Dummies guide?

jay_isaacs

jay_isaacs

November Phoenix
(Wasn't sure where to post this!)
Ok here's the deal. I have all my equipment setup and am ready to begin! Problem is, I dont realy know where to start. After trauling the net for tutorials and guides and coming up empty, I'm afraid I will have to resort to annoying all you pros!:(
Ok so far this is what I've got:
1-Lambda USB interface connected to windows xp PC running Cubase LE4.
2-Casio CTK-691 Keyboard connected to lambda via midi in and midi out.
3-I have managed to record my acoustic guitar as an audio track with no major issues so I think I've got the audio side sorted.;)

What I am struggling with, is:
1-setting my keyboard as the midi controller
2-Actually hearing anything when I press the keys (There is a signal when I press the keys and if i record, it records the keys I have pressed but there is no sound)
3-Selecting which sound the keyboard will play. I have a few free plugins which I have downloaded (DSK DrumZ Series,Cubixv1.2 etc) but I can't seem to get them to work!:confused:
I'm really stuck and at a complete loss. If some kind person could walk me through step by step what I need to do to create a basic setup I'd be extremely grateful.:o
What I'm trying to do is create a project which has a midi drum part, midi strings and synths etc, an audio vocal and audio acoustic guitar.

Thanks in advance!
 
It seams to me like everything is set up pretty well.
You just need to call in your VSTi instruments and you'll get sound from your midi track.
I am not familiar with your LE but in Cubase SX you hit F11 to open window for VSTi. Select one or few of them you are going to use.
After that's set up you need to select which one you'll use on your midi tracks. It means you set up output of your midi track.
Example for midi track:
Channel: ANY
Output: Hypersonic
Program: Grand Piano
 
Last edited:
johnnymegabyte said:
Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies (Paperback)
by Jeff Strong (Author) "Whether you use a PC- or Mac-based system, a stand-alone digital recorder, or a cassette port-a-studio for your music-making needs, your recording system of choice..."
http://www.amazon.com/Home-Recording-Musicians-Dummies-Strong/dp/0764516345 :cool:
Click to expand...

This book is horrible. I read the whole thing and I'm still on here asking questions. Its the one with the black girl singing on the front I dont even have to click the link. It wasn't helpful in anyway shape or form. And I only know the basics. Maybe im just out of the dummy stage? But I don't think so because Photoshop CS3, flash CS3, and songwriting for dummies books were amazing. : )

-HyPe

Now that i click the link i see thats the older version of the book. But none the less the same book.
 
Great! Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'm up and running. Recorded part one of my first composition last night with a mix of audio and midi. I'm now looking for some really good quality midi sounds (free if poss) like strings and drums etc.

Any recomendations?
 
Start by reading the basic guides.

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My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)
 
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