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Trance Master Rig (by tweak)
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sy000321
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
46
Posts :
1142
Posted : Dec 7, 2004 14:35
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hi,
found this article at http://tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm where the author sugests possible studios according to the type of music being composed.
what are your opinions? any one here having similar stuff?
copy+paste: "There are many types of music that were built around analog synths and analog drum boxes. Disco, techno, and trance are the common definitions. These arose out of a combination of the now venerable Roland TR808 and TR909 drumboxes and TB303 synth box, with analog synths being tracked along side, sometimes with hardware step sequencers. That's the old school. Here's the new school. The first software modeled synth on the market was Propellerheads Rebirth, which emulated the above to a tee. This later gave rise to Reason, and then the scene exploded with now hundreds of hardware and software virtual analog synths, propelled by the ever evolving dance music scene.
Building a modern trance studio requires a computer and a not only one sequencer, but several. Thanks to a technology called ReWire, developed by the Propellerheads, we can run several sequencers inside of a main sequencer. For example you can run Reason inside of your choice of Sonar, Cubase, Logic Digital performer or Nuendo. This allows you to create a total software environment of sequencers and soft synths emulating massive analog rigs. For the sake of authenticity, the advanced trancemaster might add a few vintage analog MIDI synths or the modern hardware virtual analog equivalents. One of those is the Access Virus, known as one of the best sounding of the virtual analogs.
Naturally, with so much software running you need a really fast computer. because the music is itself the fastest on the planet, you need an audio interface that can spit out tons of lines of 32nd notes to several synths at fast tempos and stay in time. Today's modern computers and interfaces are up to the task. You don't need a lot of i/o unless you want it; you only need a mixer if you have a lot of hardware midi modules, otherwise these can be plugged into the audio interface itself.
A good keyboard for this kind of music has a light plastic touch. 88 wooden keys will only slow you down. Here you the kind of music that you need knobs and controllers that everyone makes such a big deal about. Cubase SX is my sequencer of choice for this type of music, and I feel Reason is a "gotta have". Cakewalk is making waves with Project 5 and if you really need to take a step out of the ordinary, and you do, in this form, I suggest adding Reaktor Session by native instruments."
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
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1560
Posted : Dec 7, 2004 15:05
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I think you are fine with one sequencer.
I never bothered to use rewire, and propellerheads products is not a must to have in a setup IMO.
To call the Virus a vintage analog ??
Ok, he does say in the next sentence thats it's a virtual analog...hmm, make up your mind.
If you want to use hardware I would say get a proper analog to get something that really give a different sound than the VA's that is available in such a plentitude as plugins.
Preferably not a vintage one but a new one like the Studio Electronics stuff or andromeda. The tend to sound tighter than the many times worn and tired machines from the 70's.
Keyboard he's right about. Weighted keyboards is good if you are playing piano samples.
Otherwise a normal keyboard is more responsive and easier to play on.
But he seems well confused about what an audio interface is.
They don't spit out notes to synths. MIDI interfaces do that.
Speaking like he should give advice to trancemasters seems way out of his depth.
He seems like he would need advice rather IMO.
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sy000321
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
46
Posts :
1142
Posted : Dec 7, 2004 16:11
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"add a few vintage analog MIDI synths or the modern hardware virtual analog equivalents. One of those is the Access Virus, known as one of the best sounding of the virtual analogs."
i agree with him about the virus. not sure about using loads of sequencers...
about de audio interface... most people use cards with both midi and audio (i use a midi interface and a soundcard) and i think he was refering to that fact.
what's your setup spindrift? is it something like this  http://www.cloudster.com/Sets&Vehicles/Spindrift/spindrift02.jpg |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Dec 7, 2004 17:51
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LOL...that looks like a well cool setup.
Unfortunally it looks more like this:
http://www.combimouse.com/Applications/images/Notebook%20computer.jpg
My main tool since many years is the pulsar, which I have a box for so I can connect it to my laptop.
Personally I am extremly bored with the virus sound, and if I had one I would sell it straight away and get more plugins for my pulsar card.
Otherwise I think I understand what he meant, but if he can't express himself better he should stay away from trying to write guides for people.
For me it's not much of useful advice as some not so thought out explanation how he think it's good to work, but worded in a way to try to seem like educated advice.
I would not take it as serious advice myself for sure anyway.
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Dec 7, 2004 20:50
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Quote:
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On 2004-12-07 14:35, sy000321 wrote:
hi,
found this article at http://tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm where the author sugests possible studios according to the type of music being composed.
what are your opinions? any one here having similar stuff?
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Some of it. I use CakeWalk Sonar and have a Virus. But that is as far as the similarity goes. I only sequence in Sonar and never use Reason or any other sequencer. I also have a load of outboard gear that I use in conjunction with software. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
The only thing that I never do in hardware any more is sampling. I have a Yamaha A5000 gathering dust and the Kruzweill K2600 only does synthesis these days. Working in the computer is just that much easier for samples.
On the synths front I use anything and everything. It can be analogue hardware (Andromeda, Pulse) or digital hardware (Z1, Virus, MS2000, FS1R, Kurzweill) or softsynths (Z3ta+, Discovery, Audio Realism Bassline, Muon stuff, NI stuff, LinPlug stuff, Korg Legacy and a whole pletoria of free plugins. I also write my own when I can't find what I need to do a specific task).
So all in all, just use what works for you.
UnderTow
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ZilDoggo
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
663
Posted : Dec 7, 2004 21:22
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i think this guy is realy bogus.,
it's realy stupid to think you need several sequencers running at the same time to make hip tunes.,
MAYBE 2 different ones for cool combinations.,
but you will get serious overhead if you just boot 5 or so and try to run them together,.
what he propably means is that to make good music you should use several TOOLS., not nessesary sequencers.,
and furthermore i think it is important WHAT you do with the tools.,
if you run cubase, reason and live at the same time but you dont know how to work them then its wasted time i think.,
so LEARN the tools first before you decide wether you need them.,
here are some comments:
"The first software modeled synth on the market was Propellerheads Rebirth"
that's not very true., i've seen software synths as early as 1990., tho it wasnt for pc's per se.,
"This allows you to create a total software environment of sequencers and soft synths emulating massive analog rigs."
i dont know what he means by Massive, but whatever i do my 2.8gigahertz pc does not do Massive rigs the way I imagine it
i can do about 12 vst's max and i dont use reason cos it sounds like sh*t. (IMHO of course)
"might add a few vintage analog MIDI synths"
i think there is only one vintage analog MIDI synth, Roland Juno 60 (i think) ., and it even had digitally controlled oscilators!!
anyone knows more,??
also, VA hardware synths usually are far from 'authentic' ,. some recent vst plugs are, tho.,
"because the music is itself the fastest on the planet, you need an audio interface that can spit out tons of lines of 32nd notes to several synths at fast tempos and stay in time."
there are two things wrong with this statement.,
- saying the music is the fastest on earth is bull., i know of clasical music faster than drum&bass.., and then not everyone makes fast music.,.
- i have programmed 64'th notes on a soundblaster and it worked.,
- audio interface has NOTHING to do with sending notes to several (presumably software) synths.,
and if he means MIDI synths then it's even more bull than otherwise.,
a good soundcard will help you having more audio channels (but not synths or notes) and it will help with latency.,
but it will not alow you to use more shorter notes or sumthing.,.,
"You don't need a lot of i/o unless you want it;"
agreed.,,.
" you only need a mixer if you have a lot of hardware midi modules, otherwise these can be plugged into the audio interface itself."
well., and for external effects.,
and for an analog feel downmix of separate soundcard outputs (which can increese usable bandwidth)
and for several other thingies.,
soo, all in all, i feel this guy is pushing people needlessly into a certain direction.,
him saying reason is a 'gotta have' feels like he's not so mature in music making.,
sure, its a tool but imo not so special unless you want to be portable.,
there are a lot of softies out there that eat reason for lunch,.,
also, there are so many options nowadays that i think he's leaving out a lot of cool stuff,.
he's also making it sound simple.,
beginners will be very lucky if they can make a system with several sequencers running at the same time work without hickups.,
i dont want to sound too negative but i think he's making it sound way too easy.
people can get anything he sais but then what?,
IMO you can start with a lot less than he describes but as you get more experienced you will easily need way more than he sais.,
so it's always a balance between your skills, your money and your whishes.,.,
greets.,
aka., |
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Mo-Dul
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
15
Posts :
135
Posted : Dec 8, 2004 01:29
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Just for the record, many people do crazy music with a good sound quality
with a simple MIDI keyboard and Cubase!!!
But in my opinion a pair of monitors is a must!
Peace..
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WAVELOGIX
Wavelogix
Started Topics :
136
Posts :
1214
Posted : Dec 8, 2004 20:35
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monitors first dudes , if u really want to know what the hell ure making !! |
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