What Is The Most User-friendly...

[peterochs]

Midi-computer Interface Along With What Sequencing Program, Ex. Acid, Cubase, Reason Type Thing - It Seems None Are All Inclusive Having Both Interface Hardware, And Software, Bundled, In Same Package, So With Two Arrays I've Tried, The Connection Never Seems To Click

 

[Jeyan]

There is a reason for this many available softwares and midi interfaces. It is pretty much "preference" Most of the sequencing softwares almost work in the same principle just different layout and convenient placements.
Just download all the available softwares and work onit for atelast a day, you will figure out your preference. I like Sonar for midi sequencing and I am using Edirol midi patcher/interface they both go well together. Good Luck.

 

[mikeh]

Like any software application, you need to determine what you want/need to do and then find the software that best achieves your primary need.

Sonar has very good MIDI capibilities but likely is not the best Digital recording application. Pro Tools is likely the "best" recording process, but does not have the MIDI capibilities as Sonar. These are just two basic general comments. Acid is good for using loops, but is limited as a D/A recording medium.

If MIDI is an important part of your recording - than maybe Sonar is best, if you reord every thing live, perhaps Pro-Tools is best, if you work a lot with llops, Acid my be the best option.

Figure out what is important to you - and make sure that is what the software does best!

 

[peterochs]

yes I've heard alot about Pro Tools - I will do some studying!

 

[Carter]

Pro Tools is likely the "best" recording process, but does not have the MIDI capibilities as Sonar.

Now that is funny!!! I agree only if it's a TDM system, I think Cubase SX3 is a better program than Pro Tools LE

 

[bennychico11]

I think Cubase SX3 is a better program than Pro Tools LE

Now that is funny!!!!! I think Pro Tools is a better program

 

[RhythmRmixd]

Well I'll be darned!! I would've said Digital Performer for integrated MIDI and audio sequencing!

 

[minofifa]

did you want just midi/sequencing? or did you want audio recording/mixing etc? if it is the former, i woudl suggest reason by propellerhead. Its an amazing piece of software, i got it about a month ago and have been working with it like crazy lately. an alternative to it would be project 5 by cakewalk (never tried it but i don't like the apperance of it as much).

 

[minofifa]

hey benny

i just realized you got hypno toad from futurama....

good show.

 

[mikeh]

I must admit I have not used Cubase SX3 - which may be a great program. I have used earlier versions of Cubase and did not find as feature freindly or as functional as I would have liked.

I know some people who are not overly impressed with Pro Tools LE (although it often seems this is based on comparisons to a full Pro Tools system - which is simply not a fair comparison).

Pro Tools LE does seem to be a fairly popular medium, which is always a factor in choosing a system (since there is always a possibility (perhaps probability) that projects may move from studio to studio.

Candidly, there are so many systems out there, and I've only had limited access to many of those systems - so I will gladly defer to others.

The primary goal of my original post was to indicate that someone using mainly MIDI may want/need a different program than someone who plans to track everything and someone who uses a lot of llops needs something different - each software application does certain things better than others and the user needs to know what is important when choosing a system..

 

[bennychico11]

hey benny

i just realized you got hypno toad from futurama....

good show.

ain't it though

my other icon is the Evil Monkey from Family Guy. Another great character.

 

[peterochs]

did you want just midi/sequencing? or did you want audio recording/mixing etc? if it is the former, i woudl suggest reason by propellerhead. Its an amazing piece of software, i got it about a month ago and have been working with it like crazy lately. an alternative to it would be project 5 by cakewalk (never tried it but i don't like the apperance of it as much).

I would like both ideally. But I think the best function for me would be the audio recording, mixing. I have used Acid, Reason and Cubase (albeit, only Acid in the full version) and the loop-based are fun but seem too limited in the audio recording area.

I want to be able to sequence (i.e. 'score' or whatever), and RECORD my own audio to sequence, as well as use some pre-laid loop tracks etc. - but in essence I'm more akin to the live performance thing, not just patching loops together... as long as the programs have some sort of quantize function built in because hey, I'm a musician but I'm far less precise than a computer can be

 

[peterochs]

did you want just midi/sequencing? or did you want audio recording/mixing etc? if it is the former, i woudl suggest reason by propellerhead. Its an amazing piece of software, i got it about a month ago and have been working with it like crazy lately. an alternative to it would be project 5 by cakewalk (never tried it but i don't like the apperance of it as much).

well actually I HAVE Reason Propellerhead (I have always wondered, any relation to the band The Propellerheads?) but the problem is that, sure, I can twist and loop the shit they have provided, but in the end it's not based on my own audio, I want to be able to do what Reason can do (albeit I lack full understanding of it's capabilities I'm certain), but with audio I've recorded myself. And the root of that problem is HOW DO I PLUG MY AUDIO SH__ INTO MY COMP. _AND_ how do I use the MIDI CLOCK in whatever program I use, to trigger my external sound modules, ie drum machine type machines and thereby having them play to tempo, to the metronome of the software, so like, real-time recording is synchronized, stays in beat, ya know?

I need the interface stuff, and I need this stuff rather user friendly because I play music for spiritual enrichment, not so I can get bogged down in cords and programming garbage minutae. "Plug and play" is a good term...

I have amassed various COMPONENTS which I can figure out on an independent basis but I need a "grand unified theory" program and hardware, to bring all of this stuff together.

I also need to get a mixer board rather soon (perhaps after my car's carbuerator. Right now I'm just using an old tascam 4 track lol. I saw one on www.zzounds.com/a--2676837 that was integrated with a sequencing program, which seemed good to me. Seems there is too much incompatibility among the electronic based music companies.

 

[peterochs]

I must admit I have not used Cubase SX3 - which may be a great program. I have used earlier versions of Cubase and did not find as feature freindly or as functional as I would have liked.

I know some people who are not overly impressed with Pro Tools LE (although it often seems this is based on comparisons to a full Pro Tools system - which is simply not a fair comparison).

Pro Tools LE does seem to be a fairly popular medium, which is always a factor in choosing a system (since there is always a possibility (perhaps probability) that projects may move from studio to studio.

Candidly, there are so many systems out there, and I've only had limited access to many of those systems - so I will gladly defer to others.

The primary goal of my original post was to indicate that someone using mainly MIDI may want/need a different program than someone who plans to track everything and someone who uses a lot of llops needs something different - each software application does certain things better than others and the user needs to know what is important when choosing a system..

Yeah, the more I hear about Pro Tools the more it sounds like maybe what I'm after. It sounds more universal than other programs, but Pro Tools LE sounds like a milquetoast watered-down version and sounds like eventually it would make one wish that they had just gone for the full version (unless the full version costs like, in the tens of thous of $$, how much is it anyway (or is it like "if you have to ask, you can't afford it") lol

 

[Carter]

Yeah, the more I hear about Pro Tools the more it sounds like maybe what I'm after. It sounds more universal than other programs, but Pro Tools LE sounds like a milquetoast watered-down version and sounds like eventually it would make one wish that they had just gone for the full version (unless the full version costs like, in the tens of thous of $$, how much is it anyway (or is it like "if you have to ask, you can't afford it") lol

And you are correct with that statement IMHO, I had a Digi 002R and I sold it and went to Cubase SX3, I myself dont like a program that has track limitations... of course most big studios have it but you can take your tracks from any multitrack program and take it to a big studio and import your files if you know how set it up...

LE is over-hyped... Now dont get me wrong if I had $10,000 to $20,000 to spend I would get a Pro Tool HD rig but to me Pro Tool LE does not cut it

 

[peterochs]

And you are correct with that statement IMHO, I had a Digi 002R and I sold it and went to Cubase SX3, I myself dont like a program that has track limitations... of course most big studios have it but you can take your tracks from any multitrack program and take it to a big studio and import your files if you know how set it up...

LE is over-hyped... Now dont get me wrong if I had $10,000 to $20,000 to spend I would get a Pro Tool HD rig but to me Pro Tool LE does not cut it

well I have Cubase SX - maybe you can help me out specifically with a probably stupid question
how do I record audio tracks into Cubase from my instruments into a Tascam US-122 USB Audio/Midi interface? does the audio go thru the USB somehow or does it have to go 'line out' and if so what should that line go into? seems there should be something sturdier than a 1/4 inch to 1/8 adapter into the 1/8 inch mike jack in my soundcard, or do I need to get another card with RCA jacks or somethin?

 

[ssscientist]

but the problem is that, sure, I can twist and loop the shit they have provided, but in the end it's not based on my own audio.

So you want to put together your own library of sounds as comprehensive as Reason? LOL, meaning both 'laughing out loud' AND 'lots of luck'.

It's not the sounds, but what you do with the sounds.

I'll type that again. It's not the sounds, but what you do with the sounds.

I use Reason for midi composition ReWired with Tracktion for audio recording. I'll bet you a dollar that if you decided to use the exact same setup right down to my plugin selection, our music would sound nothing alike. Not Beatles and Stones 'nothing alike', but NOTHING alike.

 

[peterochs]

So you want to put together your own library of sounds as comprehensive as Reason? LOL, meaning both 'laughing out loud' AND 'lots of luck'.

It's not the sounds, but what you do with the sounds.

I'll type that again. It's not the sounds, but what you do with the sounds.

I use Reason for midi composition ReWired with Tracktion for audio recording. I'll bet you a dollar that if you decided to use the exact same setup right down to my plugin selection, our music would sound nothing alike. Not Beatles and Stones 'nothing alike', but NOTHING alike.

geez, take a pill nutjob

<edit> no, what I want to do is be able to perform and record live, not just use all pre-programmed loops

 

[ssscientist]

no, what I want to do is be able to perform and record live, not just use all pre-programmed loops

Then use Ableton's Live, nutjob.

 

[peterochs]

Then use Ableton's Live, nutjob.

If people asking honest questions about electronic production is such torture for you, then why do you visit these BBS? Or do you do it just to try to make yourself feel like a little more self-important, pretending to be really more than you are on here than you are in real life? Music career not taking off like you thought it would? So to make yourself feel better you opt to trash-talk people online who know slightly less about electronic gizmos than you, you who likely in turn likely know much less about composing actual music than others.
You poor tortured genius