synth workstation newbie - Help!!

[moc1]

I love my Yamaha Motif ES7 and have used it live several times. Problem is, I don't do manuals very well. I've learned how to do a few things, such as build performances, store and edit things, and could easily spend the next six months doing nothing but playing around with the endless array of sounds it has. I am learning some of the "tech" lingo as I go along, but I do not have the time to sit around trying to decode a bunch of technical terminology so that I can understand a manual which was written for the people who wrote the manual! I am trying to make music and am willing to learn what I need to learn but simply cannot consume my entire existence deciphering manuals. Okay, point made. Anyway, I would like to get into home recording but not sure how to start. I have this awesome board, a decent set of monitors, a 10-channel mixer and a couple of mics. (My mics are not recording quality--I know I need better ones for that.) What next? When at home, it's all set up next to my pc. Oh, and I have a jump drive I've never even used. Should I learn to record with the board itself or get recording software? Any advice welcome!

 

[Phyl]

There are a lot of ways you could go; I'll suggest a minimalist setup.

There are plenty of USB based recording devices that connect to your computer. Look for one that comes bundled with recording software. Buy some audio and midi cables to connect your synth to the USB device, connect the device to your computer via USB, and off you go.

Once you decide to add other instuments (guitar, bass, drums,etc), hook up the mics you already have to the USB device and record them. You'll eventually decide how best to incorporate your mixer into the equation.

Here's a brief sampling of USB devices:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/prodsearch?form=prodsearch&q=usb

There is a learning curve with all of this stuff so be prepared to spend some more time looking through manuals. You don't have to learn it all immediately, just learn as you go like the rest of us.

 

[moc1]

Thanks, Phyl. An acquaintance who owns a Tyros told me I needed an interfacer. Then the guy who sold the the Motif ES (who also owns a Motif ES) told me I didn't. Now you're saying I do. Well, at any rate, yesterday I had a chance to work with an MAudio Oxygen8 MIDI keyboard controller during a recording session with a friend (he's got ProTools everything--awesome setup). I was impressed, as this is all new to me. So, would that be doable with what I already have? Or am I veering down the wrong trail with this? Have you had any experience with the Oxygen 8? I like what it did for me, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best component for my own personal setup. And, I think I've found a couple of manuals written for the "technologically challeneged" on this subject on ebay.
Thanks again!

 

[Toki987]

Your ES can do what the mAudio will as a controller, and a serve as synth and sampler as well. You already have 2 usb ports, 3 midi ports, and 2 audio output ports on the ES. You can also sample into the ES using your microphones. You can mix your songs right on the ES and send them to the computer via the audio outputs directly to the sound card or go into your mixer and then to the sound card. You are however limited to 2 tracks of audio (stereo out) on the ES at one time. You can however output 16 channels of midi control to a computer for controlling software synths and recieve 16 channels of midi control information from recording software on a pc if you are using it as a sound generator. You could have a complete rythym section playing out of the L/R audio ports on the, ES controlled by software on the PC , into the mixer on 2 channels, and do voice or another instrument on a third channel of the mixer. The L/R audio outs of the mixer can go directly to your sound cards line in.

Force yourself to read the manual, over, and then again. Especially the parts that deal with what you are wanting to do. Utilize any user forums that deal with the ES models, ask folks you know that have one for advice. Using the ES without a reasonable depth of understanding of the dashboard though is kinda like trying taking the space shuttle around the parking lot for a few spins without ever known how to fly. It's a pretty powerful piece of technology.

 

[Phyl]

My bad - I'm not familiar with your keyboaqrd and didn't realize it was that sophisticated. Toki is right on.

 

[moc1]

Thanks. I have been studiously neglecting my family for the last couple of days while combing this manual and working this board. I really should sleep at some point. But I'm having too much fun. Really!! I think I did make some headway with it today. I WILL CONQUER THIS THING.
moc1