Hello...I'm new to this forum

Lightspeed · Post by **Lightspeed** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 1:23 am

Hello folks. Pleasure to meet everybody. I am a newcomer to this forum and to pro audio in general although I have been making music since I was a kid. I would like some advice. I want to eventually get into doing music for film and TV. My two main songwriting styles are dance/trance and some classical pieces here and there. No vocals and no mics just direct connected synth work is all I do. What I originally set out to do was get cubase sx and RME hammerfall multiface card, an outboard analog mixer, and several outboard synth modules. (not all at once but piece by piece as I aquire the funds) I had heard about creamware products the past few years but never gave them much attention until now. And the more I read about them the more I am drawn to them. Now I am seriously thinking of just going with a scope card with cubase and not even bother with any outboard gear at all...accept for a midi controller. What would you folks recommend?

petal · Post by **petal** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 4:27 am

Sounds like you're on the right track

Not knowing much about profesional musicmaking myself, I am convinced that the future lies in "computergear" like Creamware or TC Works or maybe even just native software and not outboardgear.
At least the computer is the right place to start if you have a tight budget. Then when you get comfortable with the computer, you will know what outboardgear you need, if you need any at all.
That said, I do own one piece of outboardgear, and it's an old Roland D-20 = midi-keyboard (you'll need a midi-keyboard). And I would love to own a midicontroller to get the hands on all them virtual knobs.
Oh yeah, and maybe a good hardware-interface for my Wurlitzer, my bass and my Rode microphone.

But as I said, start with the computer-only approach - You'll need a good soundcard anyway

Thomas

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 4:47 am

scope is a very good place to start. Depending on the size of your projects though, you might want to add some more DSP power. Unless you get a scope, you won't have enough DSP to load the synths (say, 6 of them) plus the effects and do them all realtime. It really depends, but scope is on the safe line with most projects, I'd imagine. I'm on a PulsarII so I won't know for sure.

Whatever it is, though, you probably don't want to invest in a full hardware setup, cuz it's really sad when things get outdated. And a scope solution is much, MUCH cheaper. All you have to do is to start earning on a scope, to pay for even more gear! Good luck on your career by the way.

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 5:53 am

On a Scope you could run:

24channel mixer, 10mono and 14stereo
Aux: reverb, delay, chorus
Inserts: (half is mono, half stereo)
10 EQ's & compressors, 3 delays, and some modulators (flanger, phaser, ringmods etc.)
Synths: 2 good synths or samplers, Virtual Analog Drumsynth w 14 drumsounds, each on their channel on the mixer.
Filled the rest of the 24ch mixer w 6 stereo ASIO 32flt sources and 10 ASIO destinations.

This project without samplers uses about 15 DSP, 1% cpu on my dual PIII 1GHz and here the DSP OS uses 120MB RAM.

Welcome to DSP world

Lightspeed · Post by **Lightspeed** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 6:50 am

Thanks for the replys everybody. It sounds like scope would be a good investment as it might not get outdated like outboard gear would. Oh and by the way in my original post I meant to say I do "orchestral" music not "classical". My music definately ain't classic.

samplaire · Post by **samplaire** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 7:25 am

I'd recommend you visiting tips'n tricks forum, too to get informed about best pc configuration for flawless scope-pc setup.

if you want cheap and still good quality midi controller visit http://www.evolution-uk.com . they offer budget but stabile keyboard-controllers (wash'n go

). I've got one and it's more than OK.

b0ll · Post by **b0ll** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 9:40 am

I'm in to the same kind of music as you and I have a Pulsar 2. I would like to have some more dsp power. A scope bord would do it.

But I don't think the sounds in pulsar alone is sufficent so I use Proppelerheads Reason a lot. You get a lot for the money. It's very inspiring to work with.

The synths from Native Instruments are also very good.

/nils

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 10:39 am

I'll vote for a Scope + Fast CPU computer for native + Evolution Keyboard.

werd

petal · Post by **petal** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 11:58 am

Oh yeah.... And Lightspeed - If you decide to buy a Creamware Soundcard, could you please contact me before you do it, because Creamware has a special offer where I could get one or two plugins for free, and it want cost you a thing

I know guys, but you can't blame a boy for asking

Cheers!
Thomas

Lightspeed · Post by **Lightspeed** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 2:59 pm

Sure Petal I'd be glad to. When I get enough money to get a scope card I'll let you know beforehand.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 4:42 pm

Lightspeed, you can't go wrong with that setup. It's even the most simple and effective way to integrate outboard equipment by a converter box with ZLink or Adat interface, so you have each device on it's own channel.
It's a digital mixer plus superior synth and effects unit plus a free CPU for your favourite native app. What more could one ask, but a controller box with real knobs and faders.

On 2002-10-14 12:58, Petal wrote:
I know guys, but you can't blame a boy for asking

Petal, that reminds me on schooldays and a teacher trying to develope some socials skills on us, who always said:
...a child not crying doesn't get to eat.

cheers, Tom

petal · Post by **petal** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 5:22 pm

On 2002-10-14 15:59, Lightspeed wrote:
Sure Petal I'd be glad to. When I get enough money to get a scope card I'll let you know beforehand.

That sounds great!

Thanks a lot

Cheers!
Thomas

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 6:57 pm

u lucky bstd

mythalethe · Post by **mythalethe** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 10:43 pm

The dsp - computer route is definately great bang for the buck. If you plan to play live, you may indeed want to invest in outboard gear. It tends to be much less powerful, but inversely much more stable...

A safe bet is probably to go with DSP's and then consider adding outboard stuff in the future. Who knows, maybe the NOAH will actually come out at some point and make taking the SFP programs you create live easier!

-Mythalethe

Lightspeed · Post by **Lightspeed** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 11:03 pm

I haven't really thought about playing live. I don't think the opportunity will present itself around here. One thing that bugs me about a creamware system is that there is no headphone jack on any of it.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Oct 14, 2002 11:49 pm

Do not hesitate about it! You can go blind buying a Scope if you have the money for it, and you are going to be awfully surprised about what you can do, and the quality you can get out of it! I have an old Pulsar I Plus, just 4 sharks, and I’m still ULTRA HAPPY! There is nothing close to Creamware Sound Cards.

Some people compare some native soft synths to the Creamware ones, but there is nothing close to the sound of the Creamware ones, if you like real analogue sounds. The NI are good too, there is no doubt about it.

Finally, finishing answering your question I just want to say: if you were a tree willing to grow and expand being Creamware a fertilizer to help you to be, a Power Pulsar or a Scope board would bring your ideas to the sky and farther… to the very COSMOS…

Don’t worry about headphone; you can always add one to your mixer. Anyway, you always need a little mixer to work properly, sooner or later. Headphones ARE needed for mastering, cos you need to hear, both ways, the speaker one and the headphones one so you’re sure of what you’re doing.

Good luck.

Oh! BTW, I have to warn you about something, the Learning Curve it’s a bit difficult, BUT… not if you plug yourself to this forum, everybody will be happy to help you, even those with little or no knowledge will, this is the nature of this forum.

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 12:25 am

Nestor's absolutely right about the learning curve. It's not quit as Plug N Play as you'd hope it would be. But.. well, it's the same with any gear. It takes time to make find your favorite tweaks and setups.

Remember though.. the tougher the learning curve, the less people using it.. meaning unique sound!

Post by **garyb** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 1:59 am

sometimes the learning curve is tough bcause the machine is deep....

petal · Post by **petal** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 4:47 am

Yup that's true. The learning curve of these babies aren't for SoundBlaster-surfers. It took me quite a few weeks to feel comfortable in the SFP-environment. I had to rethink my whole approach on making music on the computer. I come from Propellerheads Reason, and in order to fully exploid my Elektra-card, I had to learn how to use Cubase SX as well. But what starts out to look like nothing but trouble and bad userinterface, turns out to be a vast amount of possibilities, all with new exciting opportunities to be creative

Cheers!
Thomas

PS. Astroman and Atomic. Yes it looks like might I have to find out my finest suit soon, going out for a free meal and a lucky break

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Petal on 2002-10-15 06:03 ]</font>

Spirit · Post by **Spirit** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 9:07 am

A Scope card and SX will give you the power for full-song MIDI composition without the need to bounce down to audio. A beautiful combination. The only bit of extra kit I'd add would be NI's Absynth.