#2137 - 08/04/01 01:58 PM
Computer Sequencers??
|
stratusloop
Senior Member
Registered: 07/31/01
Posts: 109
Loc: Valley Forge,PA,United States
|
Offline
|
|
To anyone who can help....
I'm what you would call an entry level person to the keyboard/synth/computer music world. I currently use Cakewalk HomeStudio v.9 as my sequencer. I want to upgrade to another sequencer and I'm not sure where to go....whether I should upgrade to Pro Audio or try another manufacturer like Cubase....any suggestions would be appreciated including pros/cons etc.....Not sure if it matters but my basic computer setup is a Dell with Windows 98, 96meg RAM, sound card is a Turtle Beach w/64 voice wavetable synthesis and is GM compatible. Also, the PC is powered by a 400mhz Pentium II chip. Not sure if my style of music matters but i'm influenced by Kraftwerk, Ray Lynch, Wakeman, Eno to mention a few...thanks....joe
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#2138 - 08/04/01 06:31 PM
Re: Computer Sequencers??
|
Anderton
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 01/28/00
Posts: 7346
|
|
Offline
|
|
Well, that certainly is a broad question  but I'll try to help.
I generally advise upgrading within a product line you already know, to avoid having to deal with the dreaded learning curve. For example, if you upgraded to Sonar -- an excellent program, in my opinion -- you will find it to be more or less familiar. There will be some features that will take some effort to figure out, like software synthesis and automatable plug-ins, but at least you won't have to "unlearn" habits you may have already acquired.
That said, sometimes you might want to switch brands because a particular program has some kind of "special sauce" that's crucial to you. For example, Reason is a wonderful all in one "synth studio" program, but it has definite limitations (e.g., perhaps you want to to provide an instrumental background, but you want to also sing or add guitar -- but Reason won't allow recording audio). However, if you use Cubase, Performer, or other programs that support the ReWire protocol (Sonar does not, by the way), then you can feed Reason's out into Cubase's mixer, and use Cubase to cut your vocals. So, if ReWire is important to you, then Sonar is out of the running.
Or you might want a nice, inexpensive control surface so you don't have to mix with a mouse. Emagic's Logic will soon be supported by just such a device, made in conjunction with Mackie Designs. Other programs offer such functions too, but this looks to be one of the best. I switched to Cakewalk a while ago for many projects just to I could use the Peavey StudioMix, which at the time was the only affordable human interface with moving faders.
The main thing you need to do is define your needs as precisely as possible, as that will lead you to the right decision. It will also narrow down your choices (this is a good thing if you want to prevent option overload!). So tell us more about what's important to you....
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2139 - 08/05/01 01:46 AM
Re: Computer Sequencers??
|
Rod S
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 12/12/00
Posts: 2789
Loc: São Paulo, Brasil
|
|
Offline
|
|
Well, I don't think you can upgrade to Pro Audio anymore, and you're lacking in juice in your computer for Sonar, I think.
I still find Cakewalk's the most intuitive interface. I think cubase has comparable features, Logic is a step up but has a steeper learning curve. This is debatable, anyways.
From your previous post, I think you have two options :
(1) Get a module (as you had suggested) and stick with your current setup for now. I would suggest getting some experience with sequencing with a synth or module, then possibly invest in a computer upgrade.
(2) Go the virtual route, and then you'd need Sonar or Cubase to take advantage of soft synths.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2140 - 08/06/01 02:14 AM
Re: Computer Sequencers??
|
stratusloop
Senior Member
Registered: 07/31/01
Posts: 109
Loc: Valley Forge,PA,United States
|
|
Offline
|
|
Mr Anderton....thanks for your time and reply....it is much appreciated. I realize I need to take several steps back and just concentrate on increasing my learning curve with HomeStudio so that I get a more comprehensive understanding using a computer sequencer. This way I can be better educated about what I really need. I suppose I was getting ahead of myself and the question was more for what's next rather than a now question. Rod..thanks for your comments....joe
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#2141 - 08/07/01 07:30 AM
Re: Computer Sequencers??
|
stratman_dup1
Member
Registered: 02/09/01
Posts: 0
Loc: attleboro,MA,UNITED STATES
|
|
Offline
|
|
Hey Craig (or anyone else who might know), since you brought up the rewire thing it made me think of something. Does Logic support this? I currently use Pro Audio 9.0 but I'm in DIRE need of more sound sources and can't really afford to get a bunch of hardware modules. So I'm currently contemplating changing to another sequencer that supports soft synths and samplers and pretty much running all that virtually and using my synth (Korg N364) as mainly a controller. I know Sonar has some offerings in this area but from what I have been able to figure out (with a lot of help from your articles by the way) the DXI standard isn't nearly as supported and doesn't have nearly as many offerings as VST.
I would also like to be able to incorporate Reason into my setup, that program just looks too killer to pass up. I've pretty much decided on Cubase or Logic but if Logic doesn't support Rewire that would be the deciding factor.
Thanks for your time.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
