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/

[Mikolaj Holowko]

Nice thread. I'll check out the reaper. gui in 4 looks quite nice.

 

I would like to suggest a cheap way of getting good recording for little money. If you have a friend who are musicians you could convince them to play for you. And I say cheap because if they're your mates than pint should be enough :)

 

Just one more thing to add which should be said is the good soundcard. It is neccecity for every composer. Realy nice and not expencive is focusrite scarlett ( £199. got it for £179 ex-display ) which is a new generation of cards. I've got one for home use and it's great quality, solid build and good drivers. comes with 1gb of loops, bass synth, abelton live and scarlett suite which contains eq, compressor, reverb and gate and what is cool about those is that they are being proccessed by sound card cpu and not using your main cpu.

[David Prouty]

A pint and a good soundcard. Sounds like good advice.

Mikolaj Holowko said:

Nice thread. I'll check out the reaper. gui in 4 looks quite nice.

 

I would like to suggest a cheap way of getting good recording for little money. If you have a friend who are musicians you could convince them to play for you. And I say cheap because if they're your mates than pint should be enough :)

 

Just one more thing to add which should be said is the good soundcard. It is neccecity for every composer. Realy nice and not expencive is focusrite scarlett ( £199. got it for £179 ex-display ) which is a new generation of cards. I've got one for home use and it's great quality, solid build and good drivers. comes with 1gb of loops, bass synth, abelton live and scarlett suite which contains eq, compressor, reverb and gate and what is cool about those is that they are being proccessed by sound card cpu and not using your main cpu.

[Mikolaj Holowko]

of course it is :)

 

David Prouty said:

A pint and a good soundcard. Sounds like good advice.

Mikolaj Holowko said:

Nice thread. I'll check out the reaper. gui in 4 looks quite nice.

 

I would like to suggest a cheap way of getting good recording for little money. If you have a friend who are musicians you could convince them to play for you. And I say cheap because if they're your mates than pint should be enough :)

 

Just one more thing to add which should be said is the good soundcard. It is neccecity for every composer. Realy nice and not expencive is focusrite scarlett ( £199. got it for £179 ex-display ) which is a new generation of cards. I've got one for home use and it's great quality, solid build and good drivers. comes with 1gb of loops, bass synth, abelton live and scarlett suite which contains eq, compressor, reverb and gate and what is cool about those is that they are being proccessed by sound card cpu and not using your main cpu.

[David Prouty]

CWI Technology has released TX16Wx, a full-featured freeware sampler instrument in VSTi plugin format for Windows (both 32-bit and 64-bit).

TX16Wx by CWI Technology.

TX16Wx is not an exact emulation, but its design and features are inspired by the Yamaha TX16W hardware sampler unit.

The TX16Wx Software Sampler is a simple, yet powerful sampling instrument inspired by various classic hardware samplers from the 80s and 90s, but mainly the excellent Yamaha TX16W sampler as used with the Typhoon operating system.

Many software samplers sport a multitude of features aimed mainly at disk-streaming gigabyte sized preset libraries. The TX16Wx instead aims to bring back some of the joy of working with the classic hardware instruments, using sampling not for playing back pre-built libraries, but instead creating your own new sounds in creative way.

Perhaps the biggest reason this software was created though, is that I have yet to find a software sampler, free or otherwise, with both workstation features, and a clear cut, well-documented file format that does not lock the user in to a product forever. The TX16Wx file format is simple XML files and can be translated even by hand in a simple text editor.

TX16Wx is available for free download via CWI Technology.

[David Prouty]

Terry West has released an updated version of CS-12 Master, his free channel strip VST plugin for Windows.
Well worth your time if you have some mastering to do.

Find it here http://www.terrywest.nl/equalizers.html

[David Prouty]

I like this one for soundfonts and the factory library has a gem or two.

 

PHENOME is a low-CPU 8-part multitimbral Soundfont (SF2) Player-VST Instrument with all the basic features like ADSR, multiple filters and arpeggiators. It has been designed to focus on getting things done quickly rather then being bloated with features that get hardly ever used.

Also grab the free factory library while you are there.  http://www.prodyon-virtual-gear.com/products_phenome.html

 

[Robert FRANKLIN]

I am chasing as many FREE Sound-Fonts & VST Plug-ins of Harmonicas?

 

I have searched the web but not found any decent ones yet?

 

IF any of you have any and willing to send, please send as attachments to: [e-mail]

 

That would be great!

 

[Brian Cooper]

Cool! 

David Prouty said:

"How often does one come across single instrument .wav files?"

I hear you on that, but I have many friends that play different instruments and keep a zoom pocket recorder on me at all times, so for me fairly often. I also like experimenting so I will do things like feed AmazingMIDI samples of birds singing and then turn that into midi after that I reorganize it into a melody for flutes or piano you name it.

Robert FRANKLIN said:

How often does one come across single instrument .wav files?

 

 

[Caj Ilotuuli]

Thanks David !  I have used REAPER for some time now ( my first experience of a DAW ) and for me it is fantastic what I can do with different sound I´ve recorded . Caj Ilotuuli.

David Prouty said:

REAPER digital audio workstation - This is as close to free in the Pro Category as you will be able to find.

This software is pure gold. My prediction is that it will replace Pro Tools and many other daw's as the preferred professional recording solution in the near future. I can hear many of you saying to yourselves that's a bold statement and I will believe it when I see it. Here is my reasoning,

1. Sound on Sound has decided to run a monthly segment on Reaper because of it's growing popularity.
2. It cost's nothing to start using. You can use it as long as you like without purchasing it and all functionallity exists in the free version. Uncrippled, Unexpiring shareware. When you decide to make money using it then you are asked to purchase the software.
3. The updates happen at a breakneck pace every week or so and they look like what most commercial updates only manage to do in a year.
4. Reaper has a scripting engine that allows you to easily string together your own commands allowing you to attach as many action's as you like to a button. This is a great function for taking the tedious labor out of studio recording and unique to this software.

5. reaper has an engine inbuilt for designing your own plugins. Need a compressor of your own design build it right in Reaper.

6. Route any audio to anything. The routing engine in reaper is powerfull you can virtually send any channel or track anywhere you like.

7. There is a 64bit version and it has a unique plugin handling system so that all of your old 32bit vst plugin's will still work fine on your choice of platform. Windows 7 64bit anyone! Native VST plug-in bridging and firewalling allows you to run REAPER x64 with nearly seamless integration of Win32 plug-ins. Or, on any Windows system, firewall VST plug-ins in their own process space to maximize RAM utilization and protect against plug-in crashes bringing down the whole project. A firewalled Win32 VST plug-in can be configured to use up to 3GB of RAM all for itself, without sharing memory space with REAPER or any other plug-in, on any Windows system.
 8. Comprehensive Midi, with inline editing or sophisticated midi specific midi editor window. Scritable actions for most midi commands.
 9. Time-stretching and pitch-shifting, Zplane Elastique 2 algorithms for its pitch-shifting and time-stretching. 10. Mac or Pc.
11. A huge amount of inbuilt plugin's.
12. One of the best user forum's I have ever seen with a large support community.
13. Auto-tune style pitch correcting built in.

14. Reaper has NINJAM.  NINJAM is a program to allow people to make real music together via the Internet. Every participant can hear every other participant. Each user can also tweak their personal mix to his or her liking. NINJAM is cross-platform, with clients available for Mac OS X and Windows.

 15. Inline Video, comprehensive smpte time-code support.


The list go's on and it would take me along time to describe all the advantages to this software. Mark my words this is the future it is here now and you can download at no cost here.

[David Prouty]

I'm glad its working well for you. You made a good choice this should future proof the time you have spent learning. I figure it will eventually kill off many other DAWs, except for Ableton. Off course you will have diehards that wont switch but its user driven development is making it so competitive and a couple more years of break neck pace and it wont be hard to see who is winning the DAW wars. If you look at what upgrades happen in a months time it looks like what most DAWs only manage to change in 2 years time! Sound on Sound magazine hasnt bothered covering new DAWs for something like 9 years except for adding coverage of Reaper 6 months ago, so that's saying something. Plus you can use it free with zero features eliminated as long as you like.

Caj Ilotuuli said:

Thanks David !  I have used REAPER for some time now ( my first experience of a DAW ) and for me it is fantastic what I can do with different sound I´ve recorded . Caj Ilotuuli.

David Prouty said:

REAPER digital audio workstation - This is as close to free in the Pro Category as you will be able to find.

This software is pure gold. My prediction is that it will replace Pro Tools and many other daw's as the preferred professional recording solution in the near future. I can hear many of you saying to yourselves that's a bold statement and I will believe it when I see it. Here is my reasoning,

1. Sound on Sound has decided to run a monthly segment on Reaper because of it's growing popularity.
2. It cost's nothing to start using. You can use it as long as you like without purchasing it and all functionallity exists in the free version. Uncrippled, Unexpiring shareware. When you decide to make money using it then you are asked to purchase the software.
3. The updates happen at a breakneck pace every week or so and they look like what most commercial updates only manage to do in a year.
4. Reaper has a scripting engine that allows you to easily string together your own commands allowing you to attach as many action's as you like to a button. This is a great function for taking the tedious labor out of studio recording and unique to this software.

5. reaper has an engine inbuilt for designing your own plugins. Need a compressor of your own design build it right in Reaper.

6. Route any audio to anything. The routing engine in reaper is powerfull you can virtually send any channel or track anywhere you like.

7. There is a 64bit version and it has a unique plugin handling system so that all of your old 32bit vst plugin's will still work fine on your choice of platform. Windows 7 64bit anyone! Native VST plug-in bridging and firewalling allows you to run REAPER x64 with nearly seamless integration of Win32 plug-ins. Or, on any Windows system, firewall VST plug-ins in their own process space to maximize RAM utilization and protect against plug-in crashes bringing down the whole project. A firewalled Win32 VST plug-in can be configured to use up to 3GB of RAM all for itself, without sharing memory space with REAPER or any other plug-in, on any Windows system.
 8. Comprehensive Midi, with inline editing or sophisticated midi specific midi editor window. Scritable actions for most midi commands.
 9. Time-stretching and pitch-shifting, Zplane Elastique 2 algorithms for its pitch-shifting and time-stretching. 10. Mac or Pc.
11. A huge amount of inbuilt plugin's.
12. One of the best user forum's I have ever seen with a large support community.
13. Auto-tune style pitch correcting built in.

14. Reaper has NINJAM.  NINJAM is a program to allow people to make real music together via the Internet. Every participant can hear every other participant. Each user can also tweak their personal mix to his or her liking. NINJAM is cross-platform, with clients available for Mac OS X and Windows.

 15. Inline Video, comprehensive smpte time-code support.


The list go's on and it would take me along time to describe all the advantages to this software. Mark my words this is the future it is here now and you can download at no cost here.

[Andrew Highland]

I'm not sure if the free interfaces mentioned on this thread have Soundfont capabilities, but if they do then hammersound.net is a great resource for Soundfonts.  So is http://www.sf2midi.com/soundfonts/ - though you have to make an account, it's free.

[Karol Orzeł]

I'm new here so I will add free bits too :)

In 2010 EWQL published part of their award winning Symphony Orchestra for free. Basically some strings (legato, staccato). 

Full list here on screenshot: http://www.karolorzel.com/files/screens/Play-20111217-214520.jpg

One mic position only but still great sounding samples. Play interface. No iLok. I think it is (was) basically the best free library available. Even it contained small amount of instruments.

It was kind of Christmas promotion and sadly official link is dead now (http://www.soundsonline.com/free-orchestra) . But many websites still has a free version links available :) Just use google.

Thought i would share that library with you :)