, I think you would have to know something about playing the drums.

malgovert