The 'ELEMENTS' :
-the Laptop, Controllers, Soundcard, the software DAW(with vst and effect plug-ins)
-OR the hardware Sequencer, Sampler
-the Synthesizer
-the Mixer
-the cables :) (1/4"TRS cables, RCA cables, MIDI cables, USB cables)
CONNECTIONS:
-connect the audio cables(2mono)from synth's outs to ins on the soundcard
-connect the midi cables(2) midi out from synth to midi in on the soundcard and vice-versa
-connect the controllers with the laptop using usb cables
-connect audio cables(2mono)from the outs on the soundcard to the master mixer(or to monitors for the studio)
INSTALL then the main DAW software on the laptop (i.e. Ableton Live). Install the virtual synths, samplers and effects plug-ins. Turn on everything starting with the place where sound starts and ending up where it comes out (when turning off proceed backwards). Root everything in the DAW, like the soundcard, the synth, the surfaces for control. Test the set-up and set the latency to zero using the settings of the soundcard and also the delay compensation feature.
Now you should be set-up to go! :) Also it would help to create a template in which to work. Another good idea whould be to make the working template, the live template and vice-versa ;)
Of course this is just a basic set-up that you can build on. For example, you can have two synths instead of one, or you can add a hardware sampler in; also you can have dedicated controllers for the main DAW, but also you can have controllers for certain virtual synths or effects racks. Also one hardware synth can be desktop(rack) module, so you can eventually control it from another controller. Realtime hardware effects can be added and tweaked realtime, as nothing compares with physical hands-on control. Even the main daw with the plug-ins, the laptop and the soundcard can be exchanged for a workstation(like MV8800 for example). The truth: sky's the limit :)
Even though we talked a lot about production gear, the initial aim of this blog is the "Live-act"... more exactly the "Electronic Live-act".
One of the bad things of computer production, is that the artists forgot to play their instruments, really expressing themselves. This is a bad thing for both the audience and the artist himself/herself.
Software brought us a lot in terms of possibilities, but in order to remain performing artists we must perform. And I mean really perform, not dj-acts.
But because all starts in music with instruments, let's return for a second to the gear we play with: the electronic instruments.
We'll try to explore 2 things: on one side the live set-ups and on the other side the way we can use them for the live performance.
. . . . . T O. B E. C O N T I N U E D. S O O N :) :)
vineri, 18 decembrie 2009
duminică, 13 decembrie 2009
AUTHOR' BUYER's GUIDE ;)
OK, I'm going back a little...to the tools of trade :) Even though I did talk generally about that I received numerous mails regarding my personal oppinion about the tools that make-up a studio for electronic music production. For that reason I am going to give you my oppinion in selecting the best and most useful equipement.
First of all you have to make up your mind if you just want to be a producer or also a performer ;)
So, let's begin:
- S O U N D - G E N E R A T O R S -
VIRUS TI
- That's probably the best synth there is as a whole package. I mean if you only had to get one synth, this would be The ONE :) Some of you can consider this one being expensive. Even it may look that way....fact is that it's actually cheap for what is does.
Virus TI is actually 16 synths in one and more: 16 multi effects racks in one!! Can you imagine that? I mean to have 16 racks, each whith delays, reverbs, distortions, eqs, chorus, phaser and so on...really. I mean you can't even find an expensive effect processor like that.
So only for the synths and effects it's worth so very much. Now, the other thing is that they are also good, not only many;) Instead of having lots of synths and effect racks all around your studio, you can just have the Virus and all integrated with themselves. To all that above I must add that the quality of sound is really great.
Another thing to consider is the Total Integration (TI) with the computer for the ones using one. It also acts as a sound card, and a good one! It can be said a lot about this great synth: it's the Rolls Royce of synthesizers.
ALESIS ANDROMEDA
- is a very unique synth. It's analog, but unlike most analogs, it is polyphonic and it's got 16 parts multitimbral... so you almost got 16 analog synths. It's complex, powerful and full of possibilities. Even though not a cheap one...it will not probably be made for long time...so it's worth it getting one now!
DS PROPHET'08/and PolyEvolver(hybrid)
- even though I put it the fourth, it deserves a lot of attention. It will become soon a classic. One of the last polyphonic analog synthesizers. Really great! Sounds that are very hard or impossible to obtain with the other synths, Prophet'08 can do them very well ;)
MOOG LP/VOYAGER
- Bob Moog name is synonymous with the name of the some of the greatest synthesizers ever built. I think that says it all. I mean you could ask yourself, why buy an analog synth, especially a monophonic limited one, when I own a Virus TI or any of today VAs. Well the answer is plain and simple: because the analog synths have something in the way they generate sound and in the filters, that modern digital synths can only try to emulate, but without real succes. So if you need something warm, and full... if you need quality sound, get a Moog. You will not regret it :)
FUTURE RETRO XS(& Revolution2)
- is a modern old-school semi modular desktop synthesizer which is really well made, with fast envelopes and powerful oscillators, great filters. Great for bass and for anything that a monophonic analog synth it is.
(Also the FR REVOLUTION2 which is a good TB303 clone ;)
WALDORF Q+/BLOFELD/MICROWAVE XT
- Next in line would be the Waldorf synths. If you can afford get the Q+. It's got a very nice knobby interface, with enough outputs and great power. The Waldorf sound engine it's I believe even more powerful than the Virus one. So you can't go wrong with this one.
The lighter approach would be the Blofeld. It's light and cheap, but its sound and capabilities are far greater that you could imagine. It's the best synth you can buy in this price range. It's really at an unbelievable price, especially the desktop version which is very portable.
The great thing is that it's got the same power as the Q with the exception of the analog filters and I repeat, at an unbelievable price.
RADIKAL TECHNOLOGIES SPECTRALIS/ACCELERATOR
- a hybrid synth, with a very special sound and capabilities. It has the best of the two worlds: digital and analog, but with the highest specifications. It's is for sure expensive, but it's a workhorse with a lot integrated, even sequencer and some sampler capabilities, so if you can afford one, you will be amazed.
NOVATION Synths
- In the late '90s there were produced some of the best synths known as Novation Supernova, Nova and K-Station. Up to this time they keep on being some of the best synths around.
The Supernova has got 8 simultaneous synths and rack effects and the Nova 6. So for that time, actually even for these times it was really great. Apart from that they sound good too! Many people use to say that they are the only synths able to compete with the Virus.
Novation's only synth still in production is the X-Station, which, even though it hasn't got the multi parts of its predecessors, it's still a good synth, and I may say at a extremely good price. Not to mention that is more than a synth: it's a great controller, multi-effects processor and sound card. Together with the Blofeld desktop, they are the most affordable, yet professional synths around. Go now get one! :)
ROLAND V-SYNTH (XT)
- The top of the line and latest synthesizer from the legendary Roland corporation is something no easy to pass out. It's elastic synthesis capabilities are second to none. The VA synth in it is cool, but the place where it excels is its elastic synthesis capabilities. In two words, you can get out of it sounds that it would be hard to get out of any other synth. You can also sample with it and use the samples as waveforms in the oscilators, and much much more than that.
The desktop version it's got as a bonus another two engines: the D50 fm synth and the VP voice synth with which you can do truly unbelievable things. Also, it acts as a good sound card. As you can see, it deserves one of the leading places in anyone's studio :)
There are many other synths old and new that are great, but the ones above are some of the best and almost all still in the making. Roland made the best analog synths in the past...followed by Korg and Yamaha...and of course a few other smaller companies, but great too.
(Other synths include TB303, Roland Jupiter8 or 6 ,SuperJupiter(MKS80), Jx(3p),HS-80, SH101, Korg MS20, Monopoly, Polysix, Moog Prodigy, Clavia Nord Lead and many more)
I will end this with a list of the greatest synths in the history(apart from the ones already mentioned).
The great giants of the past:
Yamaha: CS80/DX1/DX7/CS70M/AN1X/AN200,
Waldorf: MICROWAVE XTK/Q,
Quasimidi: POLYMORPH/RAVEN,
Ppg: WAVE2,
Oscar: ,
Roland: D50/JUPITER 8/JUPITER 6/ HS-80/JD800/JP8000/JP8080/JUNO 106/JX3P /JX8P/MC202/JV1080/JV2080/MKS80/TR808/TR909/SH101/SH5/SH7/TB303/SYSTEM100,100m,700,
Korg: DSS-1/M1/MONOPOLY/MS10/MS20/MINIKORG700/POLYSIX/TRINITY/PROPHECY/WAVESTATION/PS3100/PS3200/PS3300/SIGMA/WAVESTATION A-D/Z1,
Sequencial Circuits: PROPHET5/PROPHET VS/MULTITRAK/PRO ONE/PROPHET10,
Eminent Strings: ,
Moog: SOURCE/PRODIGY/MODULAR SYSTEMS/MINIMOOG/MICROMOOG/MEMORYMOOG,
Oberheim: TWO VOICE/FOUR VOICE/EIGHT VOICE/MATRIX6,12,1000/OB12/OB8/OB-X/OB-Xa/EXPANDER,
Akai: VX600,
Ensonique: ESQ-1/EPS-16+/ASR10/FIZMO,
Elka: SYNTHEX,
Ems: SYNTHI A,AKS,100/VCS3,
Fairlight: CMI,
Jomox: SUNSYN,
Emu: EMULATOR,
Hartmann: NEURON,
Linn Electronics: LM-1 DRUMCOMPUTER/LINDRUM,
Kawai: K5,
Kurzweil: K2000/K2600,
Cheetah: MS6,
Buchla: 200E SERIES,
Arp: 2500/2600/AXXE/ODYSSEY/QUADRA/SOLINA STRING ENSEMBLE. :)
Of course you can choose VST and effect plug-ins and a good controller. Theoretically there is nothing wrong with that as long as you take your time to make templates for those vsts on your choice controller. Some of the more powerful plug-ins are: WAVES, OXFORD, OHMFORCE, IZOTOPE, PSP AUDIO, SOUNDTOYS, ALCHEMY,OCTOPUS, IMPOSCAR, SUBBOOMBASE, LARGO, TERATEC COMPLEXER, REESE MACHINE, ZEBRALETTE, DISCOVERY, SYLENTH, KARMA FX, Z3TA+, SPECTRASONICS stuff and many more..
- C O N T R O L L E R S -
NOVATION X-STATION - best package of a controller, soundcard, effects processor and even synthesizer. Perfect for live gigs where you can carry only so much. Lots of controls on it, easy to make templates...really really great and not expensive either.
BEHRINGER BCR/BCF2000 - probably the best and price effective controllers ever made. A lot of options, well built, used by many professionals(i.e.Aphex Twin). Get any of these tomorrow :)
AKAI APC40 - great controller and although it was designed to work with Ableton, it can work with any other DAW.
NI MASCHINE - one of the best controllers, even though kind of expensive one. It's especially good with the integrated software that it comes. Great for drums and sequencing in general. It's a MPC clone..I could say a really nice and effective one.
Other controllers that deserve to be mentioned because of their quality and possibilities: NOVATION LAUNCHPAD, NOVATION MKII, C-THRU AXIS, KORG NANO KONTROL and EDIROL PCR.
- S E Q U E N C E R S - S A M P L E R S - W O R K S T A T I O N S -
The only SEQUENCERS I would work with are ABLETON LIVE, ROLAND MV8800 or AKAI MPC.
All three have something in common: have a friendly sequencer, a user friendly sampler interface, are very intuitive and easy to work with.
ABLETONE LIVE is top of the line in that is also very complete and user friendly, almost as an instrument, even though it is a fully featured DAW. The MV8800 and the MPC are different in that they still have the features of the old samplers, but that not necessarily in a bad way.
(Of course there are others, and they are not bad too, just that they miss on certain features and are not that immediate, that user friendly, and in the process of music production that is really important. A few examples: Cubase/Nuendo, Reaper, Logic, Studio1, Yamaha QY700, Yamaha RS7000, Roland MC909, Roland Fantom G, Alesis Fusion, Korg ESX, Elektron Machinedrum)
Another nice tools worth having in a live set-up and not only are the ROLAND SP555 and the KORG KAOSS PAD3.
Don't forget a good MIXER, preferable with editable effects and sweepable eq (SOUDCRAFT, MACKIE, ALLEN & HEATH), the MONITORS (ADAM, DYNAUDIO), and the SOUNDCARD (RME, FOCUSRITE, MOTU).
The last, but not the least: powerful desktop computer with latest, most powerful processor you can afford, few hdd, lots of ram, many ports and you set to go!... or/and powerful laptop for travel if it's your choice in a live set-up.
Don't forget: for studio-Power / for live-Portability!
First of all you have to make up your mind if you just want to be a producer or also a performer ;)
So, let's begin:
- S O U N D - G E N E R A T O R S -
VIRUS TI
- That's probably the best synth there is as a whole package. I mean if you only had to get one synth, this would be The ONE :) Some of you can consider this one being expensive. Even it may look that way....fact is that it's actually cheap for what is does.
Virus TI is actually 16 synths in one and more: 16 multi effects racks in one!! Can you imagine that? I mean to have 16 racks, each whith delays, reverbs, distortions, eqs, chorus, phaser and so on...really. I mean you can't even find an expensive effect processor like that.
So only for the synths and effects it's worth so very much. Now, the other thing is that they are also good, not only many;) Instead of having lots of synths and effect racks all around your studio, you can just have the Virus and all integrated with themselves. To all that above I must add that the quality of sound is really great.
Another thing to consider is the Total Integration (TI) with the computer for the ones using one. It also acts as a sound card, and a good one! It can be said a lot about this great synth: it's the Rolls Royce of synthesizers.
ALESIS ANDROMEDA
- is a very unique synth. It's analog, but unlike most analogs, it is polyphonic and it's got 16 parts multitimbral... so you almost got 16 analog synths. It's complex, powerful and full of possibilities. Even though not a cheap one...it will not probably be made for long time...so it's worth it getting one now!
DS PROPHET'08/and PolyEvolver(hybrid)
- even though I put it the fourth, it deserves a lot of attention. It will become soon a classic. One of the last polyphonic analog synthesizers. Really great! Sounds that are very hard or impossible to obtain with the other synths, Prophet'08 can do them very well ;)
MOOG LP/VOYAGER
- Bob Moog name is synonymous with the name of the some of the greatest synthesizers ever built. I think that says it all. I mean you could ask yourself, why buy an analog synth, especially a monophonic limited one, when I own a Virus TI or any of today VAs. Well the answer is plain and simple: because the analog synths have something in the way they generate sound and in the filters, that modern digital synths can only try to emulate, but without real succes. So if you need something warm, and full... if you need quality sound, get a Moog. You will not regret it :)
FUTURE RETRO XS(& Revolution2)
- is a modern old-school semi modular desktop synthesizer which is really well made, with fast envelopes and powerful oscillators, great filters. Great for bass and for anything that a monophonic analog synth it is.
(Also the FR REVOLUTION2 which is a good TB303 clone ;)
WALDORF Q+/BLOFELD/MICROWAVE XT
- Next in line would be the Waldorf synths. If you can afford get the Q+. It's got a very nice knobby interface, with enough outputs and great power. The Waldorf sound engine it's I believe even more powerful than the Virus one. So you can't go wrong with this one.
The lighter approach would be the Blofeld. It's light and cheap, but its sound and capabilities are far greater that you could imagine. It's the best synth you can buy in this price range. It's really at an unbelievable price, especially the desktop version which is very portable.
The great thing is that it's got the same power as the Q with the exception of the analog filters and I repeat, at an unbelievable price.
RADIKAL TECHNOLOGIES SPECTRALIS/ACCELERATOR
- a hybrid synth, with a very special sound and capabilities. It has the best of the two worlds: digital and analog, but with the highest specifications. It's is for sure expensive, but it's a workhorse with a lot integrated, even sequencer and some sampler capabilities, so if you can afford one, you will be amazed.
NOVATION Synths
- In the late '90s there were produced some of the best synths known as Novation Supernova, Nova and K-Station. Up to this time they keep on being some of the best synths around.
The Supernova has got 8 simultaneous synths and rack effects and the Nova 6. So for that time, actually even for these times it was really great. Apart from that they sound good too! Many people use to say that they are the only synths able to compete with the Virus.
Novation's only synth still in production is the X-Station, which, even though it hasn't got the multi parts of its predecessors, it's still a good synth, and I may say at a extremely good price. Not to mention that is more than a synth: it's a great controller, multi-effects processor and sound card. Together with the Blofeld desktop, they are the most affordable, yet professional synths around. Go now get one! :)
ROLAND V-SYNTH (XT)
- The top of the line and latest synthesizer from the legendary Roland corporation is something no easy to pass out. It's elastic synthesis capabilities are second to none. The VA synth in it is cool, but the place where it excels is its elastic synthesis capabilities. In two words, you can get out of it sounds that it would be hard to get out of any other synth. You can also sample with it and use the samples as waveforms in the oscilators, and much much more than that.
The desktop version it's got as a bonus another two engines: the D50 fm synth and the VP voice synth with which you can do truly unbelievable things. Also, it acts as a good sound card. As you can see, it deserves one of the leading places in anyone's studio :)
There are many other synths old and new that are great, but the ones above are some of the best and almost all still in the making. Roland made the best analog synths in the past...followed by Korg and Yamaha...and of course a few other smaller companies, but great too.
(Other synths include TB303, Roland Jupiter8 or 6 ,SuperJupiter(MKS80), Jx(3p),HS-80, SH101, Korg MS20, Monopoly, Polysix, Moog Prodigy, Clavia Nord Lead and many more)
I will end this with a list of the greatest synths in the history(apart from the ones already mentioned).
The great giants of the past:
Yamaha: CS80/DX1/DX7/CS70M/AN1X/AN200,
Waldorf: MICROWAVE XTK/Q,
Quasimidi: POLYMORPH/RAVEN,
Ppg: WAVE2,
Oscar: ,
Roland: D50/JUPITER 8/JUPITER 6/ HS-80/JD800/JP8000/JP8080/JUNO 106/JX3P /JX8P/MC202/JV1080/JV2080/MKS80/TR808/TR909/SH101/SH5/SH7/TB303/SYSTEM100,100m,700,
Korg: DSS-1/M1/MONOPOLY/MS10/MS20/MINIKORG700/POLYSIX/TRINITY/PROPHECY/WAVESTATION/PS3100/PS3200/PS3300/SIGMA/WAVESTATION A-D/Z1,
Sequencial Circuits: PROPHET5/PROPHET VS/MULTITRAK/PRO ONE/PROPHET10,
Eminent Strings: ,
Moog: SOURCE/PRODIGY/MODULAR SYSTEMS/MINIMOOG/MICROMOOG/MEMORYMOOG,
Oberheim: TWO VOICE/FOUR VOICE/EIGHT VOICE/MATRIX6,12,1000/OB12/OB8/OB-X/OB-Xa/EXPANDER,
Akai: VX600,
Ensonique: ESQ-1/EPS-16+/ASR10/FIZMO,
Elka: SYNTHEX,
Ems: SYNTHI A,AKS,100/VCS3,
Fairlight: CMI,
Jomox: SUNSYN,
Emu: EMULATOR,
Hartmann: NEURON,
Linn Electronics: LM-1 DRUMCOMPUTER/LINDRUM,
Kawai: K5,
Kurzweil: K2000/K2600,
Cheetah: MS6,
Buchla: 200E SERIES,
Arp: 2500/2600/AXXE/ODYSSEY/QUADRA/SOLINA STRING ENSEMBLE. :)
Of course you can choose VST and effect plug-ins and a good controller. Theoretically there is nothing wrong with that as long as you take your time to make templates for those vsts on your choice controller. Some of the more powerful plug-ins are: WAVES, OXFORD, OHMFORCE, IZOTOPE, PSP AUDIO, SOUNDTOYS, ALCHEMY,OCTOPUS, IMPOSCAR, SUBBOOMBASE, LARGO, TERATEC COMPLEXER, REESE MACHINE, ZEBRALETTE, DISCOVERY, SYLENTH, KARMA FX, Z3TA+, SPECTRASONICS stuff and many more..
- C O N T R O L L E R S -
NOVATION X-STATION - best package of a controller, soundcard, effects processor and even synthesizer. Perfect for live gigs where you can carry only so much. Lots of controls on it, easy to make templates...really really great and not expensive either.
BEHRINGER BCR/BCF2000 - probably the best and price effective controllers ever made. A lot of options, well built, used by many professionals(i.e.Aphex Twin). Get any of these tomorrow :)
AKAI APC40 - great controller and although it was designed to work with Ableton, it can work with any other DAW.
NI MASCHINE - one of the best controllers, even though kind of expensive one. It's especially good with the integrated software that it comes. Great for drums and sequencing in general. It's a MPC clone..I could say a really nice and effective one.
Other controllers that deserve to be mentioned because of their quality and possibilities: NOVATION LAUNCHPAD, NOVATION MKII, C-THRU AXIS, KORG NANO KONTROL and EDIROL PCR.
- S E Q U E N C E R S - S A M P L E R S - W O R K S T A T I O N S -
The only SEQUENCERS I would work with are ABLETON LIVE, ROLAND MV8800 or AKAI MPC.
All three have something in common: have a friendly sequencer, a user friendly sampler interface, are very intuitive and easy to work with.
ABLETONE LIVE is top of the line in that is also very complete and user friendly, almost as an instrument, even though it is a fully featured DAW. The MV8800 and the MPC are different in that they still have the features of the old samplers, but that not necessarily in a bad way.
(Of course there are others, and they are not bad too, just that they miss on certain features and are not that immediate, that user friendly, and in the process of music production that is really important. A few examples: Cubase/Nuendo, Reaper, Logic, Studio1, Yamaha QY700, Yamaha RS7000, Roland MC909, Roland Fantom G, Alesis Fusion, Korg ESX, Elektron Machinedrum)
Another nice tools worth having in a live set-up and not only are the ROLAND SP555 and the KORG KAOSS PAD3.
Don't forget a good MIXER, preferable with editable effects and sweepable eq (SOUDCRAFT, MACKIE, ALLEN & HEATH), the MONITORS (ADAM, DYNAUDIO), and the SOUNDCARD (RME, FOCUSRITE, MOTU).
The last, but not the least: powerful desktop computer with latest, most powerful processor you can afford, few hdd, lots of ram, many ports and you set to go!... or/and powerful laptop for travel if it's your choice in a live set-up.
Don't forget: for studio-Power / for live-Portability!
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