Hardware or Software?

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sixways

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I've been somewhat interested in picking up a MicroKORG (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/microKorg/) but my ignorance on the subject keeps me from spending the cash. Could it do anything that my current software can't?

Protools 7.1
Digidesign's XPand 1.1
Reason 3.0
Live 4.0

Would their be anyway to employ any of what I have as a "vocoder"? Surely all that software has something in it I am ignorant of.

Thanks,
6
 
Reason has a very capable vocoder.

You first need to sample the words that you're going to vocode. Fortunately you have a very easy way to do that using Live.

Once you've sampled what you want to vocode --- just a sentence will do as a test --- render it to a .wav file and import it into the NN19 sampler. Then in the sequencer window draw a note at C3 as long as the sentence lasts and plug the output of the NN19 into the Vocoder/EQ module. I use this setup all the time and once you set it up using either the Subtractor or the Malstrom as the modulator you can save it as a Combinator by going to 'combine' under the edit menu and naming it 'vocoded NN19' or something similar.
 
MicroKORG isn't really anything special. You could do pretty much everything it does with Reason.
 
I've got it set up, but it doesn't seem that the subtractor is doing anything as the modulator. When I change presets or knobs/sliders in the Subtractor, shouldn't it in some way effect the sound of the vocoded part?

Thanks,
6
 
You need to feed the vocoder some notes from the Subtractor.

I use one of the factory pad sounds --- you need a sound that will sustain for the length of the sample.
 
The sample goes in where the microphone icon is - the Propellerheads have the idea that that's the modulator and the Subtractor patch is the carrier, but in my experience that's backwards.

In any event, that's how you do it.

Post again if you still can't get it to work...
 
so you cant do it live?It seems like a hassle...If you just want a vocoder..im sure you can find an inexpensive hardware one..this way you can tyweak parameters in real time..but I guess if you are just doing lil phrases those software would be cool...I had the korg ms2000..Its cool..I didnt use it but every blue moon....I prefer to use the talkbox..
 
For a kind of cool vocoder pic up a copy of Computer Music Magazine(UK).
They have their full plugin's for free with the mag and there is a nice little CM Vocoder on the DVD that they claim is simular to one thats in FL STudio.
That is if your a PC user.......

I had and will buy another Micro Korg. Its a handy little machine for some things.

-Blaze
 
you may be able to get some decent sounds from sample CDs load in NNXT
but then, ur ur mix isn't busy or you need powerfull fat sounding synths as the main sounds in ur track, REASON synths wont get you there, they are thinner than many vsti

you can't get the MS2000 sounds with realtime flexibility from REASON
you cant get the sounds that's BMP based with other tempo effects from decently recorded sample sets

i can't speak for microKORG as i dont know how its converter sounds
but ms2000 is easy to fit into mix
 
microKORG isn't the same as the MS2000. Not even close! As for the Reason complaints... you just need to learn how to program it and patch things in it, as none of your complaints really hold water. And no, I don't have Reason, but I've heard others do some amazing things with it including tempo based stuff.
 
The Microkorg is pretty much the same sound engine as the MS2000, I had both and hated the Microkorg because its keyboard is too small and its a pain in the ass to program ( for me at leat , i prefere realtime controls not one big nob and a ton of menus ).

The MS2000 also has a step sequencer which i find very usefull, the micro korg does not have this.
 
Yep the micro is just a baby MS-2000 without the nice features of the ms.

And dxl, how can you say that about reason???????? :confused:

I find it fatter than alot hardware thats come out lately.......
Granted its a bit of an aquired taste but I think it offers more power and better sounds than alot of VSTI's.

-Blaze
 
blazingstrings said:
Yep the micro is just a baby MS-2000 without the nice features of the ms.

And dxl, how can you say that about reason???????? :confused:

I find it fatter than alot hardware thats come out lately.......
Granted its a bit of an aquired taste but I think it offers more power and better sounds than alot of VSTI's.

-Blaze
Click to expand...
Reason is fatter then what hardware?...I think there are much better vsts out there..of course that dont mean its cheap.
 
Hey no ofense intended.

I love to have these discusions about gear, You learn so much! :)

Disclaimer: These are just my opinions.......

Now I think Korg still has it right and waldorf kicks azz.

I think that reason smokes Newer Novation stuff and the alesis Ion and micron............. I dont see the atraction to them. :confused:

But in comparison I like Reason over most hardware and VST's....

But thats my opinion, I am just kind of in awe when folks slam it because it has been the most eye opening peice of software I ever bought.
I wrote more in the first week using Reason than I ever did with any other soft synth.

Not to say there isnt alot of great hardware out there. I just prefer Reason.

Once again before you fire away at me "Disclaimer: These are just my opinions......."

Laters :)

-Blaze
 
Well, here's my take on the whole thing. In most cases when people complain that something doesn't sound "fat" or it can't do something "well", it's usually because of the user. Sure, certain gear does certain things better and some things not so well, but in most cases, if you work hard at it it doesn't matter what you use.

People wax lyrical on how great bass sounds on some analog hardware... and about 2 years ago I'd agree. I'd have much easier time with getting wallshaking bass out of my rinky-dink Juno-106 than the Kurzweil K2600XS. But nowdays I can get some bass sounds out of the Kurzweil that the Juno could never hope to reproduce.

Same with software. Just learn how to use the damn thing that you have and stop bitching about what you don't have.
 
noisewreck said:
Just learn how to use the damn thing that you have and stop bitching about what you don't have.
Click to expand...

I agree! My friend has made some great music with a Cheeeeeeeeeap ass Casio and a few pedals and a Zoom 505....... Not to say I would do the same.
It just goes to show.

-Blaze
 
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