Computer generated sound?

F

fdsa

Active member
Hi there,

Just looking into sound creating, curious what program would be good for creating sounds, like all kind of music instruments, foreign instruments, bugs, fx... and more, also have to be realistic sounds, not those doo doo midi tunes. In short, just want a program that can produce sound realisticly, preferrablely by pressing keys on the keyboard.

Or another way would be, how to create sound(music) for your videos, simply, and just with the computer, keyboard and mouse?
cheers :beer:
 
the quality of the midi sound depends also on the synthesizer you have installed. you can get great sounding midi sounds.

i personally used Sony Acid pro (but there are many others) to create decent (to me) sounding soundtracks for my productions. It allows you to combine several loops / licks /solos (record it yourself or get some commercial or free library of sounds /loops).
If you have the right material you can literally generate a decent background music in minutes.

no real music skills needed. I want to specify to the real musician around here, before they start revolting against me, that i'm aware this is a "cheap and fast" solution :)

Andrea
 
It totally depends on what kind of sounds you are looking for. And what kind of music you are about to produce. Today it's totally possible to everything inside your computer, no need for external synths. But it's only one way to do it, of course there are also cool real synths, but I think it's better to start checking those VST-instruments.

Forget the midi-sounds, if you are serious about making music. You will need midi only for controlling your other stuff. So midi, is important thing to learn.

What you need is a decent soundcard for your PC, not the one you already have inside your computer. Check out M-AUDIOs soundcards.

You will also need some midi-keyboard, which doesn't have to have any onboard sounds, you will need it ONLY for controlling your computer stuff. Again M-AUDIO has some great midi-keyboards. www.m-audio.com If you don't already have keyboard. :)

Of course, you could start with something like Sony Acid Pro, but it's only getting some loops together and playing with them. I'm not saying it's not any good, especially when you are a beginner...it can be real fun and you will learn some basic stuff there. If you are more serious about your music, you will need some sequencer, like Cubase SX to make your music. And then you can have all kinds of VST-instruments plugins which behave like a real synths, for example. With all kinds of effects and processor plugins also you basicly have a studio inside your computer.

Some people like to get started with Propellerheads Reason 3, for example, check it out.

There are so many VST-instruments around so I'm only going to give you some companys names now:

- STEINBERG
- EW QL
- VIENNA
- PROPELLERHEADS
- NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
- SPECTRASONICS

If you are intrested in orchestral music, then the EW QL and Vienna libraries are the way to go.

Hope this helps a little bit. :)
 
:huh: :huh: :D well... good to see replies: arigatoo!
but just caused more questions:
what are these? and what do they do?:

VST-instruments:

sequencer

processor plugins

sampling

synths

Also what you mean my using midi controlling other stuff?

I am like... newby

:embarasse :shocked: :huh:
 
Yeah, don't worry it takes a plenty of time to get used to all of those strange words.

Oke, I will try to explain you a little bit.

SEQUENCER: This will be your main app for making music. STEINBERG Cubase SX is the most popular sequencer in PC world. This is where you actually make your music (sequence) and basicly tell your computer which notes to play, when and how long and stuff like that. The sequencer won't make those sounds you are after. It will be ONLY the host app for your other VST instruments which I will explain shortly also next.

VST-i(struments): The plugins that you can use with your sequencer are called VST-instruments. You can load your VST plugins from your host sequencer and start playing with them with your keyboard. It's as simple as that. You will only need to choose right midi-channel for your midi-track. Some VSTs are sounding absolutely fantastic and many of them have been replacing some real synthesizers. In short, VSTs are plugins which you play with your sequencer. VSTs have been the hottest thing in the past years in music technology.

PROCESSOR PLUGINS: When I said processor plugins, I meant stuff like compressors, equalizers, limiters, mastering...plugins. These are the stuff needed for mixing and mastering professional music...but I think you should not worry so much about these, they will come after you got some basic skills.

SAMPLING: Samplers are very important in making electronic music. Sound sample can be anything, absolutely no limits. Some of the best VSTs are actually sampled from the real instruments, like all those great Grand Piano VSTs...(like Bosendorfer 290 VST)...that's why they sound so real, because they ARE real! They just have been recorded from the real grand pianos. And you can have also VST sampler, like STEINBERG Halion or NATIVE INSTRUMENTS Kontakt.

SYNTHs: Synthesizers. Those stuffs that make those fantastic sounds...there are Analog and Digital synthesizers...millions of them...You should really get your hands on some synth, then you will know what they are. This is where you can start searching synths: http://www.vintagesynth.com/ And remember: in analog synths, usually the more older the synth is, the better sound it has! :thumbsup:

MIDI CONTROLLING THE OTHER STUFF: In this case I meant that you can use your keyboard to play your VST instruments from your PC. You just have to connect your keyboards MIDI OUT =) SOUNDCARDS MIDI IN and choose right channels from your sequencer and you can start playing with them. It's very easy when you get used to them. You just have to give it a try. That's the only way to learn it really. And then you actually control your other stuff (VSTs) from your keyboard. That's why your keyboard doesn't have to have any onboard sounds, because the actual sound is coming from your soundcard.

Hope this helps you again on your way into the wonderful world of music... :thumbsup:
 
Petelms, thank you so much! I am like passed audio 101 now. Today I just got Cubase and Sonor, and some VST plugins. I guess now I need a midi controller(is this the little piano type keyboard?) I had the software installed.... but have absolutely no idea how to use it, also when I installed Sonor, it said I have no midi output, so when I try to play back a sample, there were no sound, I have an onboard sound card(AC97 type), how to solve this problem? I guess I also need a M-audio sound card(which to get?), also any tutorial sites for cubase or sound software?
Well... I know a lot more than yesterday.... Thanks man 2 cool

Disc, didn't get your beginning sentence meaning, but which $100 controller is golden? I can't spend too much, so a good price is good for me. :D
 
Remember that you will NEED some better soundcard if you are more serious of making music. That onboard soundcard will give you so huge latency that the playing is going to be impossible. (latency=the time between when you hit the key from your keyboard and when you hear it from your speakers)...Just get that M-AUDIOs low budget soundcard, you won't regret it!

Yeah, midi-controller is like that mini piano keyboard.

Personally I have not experience with Sonar, so I can't say anything about it. But it's like Cubase. Both are very good sequencers. You just have to decide which one you are going to use from now on. It would be silly to learn both, because they are doing exactly the same thing. So, choose whichever one you like and learn it inside out. I would definately choose CUBASE, but it's your choice. :thumbup:

You don't need to spend so much...there are plenty of quality low budget stuff around. What I have recommend to many beginners are:

- M-AUDIO Audiophile 2496 (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audiophile2496-main.html)
- some M-AUDIO midi-keyboard, for example Keystation 49e (http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=midikeyboardcontrollers)

Discs of tron meant that the best way to get started would be to get PROPELLERHEADS Reason. That is a 'all-in-one' music production solution. Personally I don't like Reason, but it doesn't mean you can get cool music out of it.

If you want you can also send me private mail, if you want to have some more teaching...via email :) I have made some Cubase tutorial videos for two guys...they liked them, hehehe! I could give you some basic reading also...if you are intrested...

Believe me, I know how is it when you just starting out...enjoy it! :beer:
 
i was recommending reason, a synth/sampler/drum machine/effects/sequencer app made by propellerheads. it doesn't handle actual recording but it will work alongside cubase if you wanted to integrate its sounds with actual recorded audio (say a guitar solo or a vocal or whatever.)

m-audio and edirol both make decent affordable midi controllers. they look like pianos with fewer keys. they can hook up to your comp with usb so you won't need a midi card. some of them even include audio inputs.
 
Petelms, Mr.

Well....all I can say is Cool, my email is cbaabc@gmail.com
Planning to get the Audiophile 2496, but just looked into the Audiophile USB, it's 2 times as much but seems quite versatile; notebook, desktop seems all do-able, is that usb audiophile same as 2496? or is it better being plugged in the motherboard? Also the 49e keyboard seems like a not so bad one, though it's classified as entry level, how much better is the pro 88? like how much more can u do? And next seems I need to get new speakers.... omg... the list goes on....
Anyway... startin to get the idea that Sonor is like premiere, Cubase like FCP, Reason maybe like vegas? as compared to the video world.
Installed the programs but haven't gotten a squeek out of'em
Also any good ideas on attainning the card & keyboard? ebay? used or new? well... arigatoo again D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top