Luna 2 users-HELP PLEASE!

darkstar · Post by **darkstar** » Sun Jun 29, 2003 4:41 pm

Luna 2 users,I need help with my luna,if you have time,please send me email,I don't want to bother people with stupid questions here(I am a newbie).
Thanks
Seeya
Mirko

siberiansun · Post by **siberiansun** » Sun Jun 29, 2003 5:28 pm

this forum is built on stupid questions.

everyone here was a newbie once.
bring on your questions!

Post by **hubird** » Sun Jun 29, 2003 6:42 pm

darkstar · Post by **darkstar** » Sun Jun 29, 2003 7:20 pm

Okay guys,here goes:
I own Luna 2 for about two months now.Unfortunately,I have no time for reading big&long tutorials,so I'm trying to learn it myself.
I am using Cubase 5 and Luna to record my music.I am playing keyboards,and I connected keyboards to my litlle behringer 8 channel mix,then I connected that to Luna IN,and luna OUT goes to monitor speakers.I will record all music that way.I just got REASON 2,so I will try to make music with it,too.Basically,I am trying to make my own instrumental music album that will sound PRO.I played with dsp effects for some time,but I didn't make anything serious with them,because I have problem there.When I try to export sound from Cubase to file WITH dsp effect,I got clicks on channel that was under dsp.I e-mailed creamware about this and they told me something like MERGE instruments or something.Anyway,I did not understand a word from their e-mail,so I don't want to bother with dsp effect,and I am using some vst plugins instead.What do you recommend?Are those effect professional?Is this card pro enough to make one album with it?I am not total newbie,and don't tell me that stories YOU KNOW,MAKING ALBUM IS BIG PROCESS,YOU MUST LEARN TO COMPRESS-EQ-EFFECT THINGS UP

)))))).......I am not TOTAL newbie to sound production story,but I am newbie to creamware.
Then,I have that feeling that I am not getting most out of my card.I am setting cubase to record in 24 bit-44.1 resolution.I readed in one book about cubase that the best thing to do is to record on HIGHEST resolution available.And then compress it down to resolution that is cd quality?I don't get that.Problem is that when I am trying to get it down from 24 bit to 16,I am not hearing any change in sound(my monitors are weak,so maybe it's their fault).I loaded 24 bit asio in my routing window of luna...whoh,many problems I have and litlle time to solve it

Btw,Luna is VERY VERY VERY popular sound card here,in Serbia and Montenegro(ex Yugoslavia).One producer recommended me Luna as good choice,and Pulsar2 as best choice.For now I can afford just Luna,but if I get good experience with it,I will probably go for Pulsar-thing.
Thanks people
Best regards
Mirko

dehuszar · Post by **dehuszar** » Sun Jun 29, 2003 8:06 pm

Hey there. First off, don't worry. The Creamware system is pretty daunting initially, however you don't need to know everything at once to get work done so take deep breaths.

Now then.

Insofar as Reason and Cubase goes, so long as Reason is attached to Cubase -> Rewire, you'll be fine. All you have to worry about is that an ASIO source makes it somehow (usually through a DSP mixer, but there's nothing to say that you have to).

As far as the FX go, I think you will find the Creamware FX truly a cut above what comes with VST5. Certainly Cubase SX has made up for some previous issues, but you really need some top notch VST FX to compare with what Creamware can offer. I determine this just in terms of my subjective comparisons, and as is always the case, there is no best, only what will work for what you are trying to do.

Unfortunately a bit of manual readin is necessary. If you are in that big of a hurry for an album (aka you have a deadline) then I would just use the Luna as a shell in which to run Cubase until you have more time. If you are being impatient (and please don't take this as an attack, I'm just covering the bases here) then I'd recommend that you just try and work with one device at a time. Just play with it a bit and see what it does and how you can layer with it and how it might help your final goal.

As far as the DSP clicking goes, you can search this forum as it's been covered ceaselessly. If your motherboard is suitable (i.e. not a VIA mobo, though some have gotten decent performance out of them) I'd say check your ULLI settings. Clicking can also come from a hard drive which needs defragmenting, and poorly allocated resources. Again, check what's already been discussed here, and if nothing looks like it will help you, then post your system specs and how you are using your rig in a bit more detail.

Hopefully that will get you started. And BTW, welcome to the world of Creamware goodness.

Sam

Post by **garyb** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 2:45 am

On 2003-06-29 20:20, darkstar wrote:
Unfortunately,I have no time for reading big&long tutorials.... Basically,I am trying to make my own instrumental music album that will sound PRO.

you better read up if you want to be "pro".(i can't imagine the reading to take more time than guessing.....)

Is this card pro enough to make one album with it?

more than pro enough.really,the problem for all of us is to BE pro.the gear alone is worthless.in the hands of a pro,a 4track is enough.......also,if you don't want to take the time and learn what the dsp effects and synths can do for you,pulsar is no better than luna as it just has more dsps and effects/synths.for what you are using the card for(in/outs),luna is most likely the best choice.luna has the same sound quality as the top of the line scope card,just less dsp chips.

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2003-06-30 03:49 ]

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 5:50 am

To add a bit. No one can just dive into a system first time and master it. Scope takes time to understand as any other good music system. Pro stuff comes with it's success and headaches also. I had mines for a while. You learn Luna well and you know a lot about all the other cards. People tends to blame Scope Fusion Platform because they don't understand it as quick as other systems. It is not ABC stuff. In a short while you would be telling Newbies what to do. Don't be discouraged just be persevering. Welcome.

[ This Message was edited by: abre on 2003-06-30 06:52 ]

darkstar · Post by **darkstar** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:53 am

Hello,and thanks for help.
dehuszar,you didn't understood me.When I'm running dsp effects on some tracks,there is no problem,everything works like a charm.But when I try to EXPORT final mixdown from Cubase,channels that were using dsp effects are CLICKING.Somebody told me that it is because cubase is exporting mixdown "offline",while dsp are working "real time"(if I didn't made a mistake).Anyway,some people already gave me advice that I need to record all mix "live" in some other program like wavelab or sound forge.But I am afraid what quality will I get,will I lose sound quality from Cubase?
And is there a place to see some connections in routing window?For example,I downloaded KICK ME punchy bass free plugin,and I can't make it work!When I load it to my project,he connects to SOURCE MIDI and that's it.Where I need to connect it further to make it work in Cubase?Or any other sequencer,I think I will understand,basically it is the same for all.
thanks

Tony B · Post by **Tony B** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:23 am

Try lowering the ULLI setting. Check to verify if your video card is on the same IRQ with the card. Problems like yours has been dealt with on these forums. Take some time and make a thorough seach. If you did not find any solution or suggestion then you should post your question.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:49 am

darkstar, you have to connect the output of the KickMe to some Asio channel which is routed to Cubase.
Just like the other (SFP)stuff you send to Cubase. The trigger note for the Kick is written on the bottom left of the device, but you probably noticed that.
Btw. it's a remarkable device, keep on trying in case you don't succeed at once - it's worth the effort. This is a very good example how to integrate a SFP synth with the sequencer with both midi and audio connections.
If you really understand this, you've made it and can do any setup

cheers, Tom

Post by **garyb** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 12:12 pm

remember,the routing window represents a patch bay and all the connections are the same in/outs as real devices.they need to be connected the same way as real devices.also,real-time mixdowns will not cause a loss of audio quality.i trust real-time more than off-line.off line is a mystery.you can do a real-time mixdown right ti another stereo track in cubase if you wish.i like to save resources for processors so i mix down to dat via sp/dif with no loss of quality.when i do a quickie mix i mix down from logic to samplitude and burn from there.

dehuszar · Post by **dehuszar** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 1:14 pm

On 2003-06-30 07:53, darkstar wrote:
when I try to EXPORT final mixdown from Cubase,channels that were using dsp effects are CLICKING.Somebody told me that it is because cubase is exporting mixdown "offline",while dsp are working "real time"(if I didn't made a mistake).

Then you are trying to do something that the Creamware system can't do! There (as far as I know) is no capacity for SFP to do any offline processing (which I can only infer as bouncing) within any sequencers environment. You can only record the output to a new track or to some external program.

If you are talking about recording your mixdown into Soundforge or something like that, keep in mind that you'll have more drivers trying to access your HD at the same time. You'll need your machine in pretty good order to keep it from crapping out.

Someone suggested lowering your ULLI settings which will work, but you also might try just recording everything to a new track in Cubase so you're keeping the load within your ASIO drivers.

Then just open that mixdown in whatever external editor you want.

I'll admit right now that my analysis is mostly conjecture, but I have had similar problems recording to SoundForge using 24bit Wave drivers. When recording back into Cubase I had no problems.

Since I have 512MB of RAM and my resourced meters (in WinXP, and Cubase SX) showed no sign of strain, the pileup of audio drivers trying use the HD is the only thing I can attribute it to, as doing it all in Cubase did not require me to lower my ULLI settings.

There's probably someone smarter than I who can give you (and me) a better explanation but I'd start there.

Hope that helps,
Sam

[ This Message was edited by: dehuszar on 2003-06-30 14:19 ]

darkstar · Post by **darkstar** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:21 pm

hello and many thanks for help.
Okay,now one completely stupid question

.HOW TO RECORD EVERYTHING IN ONE TRACK IN CUBASE?I mean,I must turn off my SFP platform to make dsp effect work(they are not available while sfp is running...or I'm not doing it right).Btw,I downloaded luna tutorial,and I saw that there is LUNA icon after installation,I have SFP icon....is that normal?
Thanks guys,and again,sorry for dumb questions,but you are my only hope.

dehuszar · Post by **dehuszar** » Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:54 pm

On 2003-06-30 19:21, darkstar wrote:
HOW TO RECORD EVERYTHING IN ONE TRACK IN CUBASE?

The easiest way is to route the Mix out (assuming you are using a Creamware Mixer and route it to the ASIO inputs 1&2 (or whatever you have available). Set a new track in Cubase to receive in those inputs, and record. Just make sure you don't have any tracks armed that might cause a feedback loop as they are painful to the ears and speakers (as you probably have figured out in your experience with music).

You could use Creamware's XTC mode to bring those instruments/FX into Cubase Mixer inputs; avoiding the whole SFP routine, though I don't think it's available for LunaII cards. Not sure though, don't take my word for it. Besides, there are still a lot of awesome freeware/3rd party synths like Saturn that haven't been ported to XTC yet, as it's a huge overhaul. Though I don't know how useful Saturn would be on a Luna II card as it's a pretty DSP hungry bit of code.

Hope that helps,
Sam

Post by **garyb** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 12:11 am

oh,and the luna manual is outdated.all cards use the sfp manual........

darkstar · Post by **darkstar** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 9:54 am

Hello guys
I'm still having problems with reason.....anyone can help out?I start cubase,turn rewire on,then start reason 2,then my computer crashes....what sound device I should choose in REASON?I tried all of them,and no results,just another hang-up of my system...

Thanks

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 4:39 pm

Hi darkstar,

You don't have to select any soundcard in Reason, it will get Rewire for its audio so Cubase will take care of the soundcard/ASIO drivers.

Here's how I install my soft sequencers & stuff:
1) Cubase, without updates
2) VST(i) & Rewire & updates thereof
3) Cubase update

Installing Cubase update as last, insures you got latest ASIO & Rewire software.

dehuszar · Post by **dehuszar** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 4:56 pm

You shouldn't. Reason should just acquire all the audio/midi settings from Cubase via Rewire. You shouldn't have to do a damn thing. The only thing I can suggest is that there is a Cubase patch that comes with Reason. I would've thought that either program would have fixed that issue by now, but if nothing else, it's something to try.

Sam

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 8:06 pm

The patch reduces the max number of Rewire channels from 64 to 16. It's not necessary with SX, but Cubase VST is limited to a certain number of channels... so if your projects contain to many audio/VSTi channels, you might want to apply it.

Samuel, another issue I had with Rewire was that I installed a Rewire1 client after the Rewire2 client, I think it killed Rewire2. Did you install other Rewire clients, Darkstar? If so, you might wanna check their Rewire versions. This troubleshooting supposes you have a working VST setup, that it can run audio tracks or VSTi and that Rewire is active.

dehuszar · Post by **dehuszar** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 9:17 pm

I honestly haven't used Reason in a long while, I just remember having to do that with previous versions.

Sam