music composing software: cakewalk, cubase...

TheMacB

TheMacB

Veteran
i'm looking for a program i can use to compose music that will have realistic sounding instruments (specifically orchestral instruments). Somebody recommended Cubase and a plug-in called Motu Symphonic Instrument (for the sounds). Anybody ever used this stuff? Is it any good?

I used to do a lot of composing way back in the day using cakewalk home studio. It was a very easy interface but the sounds were straight MIDI. Since then i've moved on to a new computer and no longer have the disk to install Cakewalk. I would love to get a newer version of Cakewalk so i could open all these old .cwk files that i haven't heard in years. Would i then be able use the Motu plug-in with cakewalk for the sounds?

love to hear any advice or experiences with this stuff. thanks!
 
it says that acid is "loop-based". if i have a melody in my head, am i able to write it and hear it with realistic sounding instruments? or can i only use pre-existing loops of music? i am a vegas man and would love to stay in the sony family
 
TheMacB said:
it says that acid is "loop-based". if i have a melody in my head, am i able to write it and hear it with realistic sounding instruments? or can i only use pre-existing loops of music? i am a vegas man and would love to stay in the sony family
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If there exists loops that conform to your melody. I use it for making techno music myself. Basically you have to get pre-recorded loops and you paint them into a timeline. It is great stuff but for what you want cubase is getting to be pretty standard along with gigastudio. Those are actually composing type software. Robert Rodriquez uses gigastudio in conjunction with pro-tools, but my understanding is that cubase is going to be a better fit for a number of reasons. Pro-tools only works on avid hardware, whereas you can get several different manufactured controllers for cubase for one.
 
TheMacB said:
it says that acid is "loop-based". if i have a melody in my head, am i able to write it and hear it with realistic sounding instruments? or can i only use pre-existing loops of music? i am a vegas man and would love to stay in the sony family
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Yes. You can get all types of loops from hip hop, acoustic, orchestra, electric, wind, piano, drums... etc. Any and all instruments out there. BUT if you want to actually write the music other programs like reason and others mentioned may fit the bill better. With loops you can still make the score sound exactly the way you want too. You work with the different tones and such from each instrument too. I personally don't dig midi or anything that sounds too electric, but that's just me. I still say try it - You may dig It
 
imo the best in the world is the Vienna Symphonic Library. Elfman and a bunch of other guys use it in their scoring duties. It runs like a charm in Logic (which is the other tool I recommend).

I was a die hard ProTools guy for years, but got Logic about 2 years ago and was astounded at all it could do right out of the box. All the virtual instruments, samplers, synths, etc. Amazing. If you're on a mac, check it out.
 
There are two main libraries for symphonic orchestra samples which are dominating the business at the moment:

- VIENNA SYMPHONIC Library
- EW QL Symphonic Orchestra

For Vienna you will need a Gigastudio, so that will be out of question for some users. EW QL is working as VST plugins, which you can use inside for example inside Cubase SX or some other sequencer. EW QL has also Gold and Silver versions, that you might want to check out.

I would definately recommend you to check out Garritan Personal Orchestra. It's just great for beginners. EW QL Gold version is just great and much more realistic sounding than GPO.

Remember, at the end of the day, it's not so much about which library, it's how you use them. And I can guarantee you that it's not easy to get any of them sound realistic, and I'm not trying to be any negative. That's the fact. You have to know how to write for an orchestra and really know what you are doing.

Yes, MOTU has also brought a new library on the markets, but I prefer the EW QL and Vienna. :beer:

My recommendation for you would be: CUBASE SX + EW QL GOLD + STUDY OF ORCHESTRA. (PC) :happy:
 
i think vienna is a little out of my price range. i'm looking around right now and i think i'll probably be going with the motu. also thinking about cubase se. in the past i have only used software for writing and recorded live performance. since i'm just beginning to try to use this i didn't want to spend too much money. what i am interested in is realistic sound. vienna sounds amazing. i want it. so bad. but i think i'll have to settle for motu. the demos on their site sound really good. especially compared to garritan.

is there any reason i need cubase sx instead of se?
 
Those are incredible examples of the Vienna sounds... this is exactly the kind of thing I have been searching for. Thanks for the links Kai.
 
also thinking about cubase se. in the past i have only used software for writing and recorded live performance. since i'm just beginning to try to use this i didn't want to spend too much money. what i am interested in is realistic sound. vienna sounds amazing. i want it. so bad. but i think i'll have to settle for motu. the demos on their site sound really good. especially compared to garritan.

is there any reason i need cubase sx instead of se?
 
kai said:
ps. Vienna also runs as VST
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No, it doesn't. You will need Gigastudio on PC or Logic EXS 24 mk II on MAC. And Performance tool is also made to be used with Gigastudio. These are not VST instruments, these are samples only, you will need a sampler to use them. EW QL stuffs are VSTs. :thumbsup: Have you actually ever used these? Or do you maybe mean that you can use these with EXS sampler in Logic? :undecided

And if you are serious with Vienna libraries you will definately need dedicated PC(s) for Gigastudio only.
 
Slimothy said:
petelms-Any good programs for Sonar?
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I have never used Sonar, but I think it's a sequencer like Cubase and others. So, you can use VST instruments with it. And my recommendation for you would also be: EW QL Gold version. Also check out Garritan Personal Orchestra. Great app to get started.

If you are looking for that big Hollywood sound, EW QL is the way to go.

You can listen some demos here:

http://www.soundsonline.com/sophtml/details.phtml?sku=EW-155

I wouldn't recommend Vienna stuff for a beginner, because it's very complicated library. It's certainly not for beginners.
 
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