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Setting up a home Studio

Topic started by L (@ 144.42.9.104) on Tue Jun 17 11:39:28 EDT 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

If you are a composer, pls share the hardware and the network setup of your home studio pls? Also, feel free to give tips to others who are planning to setup their own.

Thanks

L

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Srik (@ 64.80.98.165) on: Wed Jun 18 13:23:29 EDT 2003
  
  L,
  That is somw what same as midi, instead of midi we now start recording the audio. Sync is the key, using same computer to record midi and audio will create latency.
  
  btw: I like to know your name ?, :)
  
  
• From: Sam (@ 63.73.213.5) on: Wed Jun 18 17:46:12 EDT 2003
  
  Sirk,
  
  Thanks for the explanation!
  
  From what you have answered to L, it seems like, just like recording the MIDI files, I can record the wave files on the PC persisting the different tracks.
  
  Lets take a very simple senario: if I only have one keyboard which can handle multi tracks - lets take the Triton LE workstation. And I program 3 tracks on the Triton - A drum loop a guitar piece and a flute piece (all done using the Keyboard). What you are saying is that I can transfer these tracks (or record them) in WAVE format using MIDI into the PC (using CalkWalk, or similar software) so that I will have 3 different wave files? one for the drum one for the guitar and another for the flute? And now that I have the wave files on the PC, I can use a sound editing software to add more effects to the individual tracks and also add extra tracks and effects? (this is my objective). Basically I would want to use a sound editing software at the end of the audio production (before mastering) to add more effects and edit at a track level. And this is best done with Wave format (in my experience)
  
  Also,
  
  Which one of these would you recommend for a remixer (that's me) who would want to go to the next level - which is to create my own mixes:
  
  Korg Triton LE 61 Note Synthesizer
  
  Korg Triton LE 76 Note Synthesizer
  
  Korg Triton LE 88
  
  Korg Triton Synthesizer With Sampling
  
  Korg Triton Pro 76-Key Synthesizer With Sampling
  
  Korg Triton Studio 61 Note Synthesizer
  
  
  thanks a bunch! really appreciate your time!
  
  -Sam
  
  
• From: tremolo (@ 129.44.176.214) on: Wed Jun 18 20:28:57 EDT 2003
  
  I havent read through all the posts but I guess there wasnt any mention of software synthesizers like giga studio. I personally think the age of harware samplers (what you normally call keyboard synthesizers) is coming to an end. Your entire studio can be in your laptop computer, all for a fraction of the price, but with much better sound quality. You can trust me that this is what pro composers are switching to these days. For example there are professional string sound samples available these days (see for example: sonic implants), which no Korg or Yamaha can compete with.
  
  I'll write a summary on how to set up a software sampler based studio soon, basically summing up my experiences (assuming people here are interested).
  
  
• From: tremolo (@ 129.44.176.214) on: Wed Jun 18 21:07:33 EDT 2003
  
  I just read through some of the previous posts. Srik(anth?) has done a great job of explaining midi and stuff. (aside, is this the same Srikanth as the one who has compositions in mp3 artists? also posts in Prasannas discussion board? just curious)
  
  If I might, let me add that cakewalk has a really cheap sequencing software that has most of the features you would need (it has the same sonar like interface) it is called homestudio 2002. costs < 100. I got it for as cheap as 70.
  
  best
  
  
• From: Sam (@ 12.250.211.168) on: Wed Jun 18 21:53:45 EDT 2003
  
  tremolo, please do post info on how to setup software sampler based home studio!
  
  thanks,
  -Sam
  
  
• From: Srik (@ 138.88.118.189) on: Wed Jun 18 22:10:49 EDT 2003
  
  string sound the orchestral collection in korg, you will have hear it recorded with peter siedlaczek advanced orchestra, best card in triton series.
  
  Gigi is good howver the samples are highly priced and warrents pc power. I have an akai z8, it simply rules.Once again these are personal preference. music we make with these is the key.
  
  sam i will answer you tomorrow, it already 10.30 here. :)
  
  
• From: Srik (@ 138.88.118.189) on: Wed Jun 18 22:11:21 EDT 2003
  
  tremelo, yes its me :))
  
  
• From: satsona (@ 203.199.192.162) on: Thu Jun 19 04:46:30 EDT 2003
  
  Hi all
  
  Thanx for all this. Great sharing these info. I had asked this question about Home studio quite long back in the Amateur Composers thread, however, didn't get responses. Guess I should have started a separate thread on this;-)
  
  btw, Srik, Sam, I have got Trinity Plus workstation. Is it possible/compatible to use it instead of Triton, for the home studio?
  
  tremelo --some doubts
  >>"I personally think the age of harware samplers (what you normally call keyboard synthesizers) is coming to an end. Your entire studio can be in your laptop computer, all for a fraction of the price, but with much better sound quality. You can trust me that this is what pro composers are switching to these days."<<
  
  do u mean we don't need the keyboard to compose and play the music?or u meant the hardware apart from using the keyboard?and if keyboard is indeed not needed, would we be able to get the real feel of the instruments with a software? pls do let me know.
  
  cheers
  
  
• From: L (@ 144.42.9.106) on: Thu Jun 19 09:32:11 EDT 2003
  
  May be I should have made my previous question, more clear.
  
  1. Using CAKEWAL + Yamaha PSR + Creative AWE Card + a single PC, I created a three track music file in CAKEWALK format (cwp).
  
  2. Now, if I need to convert this in to WAV, what do I need to do?
  
  3. I tried the following method.
  
  a. Inserted an audio track.
  b. Selected the 'SOUND CARD'S STEREO as the input.
  c. ARMED this track alone for RECORD.
  d. Muted this track alone.
  e. Then hit the RECORD button.
  
  While other tracks played, this audio track recorded it. Later when I listened to this AUDIO track alone, its VOLUME LEVEL was very feeble and also had lot of NOISES (hisses and clicks).
  
  Is this the right method. If yes, how do I avoid this?
  
  Thanks
  
  L
  
  Note: Srik, I want to maintain my anonymity. I will reveal my name later, may be after achieving something in my life. Hope I am not rude or something. Thanks for your wonderful inputs.
  
  
• From: Srik (@ 64.80.98.165) on: Thu Jun 19 11:38:59 EDT 2003
  
  sam
  for remixing Korg karma or
  Korg Triton Studio seems works better,
  also try your hands on Roland Vsynth, I played with last week in guitar center, has some cool fearures for remixing community. A sampler like akai z4 or z8 might work, but sonic foundry acid will do the job better than most, however Acid is "b-grade" product in the pro world. Only for non-musicians.:)
  
  
  
• From: Srik (@ 64.80.98.165) on: Thu Jun 19 11:41:49 EDT 2003
  
  L,
  AUDIO track alone
  its VOLUME LEVEL - increase input volume.
  what soundcard you have, this is most important thing, home pcs sounds cards are not fit here, tell me about your hardware i can help you more.
  Regarding your name, dont worry, I just liked to know it, this being public forum your are welcome to L..:)
  
  
• From: Srik (@ 64.80.98.165) on: Thu Jun 19 11:48:50 EDT 2003
  
  Software based samplers are really a boon to the music world, if you have a powerful pc we can do lot of things with it, it is personal choice,
  ofcourse we do need a midi keyboard or a midi guitar to play.
  I am hardware person I belive in having a dedicated instrument rather than running programms.,
  This is just easy to manage, During pro-recording session I really do not want to depend too much on the mouse, keyboard and the computer.I already spend 75% of life depending on it. If the pc fails i am doomed, entire show stops. client will have long face. I would limited pc to recording only, however If you can afford one pc per software, we can have a cool ride. I have setup 4 pcs each one doing dedicated functions, they will not exceed more than 2 software at one time. one of them has giga also installed.
  Setting up a studio is fun :)
  
  
  
• From: Srik (@ 64.80.98.165) on: Thu Jun 19 12:44:24 EDT 2003
  
  Some have emailed me what is a sampler how it is different from a keyboard, I will answer it here so that it will help many.
  
  The basic ingredient for keyboard or sampler is the sound, in domestic keyboards the sounds waves are stored in the Rom and their properties are already programmed. You cannot alter the sound; pretty much fixed. If it is piano it can be only the piano.
  
  But when the keyboard gets the capacity to alter the sound wave it is becomes a synthesizer. Basically most of the sounds in the keyboards are recorded from the natural instruments. These are called called as sound "sample". They are stored in a wave table from where it is manipulated, we can change it and do what not with it. The sound thus created is stored in the ram.
  You keyboard is priced for the samples and the features it has to modify the samples.
  The better the sound quality and features more the price you need to pay. In a keyboard octave they have sample for some basic notes and they are then manipulated to obtain other notes.
  
  What is a sampler, a sampler can take any audio and convert it to an instrument, meaning just record a sound into sampler, it will map the sound in the octaves for you,
  Out of the box a sampler does not have any sound in it, you need to add sounds to it.
  You need to load them with sounds from CDs or hardisk. Later you can play these sound from a midi keyboard.
  A sampler allows you to map an audio file (called as sample) to a midi keyboard note.
  Samples are of two kinds , single shot, meaning just one note sample e.g. note SA or C alone - set of 12 for an octave here.
  Second type is well known monster in newtfmpage.com, LOOPS. These days many musicians create music phrases (loops) and single shots. These loops or single shots are available on CDs for various samplers; samplers will just load them and map the sounds in the octave automatically.When you press the keyboard sampler will play the corresponding mapped sound. So if you have a sampler you can pretty much get any sound in your song. Besides you can alter pretty mich anything in the sound without affecting the quality.
  akai Z8 is quite powerful., but priced at 1800-2000.
  :)
  
  
  
• From: tremolo (@ 132.183.203.46) on: Thu Jun 19 13:26:06 EDT 2003
  
  To answer Satsona:
  
  Yes you really dont need a keyboard is you have a software based sampler. If you are comfortable with staff music notation, you can literally jot down the notation for each track in an orchestral piece for example (as composers have done for centuries, except you use a mouse and computer to draw on the staves) and play it back with high quality samples. Of course you can hook up a keyboard and do the same thing.
  
  But let me be clear. With a soft sampler, you can still use a keyboard, but the difference is you can use any cheap $50 keyboard that conforms to MIDI standards, as you dont care about the built in sounds of the keyboard, but rather use the samples stored inside your hard disk. the keyboard simply sends midi messages, while the sequencer picks the samples stored in the hard drive and plays it to your soundcard. You simple mute your key board. Also, with advanced samplers like Gigastudio, you can get virtually no latency, i.e., there is no delay between your striking the keyboard and hearing the sound in your soundcard.
  
  As Srikanth says, it is really a personal preference, but I still think that software samplers are attractive because of their portability....and the cost. I got a pretty good sounding virtual studio going for about 800-1000 bucks.
  
  Here is the breakup:
  
  Yamaha PSR280 : $200
  (dont laugh!)
  
  cakewalk homestudio2002 : ~$80
  (www.cakewalk.com)
  
  Motu 2x2 Midi interface for my laptop : ~50
  (since my laptop doesnt have a midi input)
  
  Gigastudio96 (which is my "virtual synth"):250
  (www.nemesysmusic.com for more info)
  
  Echo indigo soundcard (you need this to run giga):100
  
  Garritan orchestral strings:250 (To give you an idea, these are really high end string samples, ranging from Basses to violins, all recorded live from an orchestra. They have more articulations than you would probably need....)
  (www.garritan.com)
  
  All this plus tons of free soundfonts available on the web, you can import these into giga studio.
  (for example www.thesoundsite.net)
  
  But as Srikanth is saying, there is always a probability that you computer crashes (its windows afterall!!) so this is one disadvantage compared to a neatly packed Korg triton. But with experience you can easily find the cause of crashes and avoid them. Also, as an amateur, I couldnt have dreamt of professional quality sounds for this budget.
  
  Last but not the least, you can capture your music directly to the hard disk with Giga studio, which means a totally digital recording, with no wires and cables. Basically your music is converted internally into wave files, without having to route it through you keybourd output.
  
  hope this was some help.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: tremolo (@ 132.183.203.46) on: Thu Jun 19 13:30:30 EDT 2003
  
  Just a note that you can knock off $300 from the breakup I posted previously but getting rid of the keyboard and interface part. But I got thee much earlier than I learnt about this technology.
  
  Again, real keybaords are fun, I cant deny that... Someday if I have my own studio, Id love to have a hefty weighted keyboard from Korg or Kurzweil.
  
  cheers
  
  

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