Studio Setup...help!

[Nicolas Repetto]

I'm a bit behind the technology bandwagon due to how much money is necessary to get going, but I need to start creating demos, so I can get my name out there, but this is my current situation:

1. No Mac, just a Windows machine with Finale 2007 with GPO, 2 Gb RAM, and 60 GB Hard drive. I know I have to eventually buy a Mac, but what can I do in the meantime?

2. No controller....any suggestions?

3. No sequencing software...any suggestions? I have experience with DP, but again no Mac, any alternatives? Just been working out of Finale, which is a pseudo-sequencing program, but can I create a good mix with it? (I bought Finale 2007 just a week ago)

4. I love GPO, but what other sample libraries do you guys/gals love? Please let me know.


I have been writing a lot of music (mainly large orchestral works, and latin-infused tango/jazz themes), but it's useless to a director or a producer if they can't hear it, so any information on how to create a decent demo with my current situation will help!

Thanks for your time!

Nick

[Chris Alpiar]

Hey Nick, welcome to the Composers Forum man! What orchestra are you working with in Miami? I grew up in Palmetto area down south, lived in Miami for like 12 years.
As far as setup goes here are my suggestions:
controller: get what feels nicest to you. dont worry about sounds or features as much as feel. I have a Kurzweil K-2600XS which i love kurzweil feel but some prefer more of a synth action. I know Fatar used to be "the" synth feel controllers. I also use an Akai EWI as I am a sax player, tho it has issues this last year and finding a good EWI repairman is rough. But is there any midi violin controller out there? I bet there is and you shoudl check into it as it will make everything you sequence flow better!

For sequencing I am using Cubase SX3, havent upgraded to 4 yet just because this year has taxed me too hard on upgrading issues so currently I am scared straight! But I also have Sonar (which is modern Cakewalk) which is awesome also. Cakewalk has been around forever since the days when Opcode Vision was the best name in sequencing. Tho I do still recommend getting a Mac and using DP, I rue every day that I didnt stick with it, but that was the choice i made....

Samples you have to dig and find, sometimes you get a disc with crappy sounds but its got an amazing jew's harp and rhodes samples lol. I am fortunate enough to have aquired the Mercedes of orchestral sample libraries the Vienna Symphonic Library full pro edition. But it is like 6 or 7 thousand US dollars to get the whole shebang. I have been doing some demo work for the EMU guys on the Emulator X library "Modern Symphonic Orchestra" which is WAY cheap in comparison, and the strings are top notch, brass is pretty good, winds are pretty good, percussion stinks. Their stuff *only* works for Emulator X tho and because its really a prosumer product its not on the same level as the VSL, but on a budget it will get you mileage for sure!

[Nicolas Repetto]

Thanks for your suggestions, Chris. I will definitely start saving my money for a Mac and DP. I've heard VSL online and being a violinist/string guy it sounds freaking awesome, but I also like GPO. The orchestra I work with is the Alhambra Orchestra in Coconut Grove, it's a mix of music pros and non-pros. At least, I get to listen to my works every now and then.....have you found it difficult making a living as a composer?

[Chris Merritt]

If you don't have any sequencer right now (Finale doesn't count) then you don't HAVE to go Mac. Your PC that you have right now wouldn't play the big libraries like EWQLSO or Vienna, but it would play MOTU Symphonic Instrument ($300 or so motu.com.) Check out the demos for that.

For controller, it depend on if you are a pianist or not. The cheapest you can get for a piano feel is about $500 (Maudio) and the best is prob the Kurz or a Roland fantom 88. If you don't care about piano action, then any controller will do, really. Maybe go for one with a USB connection and a couple of mic pres.

If you stay PC, I suggest Sonar. Simple and powerful. Cubase is great, too. So you really can't lose. Sonar has internal 64 bit processing and looping, and autotune built in. Don't know about modern cubase.

Unless you can make your mock ups sound incredible, I suggest taking advantage of your real enembles and recording them for your demo. You just can't beat real players. As long as they are in tune...

[John Doryk]

Nicolas,

For sound libraries you might also want to consider a new library by VSL called "Vienna Special Edition" . It's like a bit of the best from each of their libraries at a fraction of the cost( like $400-$1000). I own the entire pro edition and some of the Vienna Instruments(appassionatta strings, etc) so I don't need to own special edition, but I highly reccomend it. You can get more info at www.vsl.co.at

[DACH]

Nicolas... ditto what was already said. I have both macs and pc's and have used them for a long time. Over the long term, I have developed a preference for pc's for a variety of reasons but I certainly understand why people like macs. The biggest deal is to find a sequencer/host that allows you to work either intuitively or for lack of a better term, find one that doesn't make you pull your hair out - don't worry what OS it runs on. As far as samples goes, it might be a good idea to start with a less expensive library and learn the techniques to manipulate it and find out what it lacks. As you learn the limitations of your libraries and your setup, you'll eventually be better prepared upgrade to a better setup that will work for you.

[Nicolas Repetto]

I've used Sonar this summer since I took a few more tech classes and it was pretty cool, and I'm no pianist, but I pretty much defend myself when it comes to inputting notes on a screen. I have a music store nearby and I'm going to check the controllers you recommended.

If I use the real ensembles and record them, can I use that audio and mix it with a mock-up? Will it sound decent?

[Chris Alpiar]

Well staying alive as a composer for me, its HARD haha. I have done things like writing birthday songs broadway style for 1500 bucks and given lectures to local teachers on music and technology for 500 bucks and etc etc etc. When you want to be in business for yourself there are times when you have to do *whatever* it takes to stay floating. I have not yet achieved the big league success yet even tho I keep my studio alive and my life solely from my music, but I imagine pretty much any composer out there other then the "top 10" LA guys have to be working nonstop first as a businessman and out getting work in creative ways that keep you in business and 2nd as a composer where you have to be able to seperate your mind completely from the biz crap so you can find that spot of peace that we need to filter life into music and find truth. I only recommend it if you love writing music so much that you just cant live another way, But I also believe that if you have the right stuff there is always room for another so dont fear the reaper!

As far as inputting notes on a screen: As long as your stuff is being played by live musicians that is fine, but you will need to perform your sequence not input it if you want any hope of it sounding real. Even with the best of the best samples each instrument played a zillion ways has a different attack, release, length, crescendo/decrescendo length and depth, etc so you will have to find ways of manipulating those sounds that are not exact (ie no quantizing and playing that string part ahead of the beat by 12 ticks or so) so getting comfortable with a controller is imperitive if you plan to use your sequence as a complete professional work for sale or demonstrative of your product

My mom has a house in Coconut Grove I will tell her to check them out sometime! Let me know when one of your works will be performed :) Welcome to the world of composing man, its a hard life but a good one! Takes some stones to do it but when you do its most gratifying

[Adrian Ellis]

I use EWQLSO, and am quite happy with it. As was suggested, if you want to start on the low end and work up, the EastWest libraries allow you to make upgrades to the next level at a discounted price, which is nice.

If you don't want to use a keyboard controller and enter a lot of stuff by mouse, you might look into getting a pen tablet from Wacom or something similar. It makes drawing volume/etc. envelopes a little more comfortable.

I'm a PC guy, and use Cubase SX3, and like Chris, have yet to upgrade but am looking forward to it - an engineer friend of mine demoed it for me and the features are brilliant. Largely, it seems to be a 'whatever you get used to' kind of deal, though I have heard only good things about DP. I myself am very happy w/ Cubase.

One thing I will definitely suggest is that whatever you get (in fact, this goes for ALL software): LEARN THE KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS. This will literally save you hours, your sanity, and prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. KS's are the cat's ass, and they turn working with programs into a very pleasant experience.

[Leon Portelance]

Hi, Nick. I migrated to a Mac when Logic stopped supporting PC. I started out with Notator SL on an Atari Mega STe and then upgraded to Logic from 1.0 up to 7.2. I guess I am getting old and set in my ways, but it took me years to figure out just some of the intricacies of Logic. I don't want to start out all over again and learn a new program. But as others have said, there are several good formats for the PC.

I am in the market for a new controller too. Right now I am using an older Kawai K1. I recommend going into a musical equipment store and playing a whole bunch of keyboards and finding something that you like. Right now, I am leaning towards getting a Yamaha S08. The Yamaha action feels good under my fingers. It runs about $1K, but you can get a decent controller for under $500.

My main library is EWQLSO Gold XP. I would love to have the 3 mike positions of Platinum but I don't have enough computer horsepower to run it. I also use StormDrum, RA, Colossus, VSL (just the ones that came with Giga 3 Orchestra and Kontakt 2), Lyrical Distortion 1 and 2, DIVA and EWQLS Choirs. Logic also has some great built-in instruments and sequencers. I run Giga and Kontakt on a PC sync'd to my Mac. I have an older G4 dual 800. I wish I could upgrade, I regularly max out the old machine especially when I want to run more than one instance of Space Designer.

I am putting my demo together. I plan to spend a bit of time and cash doing a decent cover. And it's important to make sure that your contact info is on both the cover and the disk itself in case they get separated. I am also going to put in insert with my bio, etc. The hardest part is figuring out what to put on the demo. I've heard its best to put your 3 or 4 very best on it, something that distinguish your music as unique. Right now I have about 12 cues that I want to use. I've also heard that it is good to tailor a demo to a specific producer or project. I guess we gotta do our homework! Make sure you mix it hot enough and use a bit of compression so it plays fairly loud. But don't over-do-it and squash all of the dynamics out. Right now I am using mostly the built in processors in Logic for mastering. I would love to get some more, I've heard that Ozone 3 is good and relatively inexpensive. Waves makes great processors but they are a lot more pricey. Bottom line is to do the best you possibly can with the resources you have at your disposal. Good luck!