midi controllers and production and jamming

The Omen 666

Hi there,

Apologies in advance form notabely NOOB questions but i am currently in the market for a keyboard but i am having a look also at getting a controller and some software like abelton or cubase etc

i am looking at and axiom pro 61 or novation sl mk2 as controller. I have learned to play piano a good number of years ago so i like the idea of atleast 61 keys.

My question is really, how easy is it to just jam when using software or is it all sequencing...going this route may be more cost effective from me r/t spending in excess of 1k for korg m50 or roland stage/juno g

MilanPan!c

The Omen 666 wrote: »

Hi there,

Apologies in advance form notabely NOOB questions but i am currently in the market for a keyboard but i am having a look also at getting a controller and some software like abelton or cubase etc

i am looking at and axiom pro 61 or novation sl mk2 as controller. I have learned to play piano a good number of years ago so i like the idea of atleast 61 keys.

My question is really, how easy is it to just jam when using software or is it all sequencing...going this route may be more cost effective from me r/t spending in excess of 1k for korg m50 or roland stage/juno g

It's very very easy.

Many many people do this these days....

The Omen 666

MilanPan!c wrote: »

It's very very easy.

Many many people do this these days....

can you set up splits and layers etc to play live with a simple drum track and base line etc...i'm new to software synthesis sorry or assign instruments to each fader on the controller like many do in a motif etc, and fade in each one as needed etc

MilanPan!c

The Omen 666 wrote: »

can you set up splits and layers etc to play live with a simple drum track and base line etc...i'm new to software synthesis sorry or assign instruments to each fader on the controller like many do in a motif etc, and fade in each one as needed etc

yes yes yes...

all possible.

the routing can be as simple of complex as midi will allow.

Now, the more complex the ideas, the harder the initial setup, but that's the same in the hardware world.

The Omen 666

MilanPan!c wrote: »

yes yes yes...

all possible.

the routing can be as simple of complex as midi will allow.

Now, the more complex the ideas, the harder the initial setup, but that's the same in the hardware world.

thanks so much milan, i think i am sold on the idea, downloaded an albeton live 8 trial and have been tinkering with it to see if i like, the novation slmk2 comes with ableton live lite

PMI

Ableton will be the fastest but kinda a new thing to get your head round.

Yes to all the above, do it myself, pretty much anything you think in your head can be done if your nimble enough

Good luck and welcome

MilanPan!c

The Omen 666 wrote: »

thanks so much milan, i think i am sold on the idea, downloaded an albeton live 8 trial and have been tinkering with it to see if i like, the novation slmk2 comes with ableton live lite

Ableton is a whole different approach... I found it very confounding initially... but the important thing to remember is that, if you're trying to do something at this point, thousands have tried before you... there's a MASSIVE scene online dedicated to this sort of setup...

if you have questions, google them and you'll either find your solution, or a new piece of software or a workaround, which will make any idea you may have possible.

I can say this with about 95% certainty, not knowing how insane your ideas are..

there's also a CRAZY piece of FRENCH software called Plogue - Bidle that will allow you to, though it aint easy, create "instruments" which are combinations of multiple synths and effects...

http://www.plogue.com/?page_id=56

Kinda hard to explain, but if you were really gonna try and do this live, seriously, I would look at it... tons of pro folks use it and the memory and processor overhead is much lower than something like Ableton or Cubase (for example).

Here's their descriptive example:

Bidule: The new standard in modular audio software

Is this a familiar picture? Cables lead from a microphone input into a small digital effect. More cables connect the effect to a mixer. Elsewhere, a MIDI cable links a MIDI input to a synthesizer, which is in turn connected to a mixer. Old hat, right? Now, imagine this: the same single output socket sprouting no less than eight different cables connecting eight different effects.

It gets better: A sound is broken down into 256 individual bands, then each is tweaked one at a time in a unique way. As he performs, a musician decides to add an LFO to a synth’s filter cutoff knob, where no LFO existed before. Sound crazy? Not anymore. The new paradigm of computer audio can be summed up in two words: “real-time” and “modular” – both of which are embodied by one application…

---


If you can easily understand that, it may be for you!

smck99

MIDI/ sampling is the way foreard imo. but thats not to say i wouldnt love a nice analog/ modular etc.

I would check out the AKAI MPK61, it comes bundled with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition 6 but upgrades to the latest version are free! great piece of kit.
available in 25, 49 and 88 key models too!

€450 on thomann.de, a good price! check it out:
Akai MPK61 on Thomann