help needed....cubasis and roland rs5....., how do you set up your sequencer and synth for midi??? Options

[paulhelp]

hi there, my name is paul and i am just trying to find out how to set up my comp and synth for midi recording ...help!

i have cubasis vst 5 and have bought a roland rs5 synth.....which is currently sitting here doing v little .....(and i have not the money to just leave it dormant!).....so if anyone could help me out that would be great...any ideas to help me set up for midi...or using the rs 5....please please respond...

thannks ..hope to hear from someone soon...

p.s i am a new member so im not quite sue how this works so if anyone can hlep u can also e mail me at clifford_records@lycos.com

thanks

bye!

[macmax]

what kind of computer mac/ pc ?
mac i hope
beige power mac, beige g3 , blue/white g3, iMac or g4?
which ever you will almost certainly need a midi interface, unless the roland has a to host socket on the back?
this will work with earlier macs thru the serial port once appropriate drivers are installed.
otherwise its off to the music shop my lad.

max

[paulhelp]

unfortunatley i have a pc!!!!!! i have the midi cable...i need to set p the midi using cubasis vst 5...so when i record a voice i need to assighn it to a channel etc.....and want to make sure it plays what its supposed to..i.e strings channell 5...bass channel 2 etc..........?!!

[geedoubleyou]

This is a Mac-only site, don't think you'll get much help here.

[macmax]

Au contraire mon ami.
The question in hand is a simple matter of cubase set up.
Any cubase user Mac or Pc , or even any Computer/midi user should be able to guide in the right direction, i'm not small minded enuff to ignore a Pc user, He is still a musician after all.
Misguided tho his choice in platform may be.
Paul.
Are you using Cubasis 3 or cubase 5?
(there is a difference)
Next question, as i dont know the synth in particular, is it purely GM or is it rolands extended GM voice set? (GS)
these have std instrument definitions available
Beyond that you will probably have to define patch lists manually. as its quite new, so its not all that likely to be already available on a cubase site
Not to be a pedant , but this is clearly explained in the cubase Pdf files, not sure about cubasis as i've never used it.
Basically If you set up your default song (DEF.ALL) which opens up when you start up the sequencer, to have your preffered assignment of voices to channels, then save it, it will then open in that position evermore (barring changes or deletion)
The synth has 256 Gm2 voices, Now i havent boned up on what GM2 has in addition to GM1, as i also almost never use GM sounds, but the important thing to know, is that 256 voices are in a std format, and the other 256 are not.
As GM2 is becoming the std nowdays, i imagine that alittle net trawling will provide you with a patch definition list for that.
If you check out the Cubase forums, you may even find a std rs5 patchlist (i dont kno, havent looked)
In terms of ensuring the right instrument plays on a given channel, that is entirely down to the track involved. If you created it, then you must assign instruments to tracks when you write it,( the best way is to define the voice and bank (as well as other relevent controller data) in the list editor for the relevant track or object)or at a later stage.
If its an imported midi file, then you should be able to import it and play from scratch. with appropriate voices already in it as decent files have patch voicings within the midi data on each track(Before all the notes there should be Voice info, and controller info in the list editor for each track) Once you've set up the instruments in cubase, (open the inspector panel on the left of the arrange page when you have a midi track selected and you will see various panels that refer to patch number, bank number, and number system (0-127 or 1-128 or A1-f5 or whatever) This includes a patch name panel.
To use this , cubase must be instructed to refer to a patch name script.
This is what you want to look for on the forums, although that may take longer than writing one from scratch.
Unfortunately, i've never had to do this on a PC, (coz a; use a mac myself, b; all my clients with pcs have instruments with easily downloadable patch name scripts)on a Mac the process is achieved by opening the OMS subscription panel from within cubase
(Midi options>OMS set up>patch names? or similar)(i dont have it in front of me at present, as i'm at home not in the studio)
and laboriously typing in patch names, for each patch number and in each bank, as well as defining the bank change formats etc.
(thats one reason for looking for one online)
i havent ordered my thoughts terribly well on this .but i hope i've pointed you in a useful direction.

max

[geedoubleyou]

You're right Max, I saw PC and my mind immediately went to PC hardware conflicts. But after a re-read it's a more basic problem.

[paulhelp]

wow....i was not expecting such a good response...i think i have it figured out now.....so thank you v much!...i am thinking of gettin a mac...but i use the family comp to do my music on..but seing as you are so helpfull, do you know of a good set up? i.e souncards...programs etc....but not too exspensive.maybe i could find a seconh hand comp or a g3 or somthing..i want to get a resonable set up so i can build on it n the futre....not so it all goes out of date!as keeping up with he times is v hard on a limeted budget.i look forword to your response...and thank you again.....

paul

[macmax]

Its very dependant on where you are Paul.
Advice on Gear and prices in the uk , wont be of any use if youre in the states.
Beige G3 Macs are cheap enough, and the Processors are easily upgraded , the only real limitations then are the Buss speeds and Slot numbers.
In the uk one can pick up a 233/266 G3 for about £200 as a basic box (no monitor etc)
Add a Sonnet processor Upgrade for another £200
Ram £60
Scsi Card £50
FAST Scsi III drive or similar, £60
Decent Audio PCI Card £200 (I recently saw a lexicion Core 2 go for £175)
17' Apple Monitor £99.
Total
£870
which i guess is about $1200 ?
For which you can have a 400 Mhz G4 processor sitting in beige G3 box, with 512 Mb ram and a 9Gb fast scsi drive for audio as well as about a 4Gb system drive., a 17 inch apple branded monitor.
With luck (and careful shopping) you may find decent Audio apps already on the system disk.
FAiling that you'll have to buy Cubase or Logic or Digital Performer 3 if you want decent facilities for audio and midi.
Careful shopping and astute haggling should save a little on these guide prices, allowing you to put that towards Software.
Hope this gives you some ideas, and also more replies on the subject.
There are so many choices and options in terms of starting points and upgrade paths that i simply couldnt cover all the bases in as short a time as i have free tonite.
best regards
max

[paulhelp]

thank you again..! you are very helpfull max....just another question(sorry)...could you tell me wheather its best to get a mac or a pc.i heard if i get a mac i have to buy all the softwear..?....if i used a pc...(a good one that should be sufficiant)..ill have the comp...and the programs...but then where do you go from there to get form recording into the mic input on the computer(which is what i do now) to getting quality audio recording....i need more hardwear right? i know i need a mixer.but how do i get it to sound profesional???????????..i see all theses home studios ad they have a computer and use the same softwear....but they have a lot of hardwear....what is all of it?! i know a lot probally depeds on what u like etc..but what are the fundimental steps into setting up your home studio using a mac or pc....

sorry to keep buggin you!..lol

thanks again paul.....

[lepetitmartien]

Please, if you are to begin with a 'what kind of mac should I use' topic this is:

1/ Not the thread (OT OT OT)
2/ Not the forum (music with macintosh would be better suited)

For the how can I do something it's not the thread

please please… keep the site tidy and don't go in every directions in a single thread…

I have created 2 new topics

For the mac for poor beginers:

http://www.macmusic.org/forums/topic.cgi?f...rum=1&topic=589

For the hardware question:

http://www.macmusic.org/forums/topic.cgi?f...orum=6&topic=76

Now this topic is locked… tadaa
(lasergun noise)

Denis, green and mean