I apologize for posting this here, but thought you folks might be able to help with some uber basic questions. If you can think of a more appropriate place to post, please let me know.
I am a professional IT guy, and part time piano player (I’m a much better IT guy than I’ll ever be a musician). I’m about to “retire” from a good bit of my work, and I’m looking to fill the time with two of my passions – computers/geek stuff and music. My main goal(s) are to buy a synthesizer, play some things, record them, layer them, learn about mixing, and generally “have fun.” I don’t have any interest in creating music to sell, but I am interesting in sounds and layering them.
I’ve done a ton of reading over the past few months, and always end up with far more questions than I have answers. I am looking at purchasing a keyboard workstation (Yamaha Moxf8, Roland FA-08, or Korg Kronos) to connect to my computer via USB.
I have a few basic questions:
1. As I understand, I can pull up my synthesizer, pick a sound, add a track to a Daw project, and record that sound piece into Daw. I can then pick another sound, add another track, and record that sound piece. Correct?
2. I understand there are also “virtual instruments.” As I understand, those are imported into the DAW, selected as a track input. I then reconfigure my keyboard to be a “midi controller,” so that it is sending midi data, not a sound? That is still done via USB? As I play, I then hear (through the computer) the virtual instrument?
3. A similar question – I see all these instrument packs (Komplete, Vienna Strings, etc.). Though I would not purchase anything that expensive while starting out, I do not really understand them. How do you play these with a keyboard? Are they simply files you add to Daw, and then play via midi with your keyboard? I see most rely on something called Kontakt. I'm not understanding how those sounds are recorded.
4. In your opinion Reaper too much for an absolute beginner? Technical/complexity issues don’t really bother me, unless the general consensus is that Reaper is way too much for someone who knows nothing. (I literally know nothing, as you can tell from the questions above). I’ve looked at Studio One Artist, Cubase Elements, and Cakewalk Sonar Artist as well.
5. If anyone has experience with the Yamaha Moxf8, Roland FA-08, or Korg Kronos, I would be grateful for any feedback.
6. Does anyone subscribe to Computer Music magazine? If so, is that a good resource to learn? Does anyone have any recommendations for good books for beginners? (Wading through the results at Amazon is fun, but tedious). I've actually looked at the Home Recording for Dummies book.
Very grateful for any help.
I am a professional IT guy, and part time piano player (I’m a much better IT guy than I’ll ever be a musician). I’m about to “retire” from a good bit of my work, and I’m looking to fill the time with two of my passions – computers/geek stuff and music. My main goal(s) are to buy a synthesizer, play some things, record them, layer them, learn about mixing, and generally “have fun.” I don’t have any interest in creating music to sell, but I am interesting in sounds and layering them.
I’ve done a ton of reading over the past few months, and always end up with far more questions than I have answers. I am looking at purchasing a keyboard workstation (Yamaha Moxf8, Roland FA-08, or Korg Kronos) to connect to my computer via USB.
I have a few basic questions:
1. As I understand, I can pull up my synthesizer, pick a sound, add a track to a Daw project, and record that sound piece into Daw. I can then pick another sound, add another track, and record that sound piece. Correct?
2. I understand there are also “virtual instruments.” As I understand, those are imported into the DAW, selected as a track input. I then reconfigure my keyboard to be a “midi controller,” so that it is sending midi data, not a sound? That is still done via USB? As I play, I then hear (through the computer) the virtual instrument?
3. A similar question – I see all these instrument packs (Komplete, Vienna Strings, etc.). Though I would not purchase anything that expensive while starting out, I do not really understand them. How do you play these with a keyboard? Are they simply files you add to Daw, and then play via midi with your keyboard? I see most rely on something called Kontakt. I'm not understanding how those sounds are recorded.
4. In your opinion Reaper too much for an absolute beginner? Technical/complexity issues don’t really bother me, unless the general consensus is that Reaper is way too much for someone who knows nothing. (I literally know nothing, as you can tell from the questions above). I’ve looked at Studio One Artist, Cubase Elements, and Cakewalk Sonar Artist as well.
5. If anyone has experience with the Yamaha Moxf8, Roland FA-08, or Korg Kronos, I would be grateful for any feedback.
6. Does anyone subscribe to Computer Music magazine? If so, is that a good resource to learn? Does anyone have any recommendations for good books for beginners? (Wading through the results at Amazon is fun, but tedious). I've actually looked at the Home Recording for Dummies book.
Very grateful for any help.