Software Synths

[PulpBoy]

I have Cakewalk Home Studio 9 that I use as my multi-track recorder. I'm looking to buy a software synth, but I've been unable to get ANY straight answers as to which are the best and whether I can use them with Cakewalk. Are there any plug-ins that turn Cakewalk into a synth? I'm very ignorant on this subject. I'm pretty sure I will need (or want) to get a MIDI keyboard, but which software packages are best. I've been told that Rebirth, Retro, and Unity DS-1 are good. But what I want to know is can I use Cakewalk to sequence the music or can a software synth loop and sequence? What I really want to do is create a beat with the software as a wave file, then paste it into Cakewalk so I can add vocals and whatever else I feel like. I also want to be able to add sounds to the synth. What's the best way to go with this? Like I said, I'm very ignorant of this type of stuff, so talk to me like I'm stupid... because I am. Thanks.

Here's my system:

Windows 98
800 Mhtz processor
128 megs of RAM
Delta 24 sound card
20 gig hard drive

 

[spoon_22]

The reason you haven't gotten a straight answer is that there may not be one...it really all depends on what you want to do. There are inumerable softsynths designed for different platforms and applications, and choosing one or several will probably take some research and demo...
If all you are looking to do is lay down some beats to drop into cakewalk, my favorite is Fruity Loops Pro...which also offers you a generally integrated song-creation system, and the ability to add samples as tracks in it's synth. It also comes prebuilt with a Roland 404 synth for basslines.
Rebirth, Retro, and Unity DS-1 are also good programs to use for this sort of thing. Most/all of these programs will let you export loops and/or complete song tracks as a wav which you can then pull into cakewalk to record other audio over.
If you get a MIDI keyboard, then cakewalk will obviously let you sequence it to lay down tracks. I can't think of any standalone softsynths that can be sequenced by cakewalk, but you may be able to find some VST or DX plugs that would let you do something akin to this. But unless you can't use a standalone or MIDI keyboard, I would stay away from the plug route. Then again, I've never used any softsynth plugs myself, so I may just not be familiar with them. Fruity and Rebirth, etc....will let you sequence and loop (and fruity does it better, IMHO) as well as add samples and effects (with plugs, etc...).
There's a bunch of other programs that do essentially the same thing your looking for, some better, some worse, some more expensive, some free. If you want a more comprehensive overview of some other options, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Hope this helps,
Spoon

 

[DavidK]

Hi, I downloaded a Demo of FruityLoops last night.
As Spoon says, that program is baddd, and I would
guess it is exactly what you want. When I saw
the price, I almost fainted, they are practically
giving it away. Go download the demo, my friend.
Cheers, David

 

[Daddy Longstroke]

http://www.sonic-syndicate.com
check out orion, you may faint twice. Its kind of like reason by propellerheads, but its interface is different and its 2 versions are $49 and $79.

The more powerful softsynths like reaktor and gigastudio imho need their own box. So, unless you want to buy a new computer maybe stick to the all in one things like reason, fruity loops, and orion as well soft synths like the pro 52, and the Lm 4 drum module. the vaz modulator is also nice.

You are going to want more ram if you are using a soft sampler.512 megs would give you lots of muscle, but 256 would work too. Also you do NEED a second 7200 rpm harddrive(sorry if Im being condescending now) this is important for all aspects of recording audio.