Hello people, I've been making or at least trying to make dance for about 2 years now, my setup consists of an Akai MPC2000XL,Korg Electribe and Pentium 3 PC using Logic and a few Native Inst plugins(no cracks!). I was reading the new Computer Music mag and came across a brilliant virtual inst called VirSyn Tera they gave it 9/10 so i downloaded the demo from www.dark-horse.biz and was very impressed with it's array of sounds everything from spacey/atmospheric to nice warm pads,strings and organs, i think there's about 800 sounds available on the full version. Definetly rate this synth to all hiphop producers and the great thing is it can be used as a standalone (comes with built in sequencer) or used as a VSTi in Cubase, Logic etc...as i'm using it. Check it out for yourselves... Peace, Insight.
If you are into scoring then look at Sibelius. I have just upgraded from Sibelius7 to Sibelius2 (and before you ask, that is right). It's a great piece of software.
Reason 2. http://www.propellerheads.se Here's a few example screens from a song I was working on in it. The first 8 are pics of the front, the last 8 are pics from the back, they correspond (first front photo == first back photo and so forth). --
Monolith, that doesn't look like the easiest program in the world to use.... How long have you been making music? How intuitive is this program? Do you need good knowledge of how to use hardware samplers etc?
#1 - You're right. #2 - I started composing when I was ~8, about the same time I started programming. #3 - Quite intuitive, it's just like using the Real Thing (tm). #4 - Yes, it is literally a software "copy" of the actual physical hardware. You even use patch cable the same way you would with the physical devices. It's a small studio replacement, in a box. #5 - While you can create songs soley in Reason2, I use a variety of other software packages as well (probably most often Logic), as well as a lot of hardware. It just depends on what you are doing. I have a few vocalists who sing for me, as well as an orchestra at my disposal (when it's convient for them, of course, hehe). Therefore, I have a decent hardware setup to handle my needs. I suppose I could do it all in software, but even with today's PCs, mixing 40-60 seperate tracks of audio together grinds the machine to a halt. It's a nostolgia thing I suppose too, I just enjoy being able to twist knobs and move sliders around. I guess it all depends on your application, for most people, pure software is quite simply the best and most efficient (monetarily) choice. I would definately reco. Reason2 as a first choice if you are new to the audio scene, it retails around 400 usd (quite cheap as far as high end audio software goes) and can do just about anything you want it to. Later on, if you buy more software, using the "Rewire" functionality of Reason, you can utilize Reason from within other audio applications, and so forth. Just think of all the money you save not buying all the hardware Reason replaces, it makes it worthwhile. There is probably a demo version up on their site that you can toy around with if you want, I posted the link in my first post here.
Logic 5. Apparently as good as pro tools now. I find Sibelius 2 a bit buggy and not as easy to use as previous versions.(I wont compose without Sibelius it is a godsend)
I'm glad someone posted this thread because I've been looking into the same thing. I'm a big fan of the hardware, but not a big fan of the cost of all the hardware Also, you may want to post a "DSL nightmare" on here... hehe
any sonar users in here, i have started to play with it lately, cant say as i am a big fan yet, reason is much more advanced.
Monolith, did you just buy Reason 2? How are the new features, mainly the XT and Orkester additions.. The demo doesnt fully give justice as alot of banks are obviously missing.
I get copies from them for free, since I am friends with/help the developers. The XT rocks, imo, and the Orkester sound library is pretty decent, considering it's just about free (you'd pay hundreds for the samples alone, and you're getting them along with reason2 for 400 bucks or whatever it's retailing at now). I have friends in various orchestras and I use my own samples for obvious reasons, but the Orkester sound library is not bad at all. The new synth is absolutely wonderful, I'd suggest buying reason if just for it and the new sampler.
monolith just how many shinly things (ive trademarked that, anyithg cool is now a shiny thing ) do you have as yuou seem to have a never ending list of toys
More than I have room for at my flat. I've got a larger building full of goodies. That's the 20 PCs I have at the gaming center. Sometime I'll snap pics of the back offices/storage rooms, full of all kinds of goodies too. I'll have to get some photos from the server room inside Verio where we have all our servers, including the one BT resides on. If you ever get bored, send me a msg on MSN or AIM or ICQ or whatever, and I'll gladly show you some of the 4085405830484 photos I have of all my goodies/friends/dates/etc. ICQ: 17920179 MSN: orblivion@passport.com AIM: OrbDavid
j00 56k killer i think you have posted some of the ladies you have dated in the babe thread before as well /me goes off to sulk
