Trying to create sounds for my animations

[casko]

Hi, I'm Ezequiel from Argentina, I'm a 3d motion designer trying to get to the world of synths to make sounds for my animations.

My inspiration is ( http://www.echolab.tv/ specially the 2nd video BOSE SurroundSound) those abstracts sounds would be perfect for my animations.

My cousin give me a Casio wk 1200 ( http://i.anunciosgratis.com.ar/i-a/UL9I-1.jpg ) and a friend recommended me to buy a Fast Track Pro ( http://www.productwiki.com/upload/image ... ck_pro.jpg )

I don't know much about music, I play guitar and I wanna try to create some abstract sounds for my animations so I want to ask in the forum if this 2 elements are good to start ( I also want to use Synplant wich seems to be easy)

So, I'm in a good start with these elements? I only have the Casio right now, do you recommend me the Fast Track Pro to start?

Thanks for your time

If you want to see some of my 3D work:
http://postimage.org/image/uh39skgw1/full/

Cheers!

[tehlord]

If somebody wanted to do what you do, with little experience what you suggest?

[EnGee]

Hi, I'm Ezequiel from Argentina, I'm a 3d motion designer trying to get to the world of synths to make sounds for my animations.

My inspiration is ( http://www.echolab.tv/ specially the 2nd video BOSE SurroundSound) those abstracts sounds would be perfect for my animations.

My cousin give me a Casio wk 1200 ( http://i.anunciosgratis.com.ar/i-a/UL9I-1.jpg ) and a friend recommended me to buy a Fast Track Pro ( http://www.productwiki.com/upload/image ... ck_pro.jpg )

I don't know much about music, I play guitar and I wanna try to create some abstract sounds for my animations so I want to ask in the forum if this 2 elements are good to start ( I also want to use Synplant wich seems to be easy)

So, I'm in a good start with these elements? I only have the Casio right now, do you recommend me the Fast Track Pro to start?

Thanks for your time

If you want to see some of my 3D work:
http://postimage.org/image/uh39skgw1/full/

Cheers!

Hola Ezequiel,

Welcome to KVR!

IMO I don't think Casio wk 1200 would do for you. I suggest you sell it and buy a midi keyboard/controller that has knobs/sliders.

For now, you can have a taste of what you might be busy with in the future:
1. Download Asio4All (search it. it is free) install.
2. Make a folder VSTplugins in your hard drive.
3. Download a host like podium free, reaper, fl studio demo, cubase elements trial ..etc. search here in KVR for vst host.
4. Install the host(s). Read little bit of the manual.
5. Search for ambient/pads/texture synths. In addition to synplant I suggest you try Padshop pro from steinberg. it is easy to use and would be a good fit for your needs. You can also try Absynth from Native Instruments or Alchemy from camel audio. Install them into the vstplugins folder you created and read the manual of your host how to have sounds from them.

You can test all this without buying anything now.
Later, maybe you would need an audio interface like the 'fast track' and a midi keyboard/controller.
...
..
.

[casko]

If somebody wanted to do what you do, with little experience what you suggest?

lol I would try to give him some instructions for start on basics of what he want to achieve and recommend him to spend a lot of time/effort!

I don't have any experience with Casio but Im really motivated and I really want to learn! I'm addicted to music, specially progresive rock like pink floyd, so I'll give a try

[casko]

Hola Ezequiel,

Welcome to KVR!

IMO I don't think Casio wk 1200 would do for you. I suggest you sell it and buy a midi keyboard/controller that has knobs/sliders.

For now, you can have a taste of what you might be busy with in the future:
1. Download Asio4All (search it. it is free) install.
2. Make a folder VSTplugins in your hard drive.
3. Download a host like podium free, reaper, fl studio demo, cubase elements trial ..etc. search here in KVR for vst host.
4. Install the host(s). Read little bit of the manual.
5. Search for ambient/pads/texture synths. In addition to synplant I suggest you try Padshop pro from steinberg. it is easy to use and would be a good fit for your needs. You can also try Absynth from Native Instruments or Alchemy from camel audio. Install them into the vstplugins folder you created and read the manual of your host how to have sounds from them.

You can test all this without buying anything now.
Later, maybe you would need an audio interface like the 'fast track' and a midi keyboard/controller.
...
..
.
Gr

Well, I can't sell it because isn't mine, but I'll start learning from all those links/soft you gave me, I learned 3d by myself so I'll search for some manuals/tutorials, as you said I'll be busy for a while with all this info.

I'll see how this goes and then buy some stuff in the future (if I see some progress of course )

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate!

Cheers

[EnGee]

Well, I can't sell it because isn't mine, but I'll start learning from all those links/soft you gave me, I learned 3d by myself so I'll search for some manuals/tutorials, as you said I'll be busy for a while with all this info.

in that case you can use the Casio as midi controller.

You can search for "Midi to USB" cable, so that you can connect the casio to your computer and use it.

I did that many years ago with a casio keyboard and emagic Logic 4 for PC at that time.
With a midi sequencer, your casio can play the midi channels as a midi output.

Good luck

...
..
.

[deastman]

To put this in animation terms....

You need a music making program, known as a digital audio workstation, or DAW, also referred to as a sequencer or a host. This is the program where you do all of your recording and editing. Think of it like Maya, 3ds Max, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, etc.

You need one or more virtual synthesizers. These are plugins to your DAW, just like you can get plugins for 3D software. Some are free, many are commercial. These are like the virtual equivalent of your Casio, and they are the things which actually make noise. Your DAW may come with several of these included, and there are thousands of others.

If you want to record your guitar or other real world sounds, you will need an audio interface. This is what gets sound in and out of your computer. It is usually a box that sits on you desk and connects to your computer with usb or sometimes firewire.

You will want a piano keyboard to control your virtual synths. The Casio is probably fine, if it has a MIDI out jack on the back. Connect it to your computer with a MIDI to usb cable, or the audio interface you get may also include a MIDI interface.

Speakers, headphones, a microphone.... If you need one or more of these, they will connect to your audio interface.

If you have a local music store, I suggest talking to them about some of the many products to choose from.

[casko]

Yeah that was my idea, use the Casio as a midi , problem is in my small town there aren't Midi > Usb adaptors, but I just bought one from Internet

I have been watching some video tutorials for Cubase basics, now I have a better idea about all stuff, basicaly I use cubase to compose the midi info (luckily with my Casio) and then I have VST plugins to add some effects, right?

I have been trying to install Padshop pro, looks really great but on the site says that isn't available for my country lol, so I downloaded Alchemy, now I'm searching about how to install on Cubase because when I add an Instrument I don't see Alchemy on the list, but Ill figure out.

I set the vst plugin where I got alchemy.dll and also deleted st2xplugins.xml for a re-scan but Isn't showing, Ill search for other ambient VST, there are tons of them I think

2 last questions, if the Midi 2 usb adaptor can help me to input the midi data from the Casio to Cubase, the Fast Track Pro what does it do? the same with better quality?

I need to buy a midi sequencer or I just need the Midi to Usb to start composing?

Thanks again, this community rocks!

p.s: I'm curious about the music you compose, do u have a link?

[casko]

To put this in animation terms....

You need a music making program, known as a digital audio workstation, or DAW, also referred to as a sequencer or a host. This is the program where you do all of your recording and editing. Think of it like Maya, 3ds Max, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, etc.

You need one or more virtual synthesizers. These are plugins to your DAW, just like you can get plugins for 3D software. Some are free, many are commercial. These are like the virtual equivalent of your Casio, and they are the things which actually make noise. Your DAW may come with several of these included, and there are thousands of others.

If you want to record your guitar or other real world sounds, you will need an audio interface. This is what gets sound in and out of your computer. It is usually a box that sits on you desk and connects to your computer with usb or sometimes firewire.

You will want a piano keyboard to control your virtual synths. The Casio is probably fine, if it has a MIDI out jack on the back. Connect it to your computer with a MIDI to usb cable, or the audio interface you get may also include a MIDI interface.

Speakers, headphones, a microphone.... If you need one or more of these, they will connect to your audio interface.

If you have a local music store, I suggest talking to them about some of the many products to choose from.

I just readed this! Awesome explanation, now I got a better understand of this world, thank you!

[deastman]

The Fast Track Pro looks like it has everything you would need in terms of getting audio and MIDI into and out of your computer.

It sounds like you already have some version of Cubase, so that is your DAW. If you aren't happy with Cubase, you could also try out Reaper for free:
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/

I should have mentioned that there are two types of VST plugins: effects and instruments. Instruments are often referred to as "VSTi's", and those would be things such as synthesizers and drum machines. VST effects are things like echos, filters, and distortion which alter the sound which is fed into them, just like a Photoshop blur effect will change the pixels to which it is applied.

You don't need to run out and buy plugins right away. There are thousands of free ones to play with. Just hang out at KVR for a little while, talk to some people, and you'll get plenty of recommendations for good ones to start with. After you understand what you're looking for, you'll be in a much better position to buy appropriate commercial instruments.

[casko]

The Fast Track Pro looks like it has everything you would need in terms of getting audio and MIDI into and out of your computer.

It sounds like you already have some version of Cubase, so that is your DAW. If you aren't happy with Cubase, you could also try out Reaper for free:
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/

I should have mentioned that there are two types of VST plugins: effects and instruments. Instruments are often referred to as "VSTi's", and those would be things such as synthesizers and drum machines. VST effects are things like echos, filters, and distortion which alter the sound which is fed into them, just like a Photoshop blur effect will change the pixels to which it is applied.

You don't need to run out and buy plugins right away. There are thousands of free ones to play with. Just hang out at KVR for a little while, talk to some people, and you'll get plenty of recommendations for good ones to start with. After you understand what you're looking for, you'll be in a much better position to buy appropriate commercial instruments.

I have always been interested in make my own music but I didn't started because when I did a fast research a few years ago I had a mess in my head I mean lots of terms, VST, Host, DAW, etc, also when I saw some complex interfces I thought WTF.

Now I have a good overall understanding of each thing, thanks EnGee & deastman for you time explaining me all this stuff, I really appreciate.

Cheers!

[JJBiener]

Would you be interested in doing animations to music? I have been interested in finding someone to do videos. Is that something that might interest you?

[casko]

Would you be interested in doing animations to music? I have been interested in finding someone to do videos. Is that something that might interest you?

Sure!, Would be great to do a colab work, send me some song and your ideas to my mail and I'll give a try when I have some free time! info@caskal.com

I just installed my first VST instruments / effects and started playing, this stuff is fun to play with! I'm like a children with a new gift lol


Cheers!

[JJBiener]

Would you be interested in doing animations to music? I have been interested in finding someone to do videos. Is that something that might interest you?

Sure!, Would be great to do a colab work, send me some song and your ideas to my mail and I'll give a try when I have some free time! info@caskal.com

Cheers!

I am working on some new music. I will be in touch.

[deastman]

Casko- by the way, my "day job" is as an animator, for the past 22 years. Feel free to message me if you want to talk shop.