How to create a studio with zero budget ($0.00)

[Chris Alpiar]

Hi guys and gals

 

I have been asked recently by two separate members in private messages how they can get their scores realized into audio with zero budget. One person was asking about creating good sounding audio from "Musescore notation program" and another without any notation software, just looking for the cheapest setup possible.

 

So I want to ask you all to contribute to this thread. Please include any ideas at all (that are LEGAL) to acquire and work on music with no budget whatsoever. I know we have had a few threads on freeware sample libraries that Simon and other folks have posted, lets talk about all freeware possibilities, used hardware possibilities, etc.

 

IMO Any composer setup must include the following:

- computer (recommended 64 bit OS, at least 8 gigs ram, at least 2 internal hard drives, but what can people scrape by with and still record)

- DAW (I use full versions of DP, Cubase and Pro Tools, but what are options for folks? I know we had a thread with a freeware DAW at one point. What about the really cheap versions of DAWs? I know Simon uses the lower level Cubase, how is that working for you mate?)

- notation software (many DAWs have some form of notation in them but generally arent as good as sibelius or finale. What are options in notation programs? What are the pluses and minuses involved with going cheap or free?)

- Sample libs (this obviously makes HUGE difference between sounding pretty real and totally fake. I am pretty snooty about it and I dont really have good suggestions for shoestring budget samples. But I remember something else Simon posted not too long ago with a free sample library, Simon you're the man!)

- convolution reverb and other effects/processing (I cant leave my Alti-verb at home, but I know there are freeware solutions, Ray has sent me links several places with freeware plugins that are pretty snazzy)

- MIDI controller/keyboard

- sound card

- speakers (and speaker amps if they are passive speakers)

 

what else? Lets make this the go to thread for zero budget studio ideas. Thanks folks! I know there have been lots of threads with pieces of this, so lets just put it all in one place, please any links, pics, ideas, etc

Current options are:

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

http://studioone.presonus.com/free/   (this version does not support 3rd party vst)

http://www.reaper.fm/about.php   (relatively inexpensive)

http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/cubase/cubase_elements_6.html  (entry level)

http://www.apple.com/logicpro/top-features/  (for mac users)

Sample Players:

http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/kontakt-5-...    (some 3rd party libraries will time out)

http://www.uvisoundsource.com/uvi-workstation/article_info.php/arti...

http://www.cakewalk.com/Download/sfz.aspx

Software Synths:

http://www.camelaudio.com/AlchemyPlayer.php 

http://www.u-he.com/cms/zebralette

Sample Libraries:

http://www.embertone.com/freebies/intstrings-lite.php   (kontakt vsti)

http://freemusicsoftware.org/category/free-vst/exotic-instruments (vsti)

http://www.pettinhouse.com/html/download.html  (kontakt vsti)

http://rekkerd.org/freebies-for-native-instruments-kontakt/

http://www.hollowsun.com/HS2/freepacks/kontakt.htm

http://www.sampleoddity.com/peculiarpercussion/

http://audiogeneticslab.com/instruments/free/magnus-chord-organ

http://sonimusicae.free.fr/diato-en.html

http://www.embertone.com/freebies/jugfree.php#1[/url]

http://indiginus.com/freedownloads.html

http://indiginus.com/solidstatehome.html

http://samples.wavesfactory.com/?cat=47

http://www.asinusadlyram.com/pocketBlakus/

Audio File Editors:

http://www.wavosaur.com/

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

http://www.music-editor.net/index.html

FX vst:

http://www.voxengo.com/group/free-vst-plugins/

http://antress.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.vstplanet.com/index.htm

http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/

[Ann Rodela]

I visited this page and recognized some of the vst plug ins which I have downloaded from www.vst4free.com

 I have downloaded Asian Dreams and Indian Dreams from DSK which have beautiful GUI and low CPU usage.

I guess the people who made their virtual instruments multi listed them on several sites.
 
Caj Ilotuuli said:

I don´t know if someone has written about this site . Anyhow I find these exotic vst-instruments interesting : http://freemusicsoftware.org/category/free-vst/exotic-instruments

[Ann Rodela]

This looks fantastic! I can't wait to try it! :)
 
David Prouty said:

Studio One 2 by Presonus.

Presonus has released Studio One Free, a stripped-down free version of their Studio One 2 digital audio workstation.

Intended for beginners who don’t yet need the advanced features in Studio One™ Artist, Producer, and Professional, Studio One Free provides all of the recording and editing features needed for basic music production—and as its name implies, it’s free.

http://studioone.presonus.com/free

[Robert FRANKLIN]

I managed to DownLoad tehw orkstation file for Windows Platform but by the time I got to try downloading the actual analogicpiano.zip file my allotted time had expired?

 

Can some one please email me just the AnalogicPiano.zip file?

[e-mail]

 

 

David Prouty said:

Analogic Piano 09

UVI has released Analogic Piano 09, a free recreation of Roland EP-09 electric piano for UVI Workstation (which is also free).

UVI has announced the release of Analogic Piano 09, a new UVI Workstation format instrument that takes inspiration from the very first electronic piano ever designed with a built-in arpeggiator: the famous Roland EP-09.

Analogic Piano 09 is available for free download via UVI (I know some of you guys won’t appreciate that a Facebook Like and a working email address are required, so be advised). Also this was a very digital sounding instrument so for the Casio haters it wont  be your cup of tea.

[Adam Joyner]

I agree with Ann Rodela. This thread definitely poses an interesting challenge. 

I recently took a course on building and designing your own studio called Studio Maintenance and Design. We focused quite a bit on how to design a studio around a budget, seeing as how most of our class was filled with students with TREMENDOUS piles of debt. There are many ways to enhance your scoring capabilities, but unfortunately not as many ways when you're working with no budget, However, you can manage to side step those inevitable expenses. for a little while, with demos for programs such as FL Studios, Reason, and GarageBand. These programs provide many tools for creating a MIDI score and other compositions, when you are lacking in equipment (even without a MIDI keyboard, you may insert the individual notes into the piano scroll). 

The book we used for our class, Acoustic Design for the Home Studio, also provides many other methods of acoustically treating and isolating your home studio, if you wish to record with mics and standard instruments. I highly recommend you pick up this book if you are trying to put together a well-treated recording environment, especially if you are on a budget.

Also, if you wish to, you can check out my blog. I will be posting music/score reviews and other articles involving composition. Right now, I am just starting out, so I only have one review up, but check it out if you have time!

http://adamjoyner.wordpress.com/

Thank you for your time and keep composing!

-Adam Joyner 

[Caj Ilotuuli]

Found these effects : http://www.terrywest.nl/index.html 

Haven´t tried them so much yet .

[David Prouty]

The Terry West plugins are really useful. I use those all the time. Good call on posting them.

[Robert FRANKLIN]

Can any one provide me with any FREE various .sfz (Sound Fonts) OR VST Plug-Ins of Brass Band Instruments?

The instrumentation I need consists of (from the top)

1 soprano cornet in Eb
1 solo cornet
1 repiano cornet
1 flugelhorn
1 solo (or first) Eb horn
1 baritone
1 euphonium,
1 trombone
1 bass trombone
1 tubas in Eb
1 tubas in Bb

 

That would be great!

 

Thanks

[Robert FRANKLIN]

YES!

 

4.2

 

 

[Robert FRANKLIN]

That would be a great help!

 

Thanks

[Mikolaj Holowko]

Might have been posted already but for some sounds there is free kontakt player with 600mb of samples and some more freebies http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/?category=1339 , so you could give it a shot if you don't have them yet they are pretty good. And cinesamples has got free, thought quite specific libs http://cinesamples.com/retail/

[David Prouty]

You could check for some of those samples here http://soundfonts.homemusician.net/brass_soundfonts/page2/index.html these are Sf2 so that may not work you and I have no idea on the quality.

[David Prouty]

Bricasti M7 Impulse Response Library

Some of you probably have the hardware but for those that dont Bricasti makes some really great reverbs so here is an impulse library to help fill that gap.

http://www.samplicity.com/bricasti-m7-impulse-responses/