WHAT SHOULD I BUY!!!!

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pisces7378

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Hello, I am in desperate need of a Multi-purpose Drum Machine, Sequencer, and Synthesizer.... all in one unit. I have found the ROLAND MC-307 (Groovebox). It is marketed for DJ’s to be used in conjunction with turntables etc... Does anyone own this machine or know someone that does. I am not into Hip Hop, Techno, or Dance. But this machine has (or atleast it seems to have) everything together. I am an American that works and lives in Munich Germany and my co-worker owns one but he speaks only German. I am not good enough in German to REALLY talk with him about this stuff. I heard a Mini-Disc recording he did and it sounded GREAT. He has the ROland VS-1880 recorder and the Groovebox (MC-307). It seemed to cover every instrument I wold need. However, I need and extremely flexible machine with many realistic drum sounds. I am forced to work alone here and due to “city life” here in Munich, I would be arrested in 2 seconds if I tried to play real drums. But I do work exclusively with acoustic drums under normal cercumstances. This is why I am so inexperienced in this department. Also I work with real Bass Players etc... But I need a machine that can lay down a solid realistic Bass line THAT I PROGRAM IN MYSELF!!! I want to be able to have complete freedom and program in every note myself. My songs always have many time changes and crescendos. So I must be able to control that. And it has to have as many sounds as possible. Both drum sounds and other instruments. I want it to have convincing Violins and Cello (Orchestral type instruments as well). Is this a good machine. And If it is not then what IS a good machine for a full fledged Production. I will sing and record my guitar parts myself. But I need drums, bass, and full range of synth. material at my desposel. What should I get? Please remember that the MC-307 is around $800 in Germany and I do not want to go too much higher since I will not use it in 3 years when I come home. PLEASE come through for me on thsi one guys, I can barely stand it not speaking this damn language but needing so much technical information. I am a baby at homerecording in general but an EMBRIO at Drum Bass and Synth machines. Thanks for the advice in advance.


Mike

P.S. What EXACTLY does “MIDI” mean? Does it simply mean “Fake Instruments?”
 
MIDI means Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It is a protocol that conveys musical performance information (or other information) as electronic data. When used with a synth, it produces sound. The quality of the sound depends on the synth. Cheap synth = cheap sound.

If you have a computer with a soundcard it has a cheap synth on it. If you have a computer you can buy a sequencing/MIDI scoring program for around $50-$100 U.S. Try Steinberg Cubasis or Cakewalk Home Studio. For a software sampler you can buy Gigasampler LE for around $100--there are lots of sample cds for this program. Those who use it rave about it. For an audio editor Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge XP is about $50-$70. It is very effective. Also, for programming drum or bass loops (must buy or download samples), check out Sonic Foundry's Acid Music 2.0 for about $50. If you are going to record digital audio you can get a small mixer or mic preamp for about $120 - $150 and a decent mic for $80 - $100.

With this software and hardware and a computer with a sound card, for around $500 U.S. you can do every thing you want: score using MIDI, sample, edit, loop, record digital audio.
 
NO WORRIES,
Buy a software called 'REASON'...it's just been released. It has 16 different machines...including a synth,drum machine,sampler,mixer,sequencer,fx etc. It's a virtual rack...just like the real one we find in big studios. All u need is a PC and a very good soundcard.
You can buy a MIDI Keyboard from Fatar...they make cost effective Keyboards.
This software is the latest from Propellerheads who rocked
music world with ReBirth(the best ever software rhythm machine) and ReCycle.
Once u have REASON....no need to worry about sound quality because Propellerheads develope Pro software only.
This setup won't cost u much but u will have a studio worth
thousands of bucks.
In REASON u can have 8 Synths running simultaneously(can u afford 8 synths otherwise?) or u can have 3 synths, 3 samplers and 3 drum machines running simultaneously !!!
REASON is virtual ....just like hardware
u can virtually turn the knobs !!!!!!
check it out at http://www.propellerheads.se
cheers
greyman
MIDI means musical instrument's digital interface
 
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