Artist/animator Seeks Help!, what equip do i need to setup? Options

[rustik]

hey all you masters of music....i am an collage artist/flash animator seeking to come up with her own sound tracks for my animations. although i have had over 15 years on the mac working in graphic/web programs, i have no experience whatsoever in the music arena. I have read a few posts but i get dizzy because i know so little!:( i assume the basics of input are similar to art however.

i would like to find out what hardware i need to be able to compose..add to...and change my own songs...here are some questions:
1) is this mode of thinking correct?
you use a digi keyboard to input a basic "tune". this tune is then brought into the mac via a) the input audio on the back of the mac or b) "some hardware" maybe that MBOX box?
shall i assume the mac audio is lamo or inappropriate for most needs...and i would want some other part to bring in the sound? is it necessary? me thinkin costs here...you know.
2) then a software interface is needed to bring in the tune...as in photoshop being your interface to twain up a scanner....? is this protools? logic? reason? i have seen an mbox on ebay that came with protools...makes me think this is the interface...? really lost here.
3) finally, is protools ( or whatever software...) also able to warp out these inputted tunes¿ i would like to add sounds from my house, like beer cans smacking together, and add them to my tune. what will i need to make the basic tune sound like a guitar? or a sax? or a clarinet?
(please don't tell me, a sax, a clarinet and a guitar!!!!)

i know know i am lost with questions. i have looked all over for a decent "you need THIS" article, but the sheer volume of choices and equipments prevents me from finding it!

HELP!!! i am eager to melt visual and audio into one experience!

J>

[midimantra]

Hi

That sounds fantastic, I would love to do animations for my music or get in to visuals and music together, like you...for me to approach doing visuals would do my head in totally, perhaps you could give ME some pointers as to Software needed etc......

I guess it's a matter of cost, I can imagine visual software is pretty costly...

...anyway I'll try and answer your Q's now.

As you may gather there are a number of ways to go:

Your budget will determine what you get so:

What's your budget?

Here's what I use:

Mac G400 (AGP) - 512 Ram - 100gig HD
Logic Gold 5.5 Software = 24bit Audio Recording, multiple midi tracks
Interface = Motu 828 24bit (Firewire)
Microphone= Rhode NT100 Condenser
Midi Keyboard = Midistudio by Miditech
USB Interface for Keys = MidiSport 1x1 (just 1 in/out)
Lots of Software Synths and Effects

Prices vary, my basic set up including the Mac (second hand) cost me $2/3k US
you may get what you need for less.

Now my Logic Software came with a Software Sampler = EX24 (Logic's)

You would need to record your sounds (audio) with the Mic.
Then in Logic's EX24 you can create a sampler instrument using those sounds i.e Cans, pots etc.
You map them out in the sampler so each key triggers at a different pitch, now you have a pitchable instrument of whatever sound you choose.

Whatever program you decide upon you will need 3 basic things

A program that records Audio & Midi and you will need a Sampler.

There are so many variables and it may take some research to decide the best for you.

I have been checking out programs over the Web and through mags for a year now. So I should be able to steer you through the technical stuff and help you on your way.

You may also get a reply from someone who is doing the same as you and know exactly what you need. If not keep in touch, I will help.

Here's my direct email: xcelmusic@bigpond.com

Regards
Paul

[rickenbacker]

Hi Rustik - welcome to MacMusic

When you say "digi" keyboard, was this short for digital or digidesign? I only ask as you mention digidesign's Mbox in the same sentence. Any keyboard would do, whether it's a Midi keyboard with onboard sounds or a simple Midi controller keyboard for playing virtual synths on your Mac.

A lot of people say the built-in audio that comes with every Mac is not good enough for pro recording, but it's still 16-bit, 44.1KHz - the same spec as CDs. IF you want to release commercial CDs, maybe you need a separate USB or FireWire interface (the MOTU 828 is very popular). If not, the internal soundcard would do while you find your feet. Check the other posts here in the Getting Started forum for more info on specific products.

Same again for software. Like graphic design, there are many programs, all of which have their strengths and weaknesses and all of which have their friends and enemies.

As for changing one sound into another, er, it's easier to play the guitar, surely? You can do what midimantra suggests and map your sample across the Midi keyboard, but it'll still sound like a tin can. What you can do is EQ, add FX, reverse, trim and generally monkey around with the original sound. Can't guarantee it'll sound like a clarinet, though.

Come back with more questions as you hone in on the specifics.

[Deyaert]

Hi, I'm a webdesiger and Flash animator too. I use the Mbox and Storm Studio (arturia.com) with an Evolution keyboard. For the drums I have, besides what Storm has to offer, a software called Doggiebox (doggiebox.com).
If you only want to make small loops for your sites and do some effect stuff, maybe Storm would fit your needs. It has different drum computers, synthesizers, a sampler and you can even record vocals with it, although I never tried the last. You don't have to be a musician to put things together that sound like... music.
Best of all: it's cheap!

Bert

[rustik]

hey! it is great to come into work and find all these answers!!! thanx one and all...now onto our discussion!
I shall be purchasing my equipment one piece as a time, as my money flows in from book sales. My future purchases will depend on whether I feel i can learn and assimilate enough about the music software scene to be competent ....as i get a handle on each thing...i will add my components. --esp. the more expensive ones!
So the first thing i think i should get would be the digi (digital-not digidesign necessarily!) keyboard-and probably some various cabling in order to hook this to the G3. am i right in assuming that almost immediately i will at least be able to create a simple tune on it and import it to the mac? is there any brand of keyboards to avoid? i.e. is Casio acceptable? or yamaha? or ???
I think at this point i would need a software interface for bringing in the music. Since i will not have an MBOX right away...what software would accomplish this? (and also, just for learning purposes, what item in midimantras list accomplishes the same thing as an MBOX?) would this software also be able to alter the tune in any way? or is something additional needed at THAT point?

thanx, all..and just for the record, i would be happy to answer anyone's visually related questions! i have been doing mac graphics since 1988! bring it on! there isn't much about visual software i haven't seen, done, or at least heard of!

J>

[etyrnal]

"hey all you masters of music....i am an collage artist/flash animator seeking to come up with her own sound tracks for my animations. although i have had over 15 years on the mac working in graphic/web programs, i have no experience whatsoever in the music arena. I have read a few posts but i get dizzy because i know so little!:( i assume the basics of input are similar to art however."

for you i absolutely recommend Reason 2.0.1

no question.

you can do nearly ANYTHING. no joke.

if you have any questions etyrnal@ameritech.net

[rickenbacker]

To be pedantic, the Mbox is not software, it's hardware. It comes with software - Pro Tools LE, a cut-down but still very powerful version of Pro Tools, the software wot a lot of the big boys use.

You can use any software you like - Cubase, Logic, Digital Performer, Reason, Storm etc with most any of the USB or FireWire interfaces on the market from manufacturers like Edirol, M-Audio, Yamaha etc.

As for keyboards, you might prefer to get a dummy Midi keyboard (ie no sounds of its own) and play virtual synths loaded on your Mac. Reason is a popular "all-in-one" virtual studio (though you can't record "live" audio into it), Storm is similar and cheaper (and you can record live audio) or I'm currently enjoying VirSyn's Tera synth. Lovely sounds.

With a USB Midi keyboard (genuine plug and play in OS X) and one of these programs (or anything else similar) you could be making fabulous music in no time. Just add more apps as you feel like it.

[rustik]

I am not sure about what software i will end up with! i had MAJOR trouble on the arcuria site....very slow loading or non-loading pages and when i finally got the storm demo from version tracker (ftp:arcuria!), it was corrupt 3 times in a row. so i am not getting anywhere trying out the storm stuff. downloaded the reason 2.0 demo this afternoon. it is WAY lookin like i need to spend time bonding with some manuals!:) aside from the usual demo hassles....i may be able to begin learning some of this right away, even before i purchase anything.


is there anything specific i should be looking for in the way of the keyboard???
i don't understand the idea of a dummy midi keyboard? what is this? virtual synths. ....i am sorry this lingo is still sinking into my gray matter.

as for the MBOX --hardhware--and protools software....i think the sheer cost is keeping me away from it for now. as a beginner, i will keep things simple and attempt to learn stuff one at a time. i am definitely leaning towards Reason at this point.

man, thanx for all this simple and good advice! i would still be reading my 100th sound article if i wasn't HERE!


J>

[etyrnal]

is there anything specific i should be looking for in the way of the keyboard???
i don't understand the idea of a dummy midi keyboard? what is this? virtual synths. ....i am sorry this lingo is still sinking into my gray matter.

you can definitley get away with something simple like the Oxygen 8 from MIDIMAN - unless you are a pianist or keyboardist... then tou may want to consider the Radium (more keys) or the newer edirol stuff...

I personally recommend the Oxygen 8 - have it. ues it.

I USED to use a Roland W-30 (12bit sample workstation for controller, but I needed portable)

So i KNOW most of Roland's controllers are TOP GRADE and also that MIDIMAN's drivers work well w/ Mac and PC.

[rickenbacker]

A dummy Midi keyboard is just a £100 hunk of keyboard-shaped plastic that can't do anything on its own - you can't turn it on and make sounds with it. It has to be connected to either a Midi sound module, which might contain things like pianos, synth sounds, basses, trumpets etc, or your computer (probably via USB connection) to control a virtual synth. Which is...

...a program you load on your Mac which simulates a real-life synth. Like Painter simulates real-life watercolour. Depending on the app you buy, you can emulate grand pianos, analogue synths, Hamond organs or completely new synth creations.

You're playing the keyboard on your desk, the keys are triggering Midi signals, which are sent to the Mac and the app in question, which is producing the sounds you've selected to hear played back. Kind of like a Wacom tablet for drawing.

Reason is surprisingly easy to get to grips with. Storm isn't so straightforward and takes a lot of CPU. Once you get a handle on this whole computer music thing, all the software works pretty much the same.