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/

[David Prouty]

CtrlBrk has released VstBoard

CtrlBrk has released an alpha version of VstBoard, a free, open source, VST host and plug-in for Windows. Its main purpose is to allow fast switching between setups and was primarily designed to be used as a guitar multi-fx.

CtrlBrk says that it's still in development so don't expect too much - it may be unstable!

Features:

* Multiple setups per file.
* Fast switching between setups.
* Multithreaded.
* Runs standalone or as a plugin.
* Free (unrestrained) audio and MIDI routing.
* Some basic scripting capabilities.
* Undo/redo, your mistakes, endlessly.
* Customizable interface (dockable windows, custom colors, zoom, plugins windows size and position).
* Localized : EngRish and French.
* Other useless stuff.

You can download it here http://vstboard.blogspot.com/

[Ves Christoff]

With musescore and Realfont 2.1 (both free) I achieve probably 99% of what I want my music to sound.

 

Here are samples of the quality of my wav files:

http://veschristoff.com/Rhapsody-No-4.php

http://veschristoff.com/index.php

cheers

[David Prouty]

VSTForx is a highly creative effect network creation tool which comes as a VST-plugin. You can load any number of VST-plugins and connect them anyway you want. I use it to save racks of vsts. It is somewhat like VstBoard above.

 

http://www.vstforx.de/

[David Prouty]

CLAM Chordata 1.0

The CLAM project is pleased to announce the first stable release of Chordata, which is released in parallel to the 1.4.0 release of the CLAM framework.

Chordata is a simple but powerful application that analyses the chords of any music file in your computer. You can use it to travel back and forward the song while watching insightful visualizations of the tonal features of the song. Key bindings and mouse interactions for song navigation are designed thinking in a musician with an instrument at hands.

 

http://clam-project.org/index.html

[David Prouty]

Yes both of those run nicely. I also like the Miroslav Philharmonik but you might want to ask around as I like lots of stuff that others may not.

Caj Ilotuuli. said:

Thanks David ! This year I´m going to buy VSL spec ed or EWQL SO . Can I run them in Reaper ? Caj Ilotuuli.

[David Prouty]

CLAM 1.4.0, 3D molluscs in the space

This one is for the Egg Heads like me around here.

 

The CLAM project is delighted to announce the long awaited 1.4.0 release of CLAM, the C++ framework for audio and music, code name 3D molluscs in the space.

In summary, this long term release includes a lot of new spacialization modules for 3D audio; MIDI, OSC and guitar effects module.

http://clam-project.org/index.html

 

[David Prouty]

Usine Free

 

Note I am referring to the Usine Free edition see comparison here. http://www.sensomusic.com/wiki/doku.php?id=products:comparison_chart

 

Usine is a universal audio software especially designed for live or studio utilization. Usine is made by musicians and audio engineers to respond to their specific problems in a lot of domains like live sampling, effect processing or sound design. Usine is a real musical instrument, flexible and powerful if you like to transform, resample the sound on stage, improvise and create unusual effect.

[Chris Alpiar]

Yea well... you are a very nice composer and I like your compositions but your renderings sound fake, metallic, cold, synthetic. If you are doing this just for something fun to do on the weekend, thats great, and I am sincere when I say great. But this is not pro level renderings that would be viable for sale to the public or use in media unless the intent is some weird robotic metallic orchestra scene from some sci fi movie

Ves Christoff said:

With musescore and Realfont 2.1 (both free) I achieve probably 99% of what I want my music to sound.

 

Here are samples of the quality of my wav files:

http://veschristoff.com/Rhapsody-No-4.php

http://veschristoff.com/index.php

cheers

[Ves Christoff]

Of course, those are not professional recordings. I may not have expressed myself correctly. My point was that the program and the font allow me to manipulate those enough to perform it almost the way I want it to be performed, not the quality of the sound as such. My goal is to demonstrate the music, not make professional recording. Those are not wav files by the way, mp3s of course.

Chris Alpiar said:

Yea well... you are a very nice composer and I like your compositions but your renderings sound fake, metallic, cold, synthetic. If you are doing this just for something fun to do on the weekend, thats great, and I am sincere when I say great. But this is not pro level renderings that would be viable for sale to the public or use in media unless the intent is some weird robotic metallic orchestra scene from some sci fi movie

Ves Christoff said:

With musescore and Realfont 2.1 (both free) I achieve probably 99% of what I want my music to sound.

 

Here are samples of the quality of my wav files:

http://veschristoff.com/Rhapsody-No-4.php

http://veschristoff.com/index.php

cheers

[Robert FRANKLIN]

I couldn't get any sound?

 

How about emailing samples to my email: [e-mail]

Chris Alpiar said:

Yea well... you are a very nice composer and I like your compositions but your renderings sound fake, metallic, cold, synthetic. If you are doing this just for something fun to do on the weekend, thats great, and I am sincere when I say great. But this is not pro level renderings that would be viable for sale to the public or use in media unless the intent is some weird robotic metallic orchestra scene from some sci fi movie

Ves Christoff said:

With musescore and Realfont 2.1 (both free) I achieve probably 99% of what I want my music to sound.

 

Here are samples of the quality of my wav files:

http://veschristoff.com/Rhapsody-No-4.php

http://veschristoff.com/index.php

cheers

[Sukhpal Darshan]

Thanks Mr Bernard,,,, all u typed is very informative for all. God bless u !

 

 

 

 

 

[David Prouty]

Reaper 4.0 is out.

Change log here http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=84808

Download here http://reaper.fm/