general usage "my first sound module"

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrLip
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MrLip

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I'm thinking about buying a sound module because I've been dissatisfied with the soundfonts I've been using with my sblive card. I've never owned or used a module before so I don't know much about them.

I'm looking for a decent general purpose sound module, preferrably under US$400-$500.

I'm a guitarist and my music is on the pop side. I'd like to have some nice sounding acoustic drum kits plus some poppy sounding kits. I have also been unsatisfied with the string soundfonts I have found, so good string sounds is another thing that I want. But at the same time, since this will be my only (and first) module, I'd like it to consist of a good general palette of sounds as well.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
Check out the JV-1010 ($419 at zZounds). It comes loaded with all of the sounds from the Session expansion card (highest quality) and has room for another expansion card.
 
I was in a similar situation and I purchased the JV-1010. It isn't that expensive, has a lot of great sounds and comes with e-magic software to edit.
good luck!
 
OK.

I've been looking at this thing.

I use Cakewalk with a sblive value card.

Now, how does this JV connect to my computer and how do I control it with cakewalk?

thanks
 
I don't have an sblive card. But I have a Turtle Beach Fiji and a Montego II and it's essentially the same thing. You probably have a MIDI/Joystick port on the back which has, I think, 15 pins. You need to buy a MIDI "breakout" cable. It plugs into the MIDI/Joystick port on the card and has a MIDI in and out connectors on the other end. Then you just need to buy two MIDI cables to go from that to the sound module. The MIDI "out" from the sblive goes to the "in" on the module.

Jim
 
Korg

As you can see from the other posts here,I have the JV 1010 and I do reccommend it 'cause it's got some really good sounds,but I wanted to point out that Korg has some nice stuff in the same price point which is also valid soundwise.I'm thinking of the XD5R and there's another one I can't remember the name of.They're 1/2 rack boxes like the 1010 but you can tweak all the parameters from the front panel and I'm pretty sure you can store your edits onboard,which the 1010 can't do.I got yet another Korg product at the same time I bought my 1010,mine's the N1R,they were blowing them out at $399,and I really like it as well,it's got a different personality than the Roland and it's got some quirky,fun,and scary sounds and good FX.Cheers!
 
I would consider the JV-1080 before the JV-1010 because you can edit the sounds without a computer. I know it has fewer sounds but from my experience you will never actually play hundreds or thousands of sounds....you will end up with 30 or 40 favorites that you use over and over and fall in love with. It is more expensive but I've seen great prices on these lately because of it's age. The EMU Proteus 2000 is worth considering as well.
 
1010...

I would also recomend the JV1010... Yes, there are some quirks... Performance modes are not saved... But, the patches can be saved - up 128 just like any other module...

The only drawback? If you don't have the PC or Mac to edit it... There's not much you can do with it...
 
If it works and that's what you need don't let us tell you different!

I've seen people make big mega-hits on next to nothing so don't worry about it!

Good luck on all...
 
Yamaha, Korg, Ensoniq, Roland and probably others Emu have lots of great inexpensive sound modules. You've really got to hit the music stores and listen to what sounds good to you. Let's not forget used or discontinued equipment. For example, with the JV 5080 coming out, you may get a pretty good deal on the 1080 or a good used one. Look at lots of features, but mostly, use your ears.... good luck! HAve fun makin music!
 
ive got the jv-1010 and im kind of wishing i got thr 1080,because i have not a bit of idea about how to use the editing program ive tried but git nowere.Can any of you help me and if i unplug the 1010 will my program sounds get taken away?
 
Performances on the 1010 - a comment

This is a bit off topic, but since the question was raised I wanted to share my experiences :)
I've just (Heureka!)) managed to save different performances to the 1010 via the SoundDiver software. After editing the performances I saved them in the User Performance bank. Then I selected these and chose Transmit from the MIDI menu, which transmitted the data from the SoundDiver to the 1010 via the serial port (I have connected the 1010 to my PC using a to host-cable and I have set the Computer switch to PC-2 according to the installation program for the serial midi driver provided by Roland). After this I shut the 1010 down, switched to "MIDI" on the back panel computer switch and powered it up again. Now (having set the 1010 in performance mode) I sent a program change on the Perform Ctrl Channel to select the first performance, and then I set my keyboard (a GEM WS2) to send on different key ranges and different midi channels. This resulted in a quite tolerable live setup for me, where I can choose and edit patches, assemble these into a performance, save this performance to the 1010 and then access the performance via program changes on the Perform Ctrl Channel (which is easily set from the front panel of the 1010).

With this I just wanted to clarify that you can save performance settings to the 1010, but you will obviously need to use the software included to edit and save them from your PC or Mac.

Regards, Nik
 
What are performance modes??

(Maybe I'll need that Fisher Price)
 
A La Mode

Performance mode is Rolandspeak for multitimbral operation,i.e.16 channels each with their own patch,volume,pan,and fx send.Last time I checked there were 16 user performances on the 1010,and I think 32 factory settings.Cheers!
 
To MrLip--I would recommend buying a module that lets you edit sounds without using a computer program. You will never learn to program and make the sounds unique and playable any other way. It's great to have a librarian program to store banks of sounds but it's tedious and damn confusing editing inside the computer unless you are really experienced with synths. If you don't have a keyboard then I would suggest buying a keyboard with onboard sounds. It's easy to sequence and access multi-timbral features if there is a keyboard attached. Roland, Korg, Emu, and Yamaha all make great stuff.
 
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