i just started using cubase 2 and have a few questions to get me started. my setup currently is just going to be vsti based so everything i'm doing will be midi recording. now my question is should all midi tracks be converted (recorded) to wav files and then processed with effects such as compression and reverb etc? and if so how would i go about doing the drums if i'm using battery as a sampler? i have just been having a seperate midi track for each instrument and processing the midi channels and they tend to just sound crappy, so i figured i was doing something wrong. also how do you decide which effects are suitable for inserts and which for sends? i've been reading the manual to learn the program but these are some of the things the manual will not help with so any help would be appreciated, thanks a lot.
phillip
new to midi and audio recording (need cubase sx 2 help)
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- KVRist
- 133 posts since 21 Jan, 2005
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 133 posts since 21 Jan, 2005
anyone have any advice?
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- KVRAF
- 6179 posts since 29 Mar, 2003 from Location: Location
Rendering a midi track instrument to a wave track is not at all necessary if you have enough cpu power to run your whole project as vsti/vst,(instruments and effects).should all midi tracks be converted (recorded) to wav files and then processed
If,at a sample rate that you have lowered,(your sound cards ASIO driver settings), in order to reduce your latency as you play while listening,causes crackles in the sound as you play an instrument...you can do 1 of 3 things;
-raise your samples,(increasing your latency"in time")
-render one or more tracks to wave audio,and delete the vsti.
-or...you can use the freeze feature on one or more tracks.
The crackles in the sound come from the PC`s cpu being overworked.
What are you doing exactly when the result sounds crappy?processing the midi channels and they tend to just sound crappy, so i figured i was doing something wrong
When you do a bounce or mixdown to wave,(in real time),the midi track playing battery...battery will mixdown to wave as any other instrument will.and if so how would i go about doing the drums if i'm using battery as a sampler?
No need to pay much attention to sends until you have a good practical grasp on insert effects/dynamics effects.how do you decide which effects are suitable for inserts and which for sends?
Sends/FX tracks/group tracks and such can be practiced later.
You will still get good results without using them now.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 133 posts since 21 Jan, 2005
well all my midi tracks don't seem to sound professional?.. i mean i'm not going out for a pro sound but they sound very thin and weak, and like they are not in their right places in the mix. which leads me to believe that eq would fix that, but i'm not sure how to go about eq'ng and other effects quite yet. are there any insert effects that are essential to midi tracks?What are you doing exactly when the result sounds crappy?
now.
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- KVRAF
- 6179 posts since 29 Mar, 2003 from Location: Location
If you want to post an mp3 here...or if you can`t ,send an example mp3 of the sound as an attachment through my e-mail.
That would be best.
That would be best.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 133 posts since 21 Jan, 2005
i will do that when i get back from work, that would great. also, as far as sound quality.. if it is just outgoing audio from vsti's, would a better sound card produce better quality? currently i'm using an onboard realtek card with nvidia asio. i am getting the audiophile 2496 next week sometime, but i was just curious if the sound output would be better.
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- KVRAF
- 6179 posts since 29 Mar, 2003 from Location: Location
about the card/speakers;
If pre-recorded music sounds ok,(CD`s,dloaded mp3`s),I do`nt see a reason yet why you can`t achieve similar sound quality.(relitivly speaking).
If pre-recorded music sounds ok,(CD`s,dloaded mp3`s),I do`nt see a reason yet why you can`t achieve similar sound quality.(relitivly speaking).
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- KVRist
- 88 posts since 16 Sep, 2003 from Austin, Texas
It's not real clear from your post, but maybe a big issue you are having is being sort of new to mixing music and using effects in general. If so, searching the effects section of the forum, and/or getting a good book or two on using audio effects would help lots. Proper effects make a huge difference in overall sound quality of mixes. Learning how to effectively EQ and compress (when needed) tracks is a good start. Synths with built-in fx often use too much fx on many sounds (in particular reverb) for them to good in a full mix.
If I was starting out, I would probably convert VST tracks to audio, then do mixing. For Battery or other drum kits it's often best to record each drum sound on its own track, so that different drums can have different fx on them. I usually turn off most fx on VST sounds when recording, then re-apply the fx in my host app when needed, to have more control.
When converting VST tracks to audio, be sure and record so that the audio track is as loud as possible without clipping...that will help keep audio quality as high as possible.
If I was starting out, I would probably convert VST tracks to audio, then do mixing. For Battery or other drum kits it's often best to record each drum sound on its own track, so that different drums can have different fx on them. I usually turn off most fx on VST sounds when recording, then re-apply the fx in my host app when needed, to have more control.
When converting VST tracks to audio, be sure and record so that the audio track is as loud as possible without clipping...that will help keep audio quality as high as possible.
-Polychrome
http://kevinalbers.com/
http://kevinalbers.com/