So I've recently put my Amiga into a gentle retirment and have bought 
this here pc. I've been using a digital recorder to record myself but I 
wondered about the options availabe to me for going "straight into" the 
computer.

I gather I'd need to buy some sort of interface, but what about the 
software. I'd like to be able to put some drums, bass and keyboards down 
but I would sacrifice some flexibility and creative freedom for ease of 
use. I used to se somethig called protracker on the Amiga for this and 
although the sounds were only 8-bit and limited in duration, it worked 
pretty well.

So I don't want to have to learn complex music programming if I can 
avoid it.  :)

I've heard people mention Cubase and Fruity Loops.... any thoughts?

Hellishly expensive?

Cheers.

"Grunt"  wrote in message 
news:_a-dnZzjCt5aD1rXnZ2dnUVZ8jydnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
>
> "Angus"  wrote in message 
> news:MPG.253199a8a6edc9fa98968b@news.demon.co.uk...
>>
>>
>> So I've recently put my Amiga into a gentle retirment and have bought
>> this here pc. I've been using a digital recorder to record myself but I
>> wondered about the options availabe to me for going "straight into" the
>> computer.
>>
>> I gather I'd need to buy some sort of interface, but what about the
>> software. I'd like to be able to put some drums, bass and keyboards down
>> but I would sacrifice some flexibility and creative freedom for ease of
>> use. I used to se somethig called protracker on the Amiga for this and
>> although the sounds were only 8-bit and limited in duration, it worked
>> pretty well.
>>
>> So I don't want to have to learn complex music programming if I can
>> avoid it.  :)
>>
>> I've heard people mention Cubase and Fruity Loops.... any thoughts?
>>
>> Hellishly expensive?
>>
>
> Could do no worse than download Audacity ..'tis free and works well as a 
> multi track mixer/recorder.
>
> Cubas and Fruity Loops are hellishly expensive as is Pro Tools (rapidly 
> gaining in popularity).
>
> Grunt
>
> Grunt
>

or get a sequencer like Reaper or Sonar Home Studion both record audio and 
MIDI.

Cheers,
Jerry

"Angus"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.253199a8a6edc9fa98968b@news.demon.co.uk...

> I've heard people mention Cubase and Fruity Loops.... any thoughts?

Alessis Multimix 4 USB inc. Cubase LE for £75 looks like a convenient 
option.

https://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/79687

It's only 16 bit/41/48kHz but would probably do what you need ATM.

icarusi
--

remove the 00 to reply

In article , 
adrian@porkbitslear-house.eclipse.co.uk says...
> 
> "Angus"  wrote in message 
> news:MPG.253199a8a6edc9fa98968b@news.demon.co.uk...
> >
> >
> > So I don't want to have to learn complex music programming if I can
> > avoid it.  :)
> >
> > I've heard people mention Cubase and Fruity Loops.... any thoughts?
> >
> > Hellishly expensive?
> >
> 
> Could do no worse than download Audacity ..'tis free and works well as a 
> multi track mixer/recorder.
> 
> Cubas and Fruity Loops are hellishly expensive as is Pro Tools (rapidly 
> gaining in popularity).


Is one able to bung together a bass drum and keyboard backing track 
fairly easily with these in order to overdub hugely self-indulgent 
blues-rock guitar solos though?  :)

Seriously, is that fairly straightforward on Cubase, Fruity Loops and 
Audacity? Do they come with the required instrument samples or do you 
get those from elsewhere?

Appreciate the help.

Angus.

In article , 
icarusi00@hotmail.com says...
> 
> "Angus"  wrote in message 
> news:MPG.253199a8a6edc9fa98968b@news.demon.co.uk...
> 
> > I've heard people mention Cubase and Fruity Loops.... any thoughts?
> 
> Alessis Multimix 4 USB inc. Cubase LE for £75 looks like a convenient 
> option.
> 
> https://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/79687
> 
> It's only 16 bit/41/48kHz but would probably do what you need ATM.
> 
Icarusi, sorry are you saying Cubase LE is included in the 75 quid? I 
couldn't see it in the link.  8-(

"Angus"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.253489f52e863bad98968f@news.demon.co.uk...
In article ,

> Alessis Multimix 4 USB inc. Cubase LE for £75 looks like a convenient
> option.
>
> https://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/79687
>
> It's only 16 bit/41/48kHz but would probably do what you need ATM.
>
>>Icarusi, sorry are you saying Cubase LE is included in the 75 quid? I
couldn't see it in the link.  8-( <<

It was included in the original ad when I posted this, but is now missing. 
Best to contact them as to why it's now gone. Was it a misprint? Is there 
another s/w subbed? There's always Audacity if it's supplied without any 
oher s/w.

icarusi
--

remove the 00 to reply

"Angus"  wrote in message 
news:MPG.2534891f42ee96cd98968e@news.demon.co.uk...
> In article ,
> adrian@porkbitslear-house.eclipse.co.uk says...
>>
>> "Angus"  wrote in message
>> news:MPG.253199a8a6edc9fa98968b@news.demon.co.uk...
>> >
>> >
>> > So I don't want to have to learn complex music programming if I can
>> > avoid it.  :)
>> >
>> > I've heard people mention Cubase and Fruity Loops.... any thoughts?
>> >
>> > Hellishly expensive?
>> >
>>
>> Could do no worse than download Audacity ..'tis free and works well as a
>> multi track mixer/recorder.
>>
>> Cubas and Fruity Loops are hellishly expensive as is Pro Tools (rapidly
>> gaining in popularity).
>
>
> Is one able to bung together a bass drum and keyboard backing track
> fairly easily with these in order to overdub hugely self-indulgent
> blues-rock guitar solos though?  :)
>
> Seriously, is that fairly straightforward on Cubase, Fruity Loops and
> Audacity? Do they come with the required instrument samples or do you
> get those from elsewhere?
>
> Appreciate the help.
>

Cubase and Fruity Loops have the capacity to chuck together samples and 
loops. Audacity is purely a recording tool.

An alternative might be Mixcraft which is a cheap download software 
recording suite which has samples and loops contained within it. You can 
also download Beatcraft from the same people and put together drum tracks.

Some people I know use Band In A Box for exactly what you seem to be wanting 
to do - it is also a useful composition tool.

Also Sonar seems to have a good reputation - but I know very little about 
Sonar.

I seem to have posed you more questions than given you answers here. LOL

Grunt

On 6 Oct, 00:24, "icarusi"  wrote:
> "Angus"  wrote in message
>
> news:MPG.253489f52e863bad98968f@news.demon.co.uk...
> In article ,
>
> > Alessis Multimix 4 USB inc. Cubase LE for £75 looks like a convenient
> > option.
>
> >https://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/79687
>
> > It's only 16 bit/41/48kHz but would probably do what you need ATM.
>
> >>Icarusi, sorry are you saying Cubase LE is included in the 75 quid? I
>
> couldn't see it in the link.  8-( <<
>
> It was included in the original ad when I posted this, but is now missing> Best to contact them as to why it's now gone. Was it a misprint? Is there
> another s/w subbed? There's always Audacity if it's supplied without any
> oher s/w.
>
> icarusi
> --
>
> remove the 00 to reply

In this case I would highly recommend the Line 6 Pod Studio GX (or one
of it's bigger brother if you need more I/O options).  It comes with
Ableton Live Lite (an easy to use sequencer, but limited to 8 tracks)
and the excellent Pod Farm software.  Seriously, the pod farm software
is worth the price alone, it's seriously good, and can be expanded
with expansion packs.

Otherwise I believe some of the USB equipped Zoom multifx units such
as the G2.1u include Cubase LE.

Greg

"icarusi"  wrote in message 
news:5b2dnfTYlN3bHVfXnZ2dnUVZ8mCdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...

> It was included in the original ad when I posted this, but is now missing. 
> Best to contact them as to why it's now gone. Was it a misprint? Is there 
> another s/w subbed? There's always Audacity if it's supplied without any 
> oher s/w.

From GAK in response to my email as to whether Cubase LE was still 
included:-

"Hi, many thanks for your email.

Yes Cubase LE.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further assistance.

Many thanks

Alex Hill
GAK.CO.UK"

Looks like a yes, but doesn't explain why it suddenly disappeared from the 
ad. Best to do a phone check/confirm if you're interested.

icarusi
--

remove the 00 to reply

"icarusi"  wrote in message 
news:oISdnZOkU_8ehFDXnZ2dnUVZ8k-dnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
> "icarusi"  wrote in message 
> news:5b2dnfTYlN3bHVfXnZ2dnUVZ8mCdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>
>> It was included in the original ad when I posted this, but is now 
>> missing. Best to contact them as to why it's now gone. Was it a misprint? 
>> Is there another s/w subbed? There's always Audacity if it's supplied 
>> without any oher s/w.
>
> From GAK in response to my email as to whether Cubase LE was still 
> included:-
>
> "Hi, many thanks for your email.
>
> Yes Cubase LE.
>
> Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further 
> assistance.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Alex Hill
> GAK.CO.UK"
>
> Looks like a yes, but doesn't explain why it suddenly disappeared from the 
> ad. Best to do a phone check/confirm if you're interested.
>
Now that has to be a good deal! :-)

Feel a purchase coming on, damn!

Grunt

Hi,

(posting from google since the stupid usenet server at work has
stopped working)

On 3 Oct, 18:43, Angus  wrote:
> So I've recently put my Amiga into a gentle retirment and have bought
> this here pc. I've been using a digital recorder to record myself but I
> wondered about the options availabe to me for going "straight into" the
> computer.
>
> I gather I'd need to buy some sort of interface, but what about the
> software. I'd like to be able to put some drums, bass and keyboards down
> but I would sacrifice some flexibility and creative freedom for ease of
> use. I used to se somethig called protracker on the Amiga for this and
> although the sounds were only 8-bit and limited in duration, it worked
> pretty well.
<snip>

Most audio interfaces now come with some kind of software package.
When I bought the Emu 0404 it came (and still does) with both Cubase
LE and Sonar. I decided to use Cubase and it was perfectly adequate
for my needs. Sometimes the limitation of 2 VST effects per track was
annoying but that was ok.

Then I bought EZDrummer and turned out that Cubase LE does not support
the drag-and-drop of MIDI files into a track. EZDrummer comes with a
library of grooves (i.e MIDI clips) that you can browse and then
simply drop into a track in the host software. But with Cubase LE that
didn't work so this forced me to change.

I went with Reaper and have been very pleased with it. It is
constantly being developed, there is an active user forum etc. There
are no limitations on VST instruments or effects and some features are
better than in the "big" commercial DAWs.

Read a review of it here:

http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/computers-software/digital-audio-workstations-daws/reaper-3-221606/review

I suggest download a copy and have a look at the sample project that
is included. No harm in that, it's free and you can do it even before
you decide which audio interface you buy.

You can easily drop a wav or mp3 backing track into it and then record
yourself on another track. For simple stuff like that it is a bit
overkill but so what? It'll get you started and then you can dive into
the wonderful world of VST effects, tons of them available on the net
for free :-)

Drums are difficult to get right though. Rock/blues samples are
difficult to find and virtual instruments (like EZDrummer) cost money.

Cheers,
          Kari

ps. sorry if layout on this is f*cked up, haven't used googlegroups
before

On Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:30:43 +0100, "Grunt"
 wrote:

>
>"Angus"  wrote in message 
>news:MPG.2534891f42ee96cd98968e@news.demon.co.uk...
>> In article ,
>> adrian@porkbitslear-house.eclipse.co.uk says...
>>>
>>> "Angus"  wrote in message
>>> news:MPG.253199a8a6edc9fa98968b@news.demon.co.uk...
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > So I don't want to have to learn complex music programming if I can
>>> > avoid it.  :)
>>> >
>>> > I've heard people mention Cubase and Fruity Loops.... any thoughts?
>>> >
>>> > Hellishly expensive?
>>> >
>>>
>>> Could do no worse than download Audacity ..'tis free and works well as a
>>> multi track mixer/recorder.
>>>
>>> Cubas and Fruity Loops are hellishly expensive as is Pro Tools (rapidly
>>> gaining in popularity).
>>
>>
>> Is one able to bung together a bass drum and keyboard backing track
>> fairly easily with these in order to overdub hugely self-indulgent
>> blues-rock guitar solos though?  :)
>>
>> Seriously, is that fairly straightforward on Cubase, Fruity Loops and
>> Audacity? Do they come with the required instrument samples or do you
>> get those from elsewhere?
>>
>> Appreciate the help.
>>
>
>Cubase and Fruity Loops have the capacity to chuck together samples and 
>loops. Audacity is purely a recording tool.
>
Going the "free" route though with Audacity, you could use Hammerhead as
a drum machine - I've done this successfully.

Slightly better if you use Linux is Hydrogen; there is a Windows
installer but it's described as "experimental".
-- 
Chris Bolus (change o to zero to reply by email)
A guitar is for life, not just for Christmas!

Chris Bolus wrote:
> Slightly better if you use Linux is Hydrogen; there is a Windows
> installer but it's described as "experimental".

The windows version is only useful if you are happy with exporting your 
drum tracks as wav files. The midi export is fubar, and it looks like 
development has ceased on the windows version so it probably won't get 
fixed any time soon. Which is a shame as I quite like Hydrogen.

Andy B  wrote:

> Chris Bolus wrote:
> > Slightly better if you use Linux is Hydrogen; there is a Windows
> > installer but it's described as "experimental".
> 
> The windows version is only useful if you are happy with exporting your
> drum tracks as wav files. The midi export is fubar, and it looks like
> development has ceased on the windows version so it probably won't get
> fixed any time soon. Which is a shame as I quite like Hydrogen.

On the other hand, the Mac version works really well, so thanks for that
info, I didn't know about that!

-- 
Woody

www.alienrat.com

In article <2d7244eb-39e0-48c3-af6a-49e8ed0c9960
@v20g2000vbs.googlegroups.com>, gregedwards@tiscali.co.uk says...
> 
> 
> In this case I would highly recommend the Line 6 Pod Studio GX (or one
> of it's bigger brother if you need more I/O options).  It comes with
> Ableton Live Lite (an easy to use sequencer, but limited to 8 tracks)
> and the excellent Pod Farm software.  Seriously, the pod farm software
> is worth the price alone, it's seriously good, and can be expanded
> with expansion packs.
> 


I've been researching, watching Youtube demos and stuff, and while I 
like the look of Cubase, I think I might get a Line 6 UX-1 with the 
Ableton and Pod Farm software. I had a chat with a very helpful chap 
(Steve) in Bristol`s Reverb and its looks like a good route.

I also bought the current Computer Music magazine, and they seem to 
provide a lot of useful software and samples on the dvd so hopefully, 
it'll start making more sense soon.  :)