KVR Audio

CeasefireXXV · Post by **CeasefireXXV** » Thu May 19, 2005 11:40 am

Hello Everyone

Didn't know if this was the best forum for this but I figured why not start at the top.

I'm new to the forum but not exactly new to making music ... well ... depends on how you look at it I guess. I created my first cd using cheeseball soundblaster Awe 64 gold onboard midi patches ... it's all i new at the time. I've since upgraded to a kurzweil 2500, sonar3, and a capable PC and I literally am going to fedex at lunch to pickup my newly purchased NI Komplete 2 package ... so I'm new to the scene in terms of using VSTi's and samplers to make music .. guess that does make me a newb, huh?

Well I'm writing because I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of some literature on the subject. I know I recently read another new member asking the exact same thing but i can't remember what forum he posted it in or what his alias was so I'm here to tug on your strings of compassion for a little literary assistance. And soon enough I hope to be making more contributions than asking for favors.

thx to anyone in advance!

bluedad · Post by **bluedad** » Thu May 19, 2005 12:06 pm

CeasefireXXV wrote:kurzweil

thanks!
I was trying to think of that name all day yesterday!

no, this doesn't answer your question, but welcome to kvr

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu May 19, 2005 12:53 pm

Hi, howdy, and welcome to KVR. Sounds like you're well equipped, with Sonar as your host and a big box of VST plug-ins arriving. There's a lot to the subject, hard to tell where to start. Are you already familiar with using Sonar, perhaps with the K2500? Is it using software instead of hardware that you'd like help with? Or maybe sound design? (There's an excellent free ebook available for that, "How to make a noise". The title is a link you can click.)

Meffy Ellis

--
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas -- Marx

Panda · Post by **Panda** » Thu May 19, 2005 1:01 pm

Curtis Roads- The Computer Music Tutorial

http://www.soundonsound.com/articles/Technique.php
(and check out synth secrets too)

Thom Holmes- Electronic and Experimental Music

about all i can think of right know (sorry i'm in the middle of exams so i can't think of much else

)

mayan · Post by **mayan** » Thu May 19, 2005 1:17 pm

welcome! This is a great (and addictive) place. KVR itself is an incredible resource; also the Cakewalk/Sonar forum at Cakewalk.com is extraordinarily helpful with very knowledgeable musicians, tech-heads and Cakewalk personnel. There is -I think- a public area at Sound on Sound Magazine with a lot of archived material on all aspects of "virtual" music-making. Also Computer and Future Music magazines, as well as, Electronic Musician.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu May 19, 2005 1:21 pm

Cakewalk forums: Agreed.

Also... I hate to mention it, but the Fine Manual is always a good read. ;-) When starting out with Sonar I found the book "Sonar 2 Power!" by Scott Garrigus very helpful. That might or might not be of use in your circumstances.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Thu May 19, 2005 2:54 pm

CeasefireXXV wrote:I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of some literature on the subject.

Welcome! Apart from literature don't be afraid to just jump in the pool,there are plenty of lifeguards around here in case you get stuck.

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Thu May 19, 2005 3:02 pm

So..what instrument are we discussing in this 'Instruments' thread?

CeasefireXXV · Post by **CeasefireXXV** » Thu May 19, 2005 5:43 pm

Sickle666 wrote:So..what instrument are we discussing in this 'Instruments' thread?

Does my brain count as an instrument?

Thanks to all for the quick posts! Very helpful and I will indeed be looking into those sites after work ... well maybe not today as I just got back from Fedex with my new toy in the car

But I will be reading them all very soon.

I know how to navigate ok in Sonar although I'm sure I'm only scrapping the surface. Ditto with the Kurzweil. So while I plan on diving into Komplete2, I want to have a decent knowledge base as I go or at least feed my brain while I play. Most of what I'd be needing help with .. well who am I kidding, everything really. But i guess with my new toy here, it'd be very interesting to learn some tips as to how to use the programs and how to manipulate the sounds .. and even create new ones. But like someone mentioned, I'm gonna read the manual and hopefully get alot out of that.

This definitely looks like a fun forum .. and sorry again if this was posted in the wrong place.

Can't wait to get home .. i'll be 24 on the 29th of this month yet I still felt gitty as a school girl when the fedex guy handed me the package. I'm a guy by the way.

thx again!

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu May 19, 2005 5:50 pm

From what I can tell, Sickle knows Reaktor and Absynth inside and out (literally in the case of Reaktor)... so maybe those are the instruments being discussed. :-}

To start, install your plug-ins, then run Cakewalk's plug-in adapter so Sonar will recognize them.

Open Sonar, create a blank song, bring up the Synth Rack window, add a soft synth of your choice (you have quite a choice there), and pretend it's hardware. Except you can't trip over the cables.

P.S.: Oh, and don't neglect to gloat over how much money you saved compared to buying hardware equivalents of all the stuff in that box. Definitely one of the most (selfishly) satisfying parts of using software for audio synthesis and processing.

CeasefireXXV · Post by **CeasefireXXV** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:47 pm

well, to sickle, do you have any suggestions as to what I might like to try first when I get reaktor up and going (be it 4 or 5)? The time is moving backwards I want to get home so bad ... I haven't even taken the damn thing out of the box it shipped in! .. Torture incarnate!

but soon

bluedad · Post by **bluedad** » Thu May 19, 2005 7:54 pm

CeasefireXXV wrote:well, to sickle, do you have any suggestions as to what I might like to try first when I get reaktor up and going (be it 4 or 5)?

but soon

yeah, that's going to be your biggest problem - which ensemble to play with first!
you've got enough to keep you busy for a long time.
you don't have to worry about how to build things in reaktor - yet - that is. Besides the insane stuff that ships with reaktor, there's the user library.
hehe, I know how you feel - I just got the updates for absynth, reaktor and kontakt last week

but in R4 check out vierring synth, carbon and steam pipe (should keep you occupied for a bit)

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:06 pm

heh..umm..I can't help you there, man..Just grab one & fire at will.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:06 pm

bluedad is right -- can't underestimate the power of just plain playing around. Explore a while, see what you've got, and when you need a real expert, or want to try out some interesting ensembles, Sickle's the man.

Considering you've got not just Reaktor but the whole Komplete 2 box... yeah, you'll not run out of stuff to play with for a loooong time. :-D

CeasefireXXV · Post by **CeasefireXXV** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:59 pm

you realize you guys are just making the time go slower, you know ...

what kind of stinks is that I'm going out of town this weekend to a bachelor party for a roommate of mine when i was in college. it's almost .. bittersweet.

can't wait to play around with it.. and when i'm finally getting comfy in about 3 weeks, hopefully, the updates for kontakt, reaktor, and absynth will arrive causing an overload of sonic joy. It's so fun being a musician. Everyone else's lives must be so boring.

Nice to be here