Hi. I just wanted to make sure of a few things before I buy the Digidesign Mbox.
Will I be able to hook my Microkorg digi/analogue sound module mini keyboard to the audio in on the Mbox for audio recording, and at the same time connect it to a seperate midi interface to use as a midi controller devise with Reason 2.5? I would just want to simultaneously go back and forth between using the microkorg for recording audio then using it as a midi controller without disconnecting and re-connecting wires.

Also, will propellerhead's Rewire enable me to use Reason and Ableton Live with Protools LE? Will it allow me to use other VST programs with Protools LE?
I really want to keep my set up as simple and easy as possible for doing techno based home recording, and production on my ibook 800MhZ(640 mb ram) in the bedroom studio. Eventually I might just add a sampler module or a drum sequencer module(electribe/ akai mpc1000) to the set up, but not nessessarilly.

Thanks for any replies on this post.
-J

This post has been edited by rosiedog: Tue 18 Nov 2003, 06:45

you're attempting to use a shortcut to imitate a refined artform, so whatever you do will result in repugnant, loop-based crap like everyone else's. learn to make real music using tools you can actually understand or find a new hobby.

anyway, to answer your questions...

1. yes, the microkorg will connect with midi and audio, simultaneously... this is how you turn sequences into audio

2. yes, reason and ableton live (digidesign editions i assume) will work with pro tools le via rewire.

3. you may be able to use vst plugins with ableton live, but never with pro tools (this is one of digidesign's biggest brain farts)

if you ask me, your situation seems to call for motu products as opposed to digidesign. you'll find that digital performer is generally more geared toward midi production, while pro tools is better for high-end audio. both programs have been trying to bridge the gap, but they each still have their distinct advantages in each idiom.

p.s. i apologize for the rudeness of my opening comment... the thought of more ill-refined reason techno makes me sick to the stomach, but that doesn't grant me the right to judge your musicianship. that said, i'll leave it there because i still hold my opinion just the same.

cpotter82: Thanks and NO thanks to your reply.
Your first statement makes you just look like a know-it-all ass. I don't like opinionated snobs and do not really take their advise to heart without knowing anything about them other than that they act like jack-asses. You do not know me, nor the type of electonica I am into, nor do you have any solid idea of what type of techno-based music I would want to make. And as of right now, I have no other plans to make electronic music other then for the fun of it.
If you haven't noticed, My post is in the 'Geting Started' forum.
This implies that for the most part I am a newbie who is looking for the FRIENDLY advise of more experienced Mac Musicians. I have never even used Reason, let alone made electronica of any kind. I am completely new to this, thus the amateur questions about software and equipment that I have not used, nor owned. I hope I have not offended anyone else with my questions and obvious cluelessness about midi or computer based music/audio production.
I just hate pointless snobbery. I am not, and never will I be impressed by that type snobbery, even if they are knowlegable and have talent.
It is people like cpotter82 who turn off inexperienced hobbiest and beginners who might just possibly be creative enough to contribute something in the future.

Sorry about the rant. I was just looking for answers to simple questions(weather or not the questions sounded ignorant or not).

For the second part of your reply to my questions: Thanks for the information. I will research more on motu, and digital performer before I jump into anything above my head(basically thats what I am doing on this forum in the first place..duh).

As for your Post Script: Apology accepted. Try not to turn people off with that kind of opinionated rudeness, and abrasive snobbery, and you might not have to add Post-script apologies.


Is there anyone else that can(positively) point me in the right direction, or that can offer their advise for me(a newbie) using either the mbox, or motu with digital performer for my simple amateur needs, that would be greatly appreciated.

Again, sorry about the hot-headed comeback to cpotter82's post. I dont want to start conflicts and flame wars. I just want to learn about electronic music making.

-J

This post has been edited by rosiedog: Tue 18 Nov 2003, 10:42

cpotter82... I agree with rosiedog... your advice is somewhat judgmental and just plain insulting... if that is the kinda help you are gonna offer people... you really shouldn't say anything at all

rosie... i thought we had you squared away on this topic? you can email me if you need some more help and want to avoid the comments from people like cpotter there.

Well, I did feel pretty much squared away...but I did have a few of those unanswered questions left. Or at least questions that I needed some clarification about.
Synthetic, you pretty much had me sold on protools LE with the Mbox. I just want to make sure that is the right program for me to get started. Regardless of cpotter82's comments, Is motu hardware, and and digital performer a better route for me instead of the Mbox? And also, Is rewire of such poor quality, that it will just degrade the sounds of Reason or Live when recorded as audio or midi? into Protools LE?
At this point I am beginning to feel more confused then I felt before I started this thread.

You have always been very helpful Synthetic and I want to thank you for offering your help. I especially liked the article you wrote about midi, although I feel I should re-read it to still get a better understanding of it's applications.

I was pretty satisfied with my decision to get the Mbox, but now I am not so sure if this is a good idea or not.

Please set me at ease about the Mbox. Thanks.

by the way, cpotter or anyone else interested:
I do not plan on trying to make repetitve techno/trance/house that sounds like the presets on many synths or vst programs. I would like to mainly play with experiemental electronica just for the fun of it.


This post has been edited by rosiedog: Tue 18 Nov 2003, 15:49

I use ProTools LE and Reason via ReWire...it's my lifeline. However, I'm not doing electronica, so I can't speak to some of the finer details of the style (I do mostly rock stuff...and use the Reason bits to add drums and strings, etc. Gives it a different flavor that people seem to enjoy so far. It's a great way to demo stuff without a band, too.)

While you can't add the VST plug-ins to the ReWire channel, there are so many effects built into Reason that I don't ever find myself feeling like I'm missing out.

I'm still fairly new to ProTools, but I'm sold for life. I have a good friend that does electronica, and he uses the whole shabang...MOTU, Reason, ProTools, Cubase, etc. You can do different things with different tools...not to confuse you more, but that's the truth.

I'd back recommendation for the ProTools/Reason setup though.

- jp

Thats cool. thanks for the reply Blamm. It looks like Mbox is a good starting point as any.
-J

rosiedog:
sorry about that post, i can be a presumptious bastard sometimes and i happened to be really pissed about something entirely irrelevant last night... i also didn't notice you were in the newbie forum because i linked to it from the front page. regardless, please accept my apology and good luck.

Hey man, thanks for the apology. Don't sweat it, I totally understand. I think I might have been in a similar mood when I replied to your post. I normally do not react that way in forums but, like yourself I had a long night. It is good to know you mean well. Everybody can get into a bad mood, it happens to us all.
peas,
-Jason