KVR Audio

lingyai · Post by **lingyai** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:22 pm

Hi there, my friend's 9-year old daughter is a very bright and creative kid, just starting to learn keyboard and loving it. I noticed her keyboard (some kind of low-budget Yamaha) has midi out. So I'd like to recommend to her parents (who know nothing about making music with computers) an inexpensive, VERY simple multi-track midi sequencer (so... no Reaper etc

) which will let her record herself, edit the performance, and multitrack. Would be nice if she could mix down projects to audio too. Also looking for a decent quality, inexpensive GM soundset VSTi or what have you so it's not all playing through the default crappy Microsoft synth. (Again, has to be hassle-free... so, sorry, no SampleTank Free

). We are talking about a Baby's First Sequencer kind of thing. Any suggestions much appreciated.

reusenoise · Post by **reusenoise** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:37 pm

I will suggest to start with Acid Express http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/xpress/
I know it's focused on loops,but for a 9 years old beginner it's a good way to understand how a sequencer work,my kid start with Acid when he was seven

When she understand how it works,maybe tray Mutools MuLab free http://www.mutools.com/mulab-downloads.html
For GM banks there are a lot of SF2 banks,some are quite good.

Cheers

lingyai · Post by **lingyai** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:49 pm

reusenoise wrote:I will suggest to start with Acid Express http://www.acidplanet.com/downloads/xpress/
I know it's focused on loops,but for a 9 years old beginner it's a good way to understand how a sequencer work,my kid start with Acid when he was seven
When she understand how it works,maybe tray Mutools MuLab free http://www.mutools.com/mulab-downloads.html
For GM banks there are a lot of SF2 banks,some are quite good.

Cheers

AHA! Acid Pro is my main DAW, I recommend Acid studio for simplicity's sake to adult newbies. I had simply assumed Acid Express had no midi. Great tip, thanks!

lingyai · Post by **lingyai** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:51 pm

One more thing, reusenoise: does Acid Xpress take VSTis? If so, a free soundfont player would work... Do you know what default synth it uses? Sorry, I can't find any documentation on the Sony site...

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 3:52 pm

I taught an 8 year-old how to use Ableton Live Lite ... he picked it up pretty quick.

lingyai · Post by **lingyai** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:00 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote:I taught an 8 year-old how to use Ableton Live Lite ... he picked it up pretty quick.

The thing is, both parents are kinda techophobic, and as they live in another country, I could not help out really... so something like Ableton is way over the top. Too many features, distractions ... I really am looking form something dead simple.

reusenoise · Post by **reusenoise** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:06 pm

lingyai wrote:One more thing, reusenoise: does Acid Xpress take VSTis? If so, a free soundfont player would work... Do you know what default synth it uses? Sorry, I can't find any documentation on the Sony site...

No it can't host vst,but if I remember it have a basic midi integrated sound module

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:18 pm

lingyai wrote:
thecontrolcentre wrote:I taught an 8 year-old how to use Ableton Live Lite ... he picked it up pretty quick.
The thing is, both parents are kinda techophobic, and as they live in another country, I could not help out really... so something like Ableton is way over the top. Too many features, distractions ... I really am looking form something dead simple.

OK ... how about this one from ndc?

http://www.niallmoody.com/ndcplugs/myfi ... uencer.htm

deleted · Post by **deleted** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:25 pm

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reusenoise · Post by **reusenoise** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:32 pm

Call me crazy but Reaper can do the job.
Just made a template with:sound font player + GM sounfont,midi in,audio recording and everithing you think she should use,then just teach her how to open Reaper and load the template

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:04 pm

lingyai wrote:an inexpensive, VERY simple multi-track midi sequencer (so... no Reaper etc )

reusenoise wrote:Call me crazy but Reaper can do the job.

You're crazeee

pljones · Post by **pljones** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:08 pm

Have you checked out MU.LAB? Simple sequencing with VST support if you want it. Good MIDI editing. A range of built-in synths and effects, too.

deleted · Post by **deleted** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:10 pm

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k3ith · Post by **k3ith** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:15 pm

Just get FL Studio and have it over and done with. It's what most nine year olds use these days... isn't it? :p

k3ith

Nielzie · Post by **Nielzie** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:40 pm

MU.LAB 3

Very easy to use. There is a also free version fully functional but with 4 tracks limitation. Seems enough tracks to use for a 9 year old though.

It's used educational on some schools too.

Cheap, super-easy MIDI sequencer for a clever 9 year old?