I decided to go for a new computer. My old computer has a Creamware PowerPulsar 15DSP card and I also own a copy of Cubase SL. The only hardware I have is an Evolution MK series midi keyboard and I also have a Luna 2496 box with 8 inputs / 8 outputs. I run Scope Fusion Platform 4.0. I don't own monitors and I just flattened my speakers as muh as possible. I know it's not the same, but I would love to start making music as a hobby just to see where it leads me to. Good monitors I've listened to were way above my budget. Goiing for cheaper monitors was a solution but then again they didn't impress me. Cheap is 200 to 350 euro. So I decided to play with my speakers. A 2.1 setup from logitech which I can make quite flat sounded. Yeah, noobish solution but not all of us can afford the stuff that some studios have and then I do mean home studios and not protools studios.
But I admit. The learning curve of this setup is so high. I have no knoweledge what so ever of music notes, playing keyboard, etc.
I've decided to go Windows Vista 64b but in combination with Windows XP home. I've payed alot of money to obtain this setup and to be honest I would feel sad if I have to decide jut to sell the whole setup.
Nope, I'm going to give it another try. This time with more punch to it and maybe with some help from other creamware users.
Now, how do I set the whole thing up between the SFP 4.0 and Cubase SL? Is XTC realy worth it and in detail..what is it? I know to read through the manual but I can't ask questions to it and thats why I choose interacction with Creamware pulsar / powerpulsar / scope users who already figured this stuff out. How do I implement the keyboard? Should I get music leasons or isn't that needed to play the keyboards?
All this questions are ofcourse related to what kind of music I prefer. Well, let me link some examples where I tend to go to in creating music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N47MTIWa ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVetza28m4A (without the voice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N62Ad2d0uh4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h__PtVGuik (one of the best ever)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHwk6bgqs50
The best of the best: Nu-NRG / Hier Enegizer => can't find sample of it
So you see that basicly I'm in Uplifting and hard trance. Would this setup be able to produce stufff like I mentioned or far from it?
I'm open to all suggestions. just bare in mind I'm not a pro and not have insane amounts of money to spend on 19" rack devices or whatever.
I'm also thinking of buying reason 4.0 to experiment in it and then see if I can achieve the same result in the powerpulsar / cubase SL setup.
So, all I need now is your feedback on the routing for general use and for use with cubase SL and midi keyboard. I'm all ears.
BTW, I will shut down this setup when playing gaames. Somehow it's a state-of-the art card which isn't able to play games well since in World Of Warcrafft the sound comes with llots of cracks in it.
Thanks, Gunther
Powerpulsar / Cubase SL
Sorry I did not mention this..I have a z-link on my 15dps card. 2-Z links I believe and a tube with lots of other connectors.stardust wrote:So whatever your budgte is decides on the next step.
either a Xite (which has a Z-link to connext to your Luna box) or a scoebe card with a Z link plate.
I would recommend a 6 DSP as a start, depending on your budget also a 15 DSP (maybe 2nd hand) is better.
br stardust
Yes, now trying to understand / learn how to make a proper routing. Can't find a cubase block or something in SFP4.0 So i guess the device I'm after is called different.stardust wrote:So looks like you are on the sunny side already.
Is a midicontroller essential? I would buy one for my Native Instrumens Traktor 3 (full version) but not sure where to pay attention to.
But that being said I mostly welcome any suggestion towards routing. Mainly how to configure it so I can work with cubase and use the SFP plug-ins in Cubase and also use other software synths i'm interested in to work with SFP and cubase too.
some basic routing info regarding the sequncer(cubase or whatever)
the sequencer connectors are on the asio(AudioSequencerInputOutput) modules. they are located in (naturally)the software i/o menu along with wave modules, which can also be used by sequencers or any other app.
you can use whatever modules you wish and route in any way you please, out to in, audio to audio and midi to midi. you can connect outs into as many ins as you please, but ins can only come from one source(hence mixers). you are allowed as many wave modules as you wish(up to system support and dsp available), but only one pair of asio modules. if you need additional asio channels, clicking on the asio source module will allow you to open a dialog where you can choose the number of asio i/o. only one asio app can run at a time, asio is not multi-client. you must decide what type of asio modules(i use asio2 24 bit, personally) and how many channels BEFORE opening your asio app/sequencer(cubase). when cubase opens it will check your scope project and configure itself accordingly(although cubase requires you to manually enable i/o above the first two).
likewise, cubase's midi i/o are called sequencer midi source and destination. these are also in the sequencer i/o menu at the top of the routing window. as with the audio i/o, midi i/o must be in the routing window BEFORE opening your sequencer(cubase). you may have as many sequencer midi i/o as you please, with the usual system limits(os support or dsp resources).
you can change routing any time you like, you just can't change either the type or number of asio or sequencer midi i/o without closing the sequncer FIRST. other devices can be loaded, unloaded as you please(don't change devices while recording, please).
the sequencer connectors are on the asio(AudioSequencerInputOutput) modules. they are located in (naturally)the software i/o menu along with wave modules, which can also be used by sequencers or any other app.
you can use whatever modules you wish and route in any way you please, out to in, audio to audio and midi to midi. you can connect outs into as many ins as you please, but ins can only come from one source(hence mixers). you are allowed as many wave modules as you wish(up to system support and dsp available), but only one pair of asio modules. if you need additional asio channels, clicking on the asio source module will allow you to open a dialog where you can choose the number of asio i/o. only one asio app can run at a time, asio is not multi-client. you must decide what type of asio modules(i use asio2 24 bit, personally) and how many channels BEFORE opening your asio app/sequencer(cubase). when cubase opens it will check your scope project and configure itself accordingly(although cubase requires you to manually enable i/o above the first two).
likewise, cubase's midi i/o are called sequencer midi source and destination. these are also in the sequencer i/o menu at the top of the routing window. as with the audio i/o, midi i/o must be in the routing window BEFORE opening your sequencer(cubase). you may have as many sequencer midi i/o as you please, with the usual system limits(os support or dsp resources).
you can change routing any time you like, you just can't change either the type or number of asio or sequencer midi i/o without closing the sequncer FIRST. other devices can be loaded, unloaded as you please(don't change devices while recording, please).
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the19thbear
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:00 pm
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
hi! and welcome onboard.
as an answer to your question: what is xtc mode:
In normal sfp (scope fusion platofrm) mode you can make connections between different modules and do whatever you want.
In xtc mode you CANNOT access the normal sfp window, you can only load this in cubase. But you load them as any ther plugin, from the plugin menu. And then you have automatic delay compensation ( which sfp doesnt)
for me, xtc mode is less flexible, BUT ALOT faster to use! no virutal wires here and there, just click and a plugin is loaded.
When i use normal sfp mode i tend to spend my creative time on troubleshooting, and connecting cables instead of making music.
that being said, most people in here use sfp mode, so... it works for some and doesnt work for others.
hope that helps:)
as an answer to your question: what is xtc mode:
In normal sfp (scope fusion platofrm) mode you can make connections between different modules and do whatever you want.
In xtc mode you CANNOT access the normal sfp window, you can only load this in cubase. But you load them as any ther plugin, from the plugin menu. And then you have automatic delay compensation ( which sfp doesnt)
for me, xtc mode is less flexible, BUT ALOT faster to use! no virutal wires here and there, just click and a plugin is loaded.
When i use normal sfp mode i tend to spend my creative time on troubleshooting, and connecting cables instead of making music.
that being said, most people in here use sfp mode, so... it works for some and doesnt work for others.
hope that helps:)
@ the19thbear
Hmm, the way you put it XTC is maybe better for me to begin with so I can learn what all the plugins can do. And when I master that it's maybe alot more flexible to try and use them in normal SFP instead of XTC?
BTW, what do you guys think of using other synths like:
* reFX Vanguard (http://refx.com/?lang=en&page=products/vanguard/summary)
* Sylenth 1 (http://www.lennardigital.com/modules/sylenth1/)
* Z3TA (http://cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/)
* ETC
Do they add something more? Are they usable with SFP and or Cubase? Or is it just alot of promises? When I hear the samples of the sounds some of them can do I kinda doubt they did it only with that softsynth. But then again, synthesis seems to be a whole different thing then playing musical notes.
Hmm, the way you put it XTC is maybe better for me to begin with so I can learn what all the plugins can do. And when I master that it's maybe alot more flexible to try and use them in normal SFP instead of XTC?
BTW, what do you guys think of using other synths like:
* reFX Vanguard (http://refx.com/?lang=en&page=products/vanguard/summary)
* Sylenth 1 (http://www.lennardigital.com/modules/sylenth1/)
* Z3TA (http://cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/)
* ETC
Do they add something more? Are they usable with SFP and or Cubase? Or is it just alot of promises? When I hear the samples of the sounds some of them can do I kinda doubt they did it only with that softsynth. But then again, synthesis seems to be a whole different thing then playing musical notes.
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the19thbear
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:00 pm
- Location: Denmark
- Contact:
thanks.
I cant help you with the synths
but! go here to read how to set up xtc mode ( it can seem pretty hard to set up, but it actually istn..):
go here:
http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... highlight=
and here:
http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... highlight=
and when you feel at home with xtc mode, go here:
http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... highlight=
( this tells you how to use the scope mixers to monitor your inputs. you can even put scope effects on your inputs, realtime!)
I cant help you with the synths
but! go here to read how to set up xtc mode ( it can seem pretty hard to set up, but it actually istn..):go here:
http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... highlight=
and here:
http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... highlight=
and when you feel at home with xtc mode, go here:
http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... highlight=
( this tells you how to use the scope mixers to monitor your inputs. you can even put scope effects on your inputs, realtime!)
WarCable wrote:@ garyb,
That was a very clear explanation of the basic routing. Very usefull. But, that being said...I also read it isn't possible to have 2 ASIO applications open at the same time. Does that mean I can't record the mixes I make with Traktor 3 in Cubase?
no, not at all.
there's no reason that both need to use asio at the same time.
you can use wave for traktor 3 and asio for cubase
or
export wave files out of traktor 3 and import into cubase
or
cubase with wave and traktor 3 with asio.
i really don't know how well either program will work with the wave drivers, most programs work fine(though with much higher latency than asio). i haven't tested either program, but i wouldn't expect problems. you can always export your mixes and then import into cubase, however. most asio implementations are NOT multi-client.
Well, again thank you to all who replied. I'm doing my first steps now...realy slow because it's a pile of stuff I'm not familiar with.
Yesterday I tried to setup a free softsynth (something with cheese in its name if i'm not mistaken). Somewhere on the net I read it was possible to send a midi file through the synth so I tried that. Nothing happened. Just to point out that there is alot more going on then just routing. Opened my cubase book but think I also better learn what they mean with midi and audio. Ok, I know the difference between them but not in function of music creation.
Then read somewhere I have to map al my wav files. I think they mean sorting them out in some order. Maybe BPM sorted or something like that. But that is part of audio editing instead of midi.
Oh well, I've decided not to push it and have as many fun as I can to learn my system. The fact that it is getting an old setup shouldn't be of any matter to me since I'm learning.
I said this because I already received several private messages where ppl adviced me to get the new Sonic Scope audiocard, upgrade my Cubase and someone even told me to get signature hardware equippement because it won't ever be possible to create something like the links I made in my first post of this thread. Well, I don't realy understand what he meant by using the term 'signature hardware' but f I have to guess I would say some sort of device that makes a tune sound unique.
The softsynths would indeed be helpfull to understand what synthesis of sound is and how it works. But I still struggle with one issue that still isn't answered. Do I have to master the use of a keyboard or is it realy as easy as pushing some keys to discover a sound I like so I can start from that tune to start editing it with effects, send it through synths, etc. I always thought it was necessary to push the keys of the keyboard in the rythm of the clock ( you know,, that clicking sound to point out the rythm of the song ). Or am I wrong at this?
There is so many when I start to think of it. Ok, back to book, keyboard, mouse, cubase, SFP and browse through the instructions of the book ( book is called Cubase SX from academic service - http://www.buy.com/prod/cubase-sx-power ... 65455.html )
Any step by step info is appreciated on whatever subject. I'm also reading alot, browsing hours on the net and sometimes having fun with the setup. But as long as you got something to say about the topic, you're most welcome to share it with me / us because I can't believe I'm the only noob around here. *Hides*
Yesterday I tried to setup a free softsynth (something with cheese in its name if i'm not mistaken). Somewhere on the net I read it was possible to send a midi file through the synth so I tried that. Nothing happened. Just to point out that there is alot more going on then just routing. Opened my cubase book but think I also better learn what they mean with midi and audio. Ok, I know the difference between them but not in function of music creation.
Then read somewhere I have to map al my wav files. I think they mean sorting them out in some order. Maybe BPM sorted or something like that. But that is part of audio editing instead of midi.
Oh well, I've decided not to push it and have as many fun as I can to learn my system. The fact that it is getting an old setup shouldn't be of any matter to me since I'm learning.
I said this because I already received several private messages where ppl adviced me to get the new Sonic Scope audiocard, upgrade my Cubase and someone even told me to get signature hardware equippement because it won't ever be possible to create something like the links I made in my first post of this thread. Well, I don't realy understand what he meant by using the term 'signature hardware' but f I have to guess I would say some sort of device that makes a tune sound unique.
The softsynths would indeed be helpfull to understand what synthesis of sound is and how it works. But I still struggle with one issue that still isn't answered. Do I have to master the use of a keyboard or is it realy as easy as pushing some keys to discover a sound I like so I can start from that tune to start editing it with effects, send it through synths, etc. I always thought it was necessary to push the keys of the keyboard in the rythm of the clock ( you know,, that clicking sound to point out the rythm of the song ). Or am I wrong at this?
There is so many when I start to think of it. Ok, back to book, keyboard, mouse, cubase, SFP and browse through the instructions of the book ( book is called Cubase SX from academic service - http://www.buy.com/prod/cubase-sx-power ... 65455.html )
Any step by step info is appreciated on whatever subject. I'm also reading alot, browsing hours on the net and sometimes having fun with the setup. But as long as you got something to say about the topic, you're most welcome to share it with me / us because I can't believe I'm the only noob around here. *Hides*
To be honest. I kinda suspected it to be of matter. If it will be fun is another thing. Have to convince my GF that I need to sign up for keyboard lessons and also some basic stuff on musical notes. Most of them lessons are expensive. Now, that's going to be interesting. LOLstardust wrote:But hey, thats the fun part....
Thanks, what do you like? Maybe we have similar tastes.XITE-1/4LIVE wrote:Glad to see another chap w/ good taste.
And welcome to the best forum in the virtual world.
I knew I forgot one question.
I have an Evolution MK-361C USB midi keyboard or better said, an USB midi controller keyboard as it's often referred to ( manual: http://www.m-audio.com/images/global/ma ... er_man.pdf / layout: http://www.wikizic.org/Evolution-MK361C/gallery-1.htm )
Is this sufficient as Midi controller? I use traktor and I've heard and read alot of having a good midi controller for it to control Traktor just by using the knobs on the midi controller. And is this also usuable in softsynths or plugins from creamware / sonic / third-party for SFP?
I have an Evolution MK-361C USB midi keyboard or better said, an USB midi controller keyboard as it's often referred to ( manual: http://www.m-audio.com/images/global/ma ... er_man.pdf / layout: http://www.wikizic.org/Evolution-MK361C/gallery-1.htm )
Is this sufficient as Midi controller? I use traktor and I've heard and read alot of having a good midi controller for it to control Traktor just by using the knobs on the midi controller. And is this also usuable in softsynths or plugins from creamware / sonic / third-party for SFP?
Yeah, atm I'm one of those who knows his away around Traktor DJ'ing but that's something I wish to expand towards music creation and then it realy would be handy to know how music notes work and that is why it came to my attention I need to take some lessons :pstardust wrote:Regrading lessons.
If you are the DJ ableton live kind of guy the keyboard playing is probably not that important.
I've been looking further into those lessons. Now, most of those keyboard lessons aren't lessons with midi keyboards, but normal keyboards. The lessons use 'arrangers' or something like that and some doubt if those are usefull for what I intend to use them for. Arrangers seem to be useable only when you go for one-man-bands.
I'm open for suggestions again :p
I can't take normal lessons a a school because of my work and the irregular I work. So, thats why basicly I want to take lessons in the form of home learning or learning from distance..whatever it is called like :p
I'm open for suggestions again :p
I can't take normal lessons a a school because of my work and the irregular I work. So, thats why basicly I want to take lessons in the form of home learning or learning from distance..whatever it is called like :p