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Recording |
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I've been studying and playing with the idea of recording music. I've been trying to
set up a home recording studio. Something modest, but capable of recording something
good enough to record and eventually master a CD.
I have a timeline for this project-ten years! Of course, not only is this pretty far out, it has no basis for completion, given I won't log an actual starting point anywhere. I currently am learning to master Digital Performer by Mark Of The Unicorn. So far things are progressing slowly. I used to use Logic Audio by Emagic, but found that the translation from German in the manual was too difficult to decipher. The program was awkward too, which didn't help. Emagic also has a policy of using copy protection which really irritates me. I decided that I would no longer do business with them due to two seperate occasions of unsatisfactory customer service with regards to products that they no longer maintain. So now I am a MOTU kind of guy! Digital Performer has good integration with MOTU hardware, some of which I own. I currently have a 2408mkII 
which I think is an awesome piece of I/O hardware. I use it as a front-end for multiple things. Since it is basically three channels of 8 I/O ports, I use the 8in/8out for line level stuff like synths and drums machines (as well as my guitar directly out of my SansAmp PSA-1), the S/PDIF IO as a link to my Tascam 788, and I use an ADAT light pipe to hook up my DigiMax LT microphone pre-amp for all the microphones (I have several). I also mic my Guitar amp/cabinet when I want something a little more analog.
I also own a MIDI ExpressXT USB, which has enough ports for what I want to do. I used to use a MicroExpress USB,
which did not have enough ports. It just works and I never have to futz or bother with it.
As far as recording into Digital Performer and any additions to it, I currently have the Cycling '74 stuff. The interface in it is incredibly lame, and the software is quite buggy. On the other hand though, with quite a bit of playing around with it, I have managed to come up with absolutely NO USEFUL SOUNDS!!! I will give that one another try, because the it is very possibly an operator problem. Maybe some day I will invest in the Waves MAS pack of plugins. For synths, I use Retro AS-1 as well as a few hardware synths. I have a Roland SC-880, which they discontinued as soon as I laid down my cash for it. Of course, MOTU's Unisyn does not have a profile for it, but that is OK, because Unisyn hasn't got profiles for any of my equipment. I think the SC-880 has some quite nice specs, the sounds are a little dissapointing though. I also have an E-Mu Virtuoso 2000, which I extended with the addition of a B3 organ ROM. Originally, I controlled my sound modules with a cheap little Fatar keyboard. Keyboards are not my thing (or at least, they are not currently my thing). Some day I will invest some time to become a little adept at them, at least enough to get around on them. Even given my keyboard challenged nature, I found a 37 key controller to be very limiting and annoying. I eventually picked up a larger keyboard in the guise of a Roland RS-9.The Roland RS-9 is an inexpensive, portable 88-note semi-weighted keyboard with sleek design and realtime controllers. The sounds are good, some are very good, but most are simply passable. The true value to me is the full size keyboard. I know it isn't a fully weighted piano like action, but I don't miss it at all. 
The idea of a keyboard is for step input into my music notation program, or Digital Performer as well as simply coming up with chordal and non-guitar phrases. I find that trying to figure out passages on the keyboard always come out different than those I figure out on the guitar. Strangely, the concept of using Reason (which I also own), or sequencing directly into Digital Performer never works for me. I know, it has more to do with my lack of experience and experimentation, but I simply feel more comfortable inputting music into a standard notation program. I use Sibelius (which I think is an incredible piece of software). Now don't get me wrong, I think Reason is also an incredible piece of software. But so far it has not inspired me to write any music.
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