Digital Music and Midi Authoring

MidnightFlamed · #1 07-17-2002, 02:26 PM

I've been recently thinking about acquiring some non-free software to do digital music authoring, and was wondering what was good/popular/appropriate for what I was looking for. I currently write all of my stuff out in midi, usually using powertab, but I'd like to have two things:

1. More ease of writing non-guitar based music (from electronic to symphonic)
2. Sound playback with more advanced tones than the current (awful) midi sounds from my system

What do some of you guys use for this kind of thing? Do I really need to look at a better sound card before I can get decent sound in a playback? I'd really appreciate any advice you could give!

track7 · #2 07-17-2002, 03:17 PM

here are really two things to bare in mind.

Firstly your needs, is the composition important or the recording. Cubase VST is IMO teh dogz for recording on the PC (on a sensible budget).

For actual written composition and arrangement of a core, sibelius is the winner hands down.

I use both for different ends..either way YES upgrade your soundcard. Either get a combined work horse like a SW1000xg (excellent midi sounds and audio recording) or a great audio recording card, and an external synth for great midi sounds.

Hope this helps

later

track7

MidnightFlamed · #3 07-17-2002, 03:31 PM

Thanks for the advice. While recording is in the back of my mind, right now I'm thinking about authoring. I'd like to write things, for example, such as a large-scale orchestral piece and be able to play it back with a closer degree of sound realism. Without going too crazy on the wallet, of course. I do have guitar equipment to purchase, afterall...

track7 · #4 07-17-2002, 03:40 PM

I'd definately go for Sibelius 2.0 then that will have you writing orchestarl pieces in no time. Coupled with a good midi synth the playback will blow you away!

later

track7

darren wilson · #5 07-17-2002, 03:52 PM

I wouldn't invest any money in synth hardware at all. It's all going to software. All you need is a good MIDI controller keyboard (doesn't even need to generate any sounds on its own) and then run soft synths on your Mac or PC.

track7 · #6 07-17-2002, 05:17 PM

that is very true...

but when I say synth i mean sound module thats gonna make realistic orchestral instruments. There are few soft synths that do that yet. Because its aimed at the electronic music market. I believe there are strings and some wood wind oh and of coutrse the pianos.

But honestly even the most powerful PC isn't gonna fun a 40 piece soft synth realistic orchestra. Not just yet.

The orchestral playback on my sw1000 is really stunning especialy when programmed rightly!

later

track7

MidnightFlamed · #7 07-18-2002, 10:22 AM

What are some of the details of your sw1000? It sounds like a great piece of hardware...

MidnightFlamed · #8 07-19-2002, 11:14 AM

Ok, Sibelius 2.0 was looking awesome. Until I went to the buy page and saw that price tag.....

GuyCool · #9 07-21-2002, 04:02 PM

The only problem with the sw1000 is that it is rather old technology, with no new support from Yamaha on the horizon. The future is software, with soft samplers being the likely route for orchestra stuff. As the software becomes more refined and processors get faster, this will be a reality soon ie 40 tracks of 'audio' processing. On a budget, and with an older machine, the sw1000 would still be a good bet.

Guy

ardell henderson · #10 07-22-2002, 01:08 PM

my .02 worth: forget hardware - software synth is the ticket - If RAM & CPU performance is an issue for running a bunch of tracks, then just burn some or all of it to digital audio tracks & you're there.

Gigastudio will turn your PC into a synth monster!!!!

good luck...