Okay....

I know it's not anything fancy, and this only costs about 60 bucks, but 60 bucks is hard for a brotha to give up right about now so I need to know if I am getting my money's worth....

I was thinking about getting a digital USB keyboard cable that will transmit my keyboard or vocal sound through my computer with little or no background noise....I guess it's the new way to do Midi....this costs about 35 bucks.

The other thing is the newest version of the MusicMaker software....it has everything....sequencers, vocoder, real time drums, etc....I think I can run my keyboard and vocals through it....

I just recently got a PC that can handle the new software, so I think I'm ready to move into digital now rather than all of the analog that I've been doing. I've got Soundforge already. Is Soundforge enough, or should I go ahead and buy the stuff I mentioned....?

Z

hmmm... Let me look into that. I'm all apple.

FirstLight said:

This has NOTHING 2 do with MIDI.

Well - there's USB interfaces that transmit midi as well as audio into the computer via a usb connection.

The ones I've seen range from $69 to $1199 so, it sounds like a good way to get started. Be careful though. USB has latency issues, as opposed to firewire. But those latency issues don't really show up until you're transmitting lots of data to and from that USB connection.

As far as software - I'm a huge fan of Audacity lately - it's free, multi-tracking. I don't know if it does midi or not - I don't do that stuff.

Hope this helped a little bit.

beauhall said:

Yes. I've noticed that with my rig. When I connect the mic through the USB hub, what I sing/speak is a hair behind what I hear through the headphones. So to compensate, I can sing/speak the words a little at a time counting to myself instead of using the headphones. Being a drummer helps with those timing issues too.

There's a 300 dollar firewire unit that I want. It has a whole lot of other functions as well though.

As far as the unit and software in question FirstLight, I couldn't tell you one thing if it's any good or not.

The best thing for you in my opinon is to obtain some sort of software that lets you record multiple tracks (as you are a one man band) with an interface (vocals and keyboards) that allow you to do so. The details are ultimately up to your budget. Everything I obtain is one side job to the next. I've done all-nighters just to get a frickin' cable/adapter.

I remember using Soundforge a long time ago, but the version I had did not allow me to do multi track recording.

I have a vs-880, i did my whole album on it, funny thing is, I still owe 800 on it when it's not worth 300 on ebay. It's great! Bad think about all this computer crap is it takes time to figure out and is a whole different skill aside from music, the good thing is you don't really have to deal with every wannabe, loser producer who wants to feed you some lines and get nothing done. If the other guys agree, I'll throw in 20 bucks for you, I remember what it was like when I was so obsessed by music that I had absolutely no time to do anything else, it's a frusturating feeling because it kind of gets you stuck, us musical obsessives can't help ourselves, I've sacrificed everything for music. these days though, it's fairly easy to get good recording equipement.

mozfonky said:

You know, I have been asking myself the same questions. Learning how to use software to make music is SOOOO unfun to me. I love to grab the synth and go to town....I lose the "funky" when I am thinking about computer jargon. Maybe I'll just stick with getting a better Tascam recorder, a better mic, and one of these days a newer synth/key/workstation like a Korg Karma or something....

FirstLight said:

LOVE the Karma. I'll NEVER get rid of this board.

if i could do the same things with tape I may have done so, it's not a huge loss of quality but digital (once you figure some stuff out) is superior in so many ways. I hate reading manuals and all of that, and computers have so many quirks that you have to learn about. I never could find professional people to work with so I just went ahead and did everything myself, at least I got something done.

Graycap23 said:

Right now, I've got a Korg N364. Me and VinaBlue have the same board (unless she's updated recently). I like the board, but it's a bit old (mid-late 90's).

FirstLight said:

I see your problem.

I've also got a mid-late 90s keyboard, but I'm very happy with it. It samples, has onboard sequencer and programmable tones. It's the EX-7. You rarely see one on e-bay, but they usually go fer $350

Hey,ya can't go wrong with an old Korg 01W. It has some great sounds!

FirstLight said:

Im not familiar with the Software your running... If you want to control sounds in your computer, Midi is fine and you can always buy sound banks... I dont have much Midi experience... so Im not really able to tell you about the USB Midi cable.

...If you want to record audio from something outside, to inside your computer (eg. Playing something on the Keyboard)... You could try the MBox 2 (I hear that ProTools Le software comes with it... I dont use ProTools tho.)... it has Audio In/Out, Mic inputs and Midi on board..
http://www.digidesign.com...temid=4893

There is also an MBox 2 Factory Bundle that comes with a few plug-ins
http://www.digidesign.com...temid=4945

...Then there is M-Audio... which I like... its affordable and does what I need it to ... Im Apple/Mac based like 'yomama'... but I know that it works with PCs as well.

They have PCI Interfaces... which are sound cards that you have to get installed (I think)... The Audiophile 192 and Audiophile 2496 are the most Affordable of the bunch.. they give you audio In/Out as well as Midi... no Mic Inputs on board.
http://www.m-audio.com/in...interfaces

Then there are 'Mobile' recording audio interfaces (I like the FireWire AudioFile) It has Midi In/Out as well as audio... no Mic inputs on board (so you would need a mixer (or something) to get a mic thru it)
http://www.m-audio.com/in...interfaces

If these intrest you... I guess you would need to find out if they or something like em works with Music Maker... If thats your choice of software.

I know the cost is a little high... Maybe at least this will help give you an idea of what is out there.

Hope that helps.



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[Edited 7/14/06 11:18am]

Peep ebay: Roland 3080 with 3 expansion cards $550.00
GREAT price.