Making a computer music workstation

[Bardolph]

Depending on where I end up going to school, I may end up living at home for a while, in which case I'm thinking about making my desktop PC a music-only computer, since there's already a good computer here. We've got a Roland Fantom synth, the older one, and I think it can be used as a midi controller. Now the only thing I know about midi keyboards is that you can use a sound module or software to generate your sound. Beyond that, I have no idea where to start as far as what software to look into, how to set up my computer so I'll be able to record multiple tracks, how to set up the keyboard, whatever. As far as sound, the two primary things I'm looking for are really good piano and drum sounds. In the world of computer recording there are a million things out there so I'm not sure where to start. Any of you into that stuff, what's a good forum or source of info?

Just as a semi-related side note, I just wanted to say to my fellow TBers that I've never found a music forum I liked as much as talkbass. Granted I'm a bassist primarily, but the people on this site are just fantastic. Thanks guys.

[BassChuck]

There are so many options here that you really should make it a point to check them all out before you start spending money.

If you already have a MIDI keyboard, you don't need to spend any more money there. I think you should seriously consider making your studio all soft synths and samplers.

This is the area I've been teaching for the last 7 years. The lab I have has a computer with sequencing software and then also a Roland keyboard. This has worked well, but next year we are selling the synths, getting an inexpensive keyboard controller (makes no sound) and moving to all synthesizers, samplers, and sequencing done within the computer. The choice of synthesizers (software) is amazing, and inexpensive. This allows us to have many more sounds available to us, and we can add on to this cheaply in the future.

Some software to check out. Reason (great sounds, but not so advanced in the sequencing department), Ableton Live (many computer players use Ableton Live to drive the sound engines in Reason). Also check out MOTU's (Mark of the Unicorn) MACH 5 sampler... really easy to use. If you perform live on a instrument, you might check out Band In A Box as a software that helps with practicing and also can generate some basically OK accompaniments that can be saved as Standard MIDI Files and used in other sequencers.

Call Lentine's music in Akron Ohio. They will be able to help you with all the options and make your studio what you need it to be. Also, check out some publication. "Electronic Musician", "Future Music", and "Computer Music" are some of the best, although there are others too. (Google is your friend).

Good luck.

[keb]

Right off the bat (I'm still waking up and waiting for my coffee to set in), I can say for good drum sounds, look to either fxpansion's BFD or Toontrack's Drumkit From Hell series. There's a popular free sampled drumkit called ns_kit, but BFD and DKFH absolutely 100% blow it away in sound quality and flexibility, IMO. But the ns_kit is free and will do in a pinch.

Linkage:
http://www.fxpansion.com
http://www.toontrack.com
http://www.naturalstudio.co.uk/

[Bardolph]

Thanks guys. Couple questions.
I downloaded the free ns drumkit and piano patches. I notice the file extensions are .sfArk. Now what kind of software would utilize these patches? Is there some good shareware or free trial recording programs that will let me use these downloaded sounds?

Also, I know I'll be wanting a good sound card. I see that you can connect to the computer several ways, usb and firewire and whatever else. Basically I picture myself wanting to be able to use our keyboard as a controller and to be able to record my bass and guitar in stereo. How should I be connecting everything, and will I need an external audio interface to record in stereo or record more than one thing at once?

[Der Bluten Kat]

a software program with several sounds/samples and soft synths is a good investment... preferably acid or cakewalk if you can afford them.

[Bardolph]

What's the best way to connect to the computer? I'm seeing midi usb cables that plug into the keyboard and usb. Is usb good for that, are certain connections more laggy than others? What about for recording something like bass and guitar?

[Bardolph]

Is it ok to bump? I don't want to bump without permission. Just checking. I will wait for the word...

[DougP]

USB is perfectly fine for MIDI. for audio (guitar, vocals, bass,etc) i would go with Firewire, especially if you intend to record more than one track at once.