My Intentions Are In Need Of Advice., new to the os but my intentions are... Options

[junome303]

hi everyone,

I need some advice. I have for some time now (since around '98) or so been into the production of electronic music through the use of pc based software. In that time I have progressed from Rebirth...to Fruityloops type sequencing using mostly step time recording as a form of production. I have relied heavily on the use of softsyths, audio editing and exporting of wav files to really beef up or gritty out my sounds. I have also used plugins (effects and such) quite extensively in my songs. Now that I am in a new environment with a powerbook g4 1.25 with 1GB of DDR Ram I would like to change my perspective on how I organize my somewhat cpu reliant development. I'd like to invest in some sort of midi device that will allow for sample key playing and some sort of fader or slider movement of software. I'd like after some advice from a mac friend of mine to dive into digital performer 4 as a start. Any advice for a non-hardware (keyboards/samplers/etc) based and hoping to be "live performer" of electronica? And what's the story on audio interfaces? Thanks, juno.

[lepetitmartien]

In clear… You want to hear about MIDI control surfaces?

As there's a lot on the market (sliders, knobs, pots, encoders, switches, whatever…) could you be a bit specific? What kind of control do you need and how many?

The main host will be DP, what about the softsynths etc?

[junome303]

are you familiar with a group named matmos? They were on tour with Bjork for her most recent tour. They seem to do most of there "live" layering of a seqence as it might be reffered to using a little blue ball almost sensing hand motions over it alongside what appears to be a midi controlled device with around 16 or so faders. Their webby is: http://www.brainwashed.com/matmos/ I also am influenced by such artists as Aphex Twin, Mu-Ziq, Squarepusher and anything somewhat avant-garde in approach. I'd like to just have my powerbook, a mixer of some sort, a midi controller and software mostly. Softsynth I have include absynth, B4, Battery, Pro5 Retro AS-1, Unity,Voodoo,Halion, Koblo Studio-9000. Software applications include Digital Performer 4, Live, Peak, Reaktor, Reason, Rebirth, Stylus, Traktor, Turbosynth,Voicemachine, Logic Platinum 6.2, Vstation, Albino, Beast, FM7, Kontakt, Mini Moog, Muon, Scorpion, Sound Soap, Boom Shakka, FM Heaven 1.2. My software effects include D-Pole, Kantos, Liquid Bundle, Nomad Bundle, OhmBoyz Pro, Orange Vocoder, Smart Electronix Bundle, Spektral Delay, T-Racks Bundle, MasterVerb 306 and Waves. Of all of those which do you recommend I use. When I start off on my powerbook for the first time I don't want to clutter it up with a bunch of useless crap. Please help my narrow my scope based on my goals. Thanks, juno.

[lepetitmartien]

You know I'm involved into a CVtoMIDI controler so… I know a thing or two upon blue balls… (custom job this thing)

All depend of the exact number of Faders/switches/knobs you want at the same time.

Entry level, built like a tank are the Kenton, good solid stuff, not motorized though.
then you jump to pro material like Motormix

On the pure editing side, you have also the JLcooper CS32, to small to be a good mixer but great for editing. (non motorized)

there are other options, but these are rock solid (else it's more expensive

Softwise… you must be very rich to have all this (bad boy!)

Based on your musical taste / needs

sequencing/edition
DP or logic (religious question), maybe more logic for you
Live
Peak

Sampling
depends of your sequencer
Unity for DP
the emagic one for Logic
Reaktor

Synthwise
Absynth
koblo
battery
retro AS-1
FM7
(note there are some in your list I don't know)

Plug ins
waves
orange vocoder
anything from OhmForce
t-racks

for the artist you tell us about, they work either with real analogue stuff a lot or are die-hard samplists… Also some softs are dead easy others are monsters (very very deep and powerfull, some not exactly for the beginner but worth the work)

Note that there are things you may find not that important for your sound, because it's you who decide… Now you go BUY your software for the sake of the developers who are coming here too you know