mac setup questions

[g h e t t o]

i recently purchased some equipment off ebay, cause i needed a new hobby.

to be exact. i copped a:

yamaha djx
mpd16
and a microkorg

i've got a couple of questions for the cats who have setups at home. with the keyboard (djx) i copped, is it only possible for me to use it for midi or can i import the sounds from it to my mac and play it realtime? it has a midi in and out plug on the back. i'm new to this so i don't know the exact method of hooking it up to my mac. if anybody can explain the process to me that would be great. this site explans it a little, but that shit is gibberish to me lol.

second question, for mac users. i need a program for sequencing. i heard about pro tools but you need an mbox for it to hear the sounds right? so what other programs are available for me to use?

thanks for your time. this is not my department of expertise.

 

[Tifstorey]

With the keyboard (djx) i copped, is it only possible for me to use it for midi or can i import the sounds from it to my mac and play it realtime? it has a midi in and out plug on the back. i'm new to this so i don't know the exact method of hooking it up to my mac. if anybody can explain the process to me that would be great.

I couldnt be too sure about the DJX, but i would think so. I use the Yamaha PSR-740 and i can use the onboard sounds in Cubase just fine. I have it running through a small midi interface and changed it in Cubase to use Port one. This used the keyboards onboard voices, like i said, i have no experience of the DJX, but i think that came out roughly the same time as the 740, so i would think you would be able to.

second question, for mac users. i need a program for sequencing. i heard about pro tools but you need an mbox for it to hear the sounds right? so what other programs are available for me to use?

Alot of software is based on opinions on how you feel with the overall set up of it. Personally, i use Cubase and wouldnt change from it. Ive been using it for 5 years and it works fine for me. I know my way around it all now, so i have no need to change.

Pro tools is a mix of hardware and software, so if you did purchase pro tools software you would need the hardware like the Mbox, Digi 001 or 002 etc.

Theres a download for Cubase here: ftp://ftp.steinberg.net/Download/

Download it, have a play around with it and test out some others and see which you feel most comfortable with.

Good luck!

Peace

 

[g h e t t o]

thanks man.

all i could find were updates on that page. exactly how much is the cubase program? are there any free versions lurking on the net?

 

[Tifstorey]

Cubase VST you can find on eBay for around...£30ish?
Cubase SE is £80ish
Cubase SX3 is £550.

They do an 'LE' Version which usually comes as a bundled offer with a soundcard or hardware. I had a quick scan for a demo version, but couldnt find one unfortunately. Steinberg offer one, or at least they used to.. but the site seems to be down at the moment

Keep checking and when it comes back up you should be able to download it!

 

[Riverdog]

This might help...

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/mac/MIDI_SEQUENCERS/

Try going here and see if there's anything you like...
I would also suggest Metro if you're on a budget...
Those sequencers are from: http://www.sagantech.biz/index.html