For fear of the laughter

[Neophyte]

I almost didn't post this question but if I can't get a decent answer here then the asnwer is simply not available.

Is there such a thing as a computer/book/cd-rom/online tutoring program for keyboards?

I can play a piano. I can read my chord charts like everyone else.

I would like to literally SEE how people create these wonderfully full orchestrated pieces of music on a keyboard/synth.

I am planning on buying something a little better than my current Yamaha PSR-530 but, hell, I can't even get THAT to do much more than make a "neat" sound for accompaniment. Yamaha documentation sucks.

How hard could it be for someone to put a couple of basic projects together and give a step-by-step demonstrating the capabilities of the equipment?



Neo

 

[stray411]

It kind of depends on what you want to do. There are plenty of books and tutorials out there (to get a feel for what's available go to musiciansfriend.com and look under books/instruction videos). The problem/question is this; what do you want to do with a keyboard? Are you only interested in reading about how to create a full orchestration? Are you looking for the music theory employed or are you trying to find out how to do it with a piece of equipment?

Theory is another issue all together, but sequencing (orchestrating) is usually pretty well covered in the user manual for whatever keyboard you buy, well with the exception of Roland's cryptic manuals. Sequencing procedures change from manufacturer to manufacturer and even model to model so it would be hard to find a book/video that could give instruction on how to sequence in such a variety environments.

Hope this helps.

 

[Neophyte]

What I want to do....

Thank you for your response.

I am not really speaking of theory or arranging. I know my theory and am working on my arranging skills. I am speaking strictly about putting a multi-layered track together on a keyboard

I honestly can't say what I want to do. I am not sure what exactly can be done. The simple keyboard that I have is REALLY lacking in instruction. Yamaha sucks as much as Roland seems to concerning instruction manuals.

My dream is to create wonderful backup trax for my vocals. How do I do that with a single keyboard? Lay down a drum track? The drum machine in the keyboard is basic at best but how do I create my own design for simply a brush and snare and gradually increase tempo? Then do I lay the strings in? Or the brass? If I lay these in how do I layer them and change the volume of each track? Would it just be easier to take each one straight to my computer and mix them all in Sonar? If I do THAT can I upload them back into a keyboard so I can run that on gigs without needing the computer or tape but remain strictly keyboards?

That is the kind of information I would like to find in a demonstration CD/video. Something that took a basic project like "Misty" in a jazz combo arrangement and showed you how to lay down the tracks and turn them into an accompaniment for whatever instrument was desired. Give a step by step demo of how someone would turn "Dream Weaver" into a dance track. Something so I could push a button and start the song and play the lead keyboard part and sing.

I can write out the parts. I can hear them in my head. I know what I want to hear as backup to a song I play. Now, how do I take the tool I have and put those things in the memory and make them play back. And then make them play back all at the same time!

Anyway, thanks for your time, and I hope that clarifies my search


Neo

 

[Sonic Misfit]

I am not familiar with your synth, but what you need is some sequencing software that will allow you to build the multiple instrument tracks. Your keyboard will need to be able to handle the multiple voices that will be transmitted from the sequencing software. You will also need a MIDI interface on your synth.

If you want to record analog, for vocals, you will need a multi-track recording system.

As you can see there will be a lot of choices, so this is a very complex question. However, you might check out some of the other areas of this BBS such as the vendor specific areas.

Good Luck.

 

[stray411]

I don't think you're going to find a keyboard capable of importing sequences you mixed in Sonor. I'm assuming you don't want to lug your computer out on live gigs so you'll want to find a keyboard with a pretty capable sequencer, mixer and effect section. There's quite a few choices out there with differing capabilities. I would suggest you spend a few hours in your local music store trying out a few.

As far as the arrangement and layering of parts, most pro workstations have at the very least 8 sequencer parts (most have 16). On each one of these tracks you can record a part (an instrument or combination of instruments). After recording a part you can then record tempo changes, add effects, pan L or R , set appropriate levels (mix) and make various other types of changes.

So for instance you start with your chord progression (piano in this example) on track 1. Then you add a melody line (a flute let's say)on track 2. Then a bass line on track 3 and so on. This is how you build tracks. Some people start with the drum line and build up from there. It just depends on your preference.

I hope this all helps, but if anything is unclear just ask.

Stray