Live Composition Screencast with DP8 on new Mac Pro

[c0mp0ser]

Hi all. I used to make these videos a couple years back, and decided yesterday to take another shot at it with my fancy new Mac Pro. Hope you dig.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r38vEjnJvek

(How do you embed a youtube video?)

[bayswater]

A pleasure as always.

One stupid question: you said somewhere about 2.5 minutes in, you're using a new Mac Pro with Mavericks, and then that your entire template is on a PC.

[midilance]

Wonderful to watch and listen to. Thanks.

[Dan Worley]

(How do you embed a youtube video?)

...the syntax will look like this (each argument separated by commas):

Code: Select all

[YouTube]<videoID>,<width>,<height>[/YouTube]

Using the video ID used in our example it would look like this:

Code: Select all

[YouTube]tboTpOjH8k4,480,385[/YouTube]

Full instructions here: http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... 27&t=40131

[nk_e]

This was both inspiring and (in my case) humbling. Great video, thanks!

[Babz]

Very awesome ... and nice sounding samples. Thanks for sharing, Mike!

Are you ready for a zillion questions?

I'm in the process of redoing my entire studio and rethinking everything from the ground up, so it is interesting to see how other people work. Starting with the very basics ...

Where did you get the desk you are using? (I'm thinking of getting new studio furniture, trying to get everything facing in one direction.)

What is that controller thing in front of the Mac keyboard that you are using? (What does it do and how are you using it?)

You have all your instruments on an external PC? (I assume that will change some time in the future now that you have a Mac Pro.) My previous studio was a G5 and two external PCs, but I am currently experimenting w/ ditching the PCs and doing it all in one box. Still getting used to trying to develop new work style. So far I have resisted temptation to fire up one of the PCs.

How are you busing your stuff back into DP to record the stems? ADAT I assume. What audio interface(s) are you using? Looks like you've got like about 20 buses, divided by ensemble types -- String, Brass, Winds, Perc, but then other special categories. This all comes from one PC? I guess that is all set up in Kontakt? Everything you're doing here is from one sample library and Kontakt? No Play or VSL or any of that?

Also interesting to see how you are using track color coding.

OK, maybe not a zillion questions ... May have more after I go back and watch it again.

Thanks,
Babz

[c0mp0ser]

A pleasure as always.

One stupid question: you said somewhere about 2.5 minutes in, you're using a new Mac Pro with Mavericks, and then that your entire template is on a PC.

Yeah, DP on is on the Mac Pro. Template still on PC. Will consider moving over to the Mac Pro, but need at least 64 gigs of ram.

[c0mp0ser]

Very awesome ... and nice sounding samples. Thanks for sharing, Mike!

Are you ready for a zillion questions?

I'm in the process of redoing my entire studio and rethinking everything from the ground up, so it is interesting to see how other people work. Starting with the very basics ...

Where did you get the desk you are using? (I'm thinking of getting new studio furniture, trying to get everything facing in one direction.)

- Robert Beijer of Beijer Workstations

What is that controller thing in front of the Mac keyboard that you are using? (What does it do and how are you using it?)

- That is a MIDI fader controller. It controls MIDI controller data.

You have all your instruments on an external PC? (I assume that will change some time in the future now that you have a Mac Pro.) My previous studio was a G5 and two external PCs, but I am currently experimenting w/ ditching the PCs and doing it all in one box. Still getting used to trying to develop new work style. So far I have resisted temptation to fire up one of the PCs.

How are you busing your stuff back into DP to record the stems? ADAT I assume. What audio interface(s) are you using? Looks like you've got like about 20 buses, divided by ensemble types -- String, Brass, Winds, Perc, but then other special categories. This all comes from one PC? I guess that is all set up in Kontakt? Everything you're doing here is from one sample library and Kontakt? No Play or VSL or any of that?

- All Audio and MIDI goes over an ethernet cable linking the machines together. VEPRO is the software.

Also interesting to see how you are using track color coding.

OK, maybe not a zillion questions ... May have more after I go back and watch it again.

Thanks,
Babz

[Babz]

What is that controller thing in front of the Mac keyboard that you are using? (What does it do and how are you using it?)

- That is a MIDI fader controller. It controls MIDI controller data.

Thanks, c0mp0ser! I meant, what brand/model of MIDI controller is that unit? I like how it is compact and fits nicely on the desk in front of the QWERTY keyboard. A lot of people work with the MIDI sliders/knobs on the MIDI keyboard, but if you put the MIDI keyboard on a slide out shelf like you've got, the sliders/knobs are recessed under the desk. That's why I was asking.

- All Audio and MIDI goes over an ethernet cable linking the machines together. VEPRO is the software.

Wow, back when I set up my multi-computer setup, years ago (Gigastudio, all that) MIDI over LAN was working fine, but Ethernet audio wasn't there yet. I've seen people using VEPro, but only on one computer. Thanks. It's hard to keep doing what you've been doing and then start all over at the same time. Gives you ideas to see other people's setups. Need to go back and watch your video some more, I'm sure I'll pick up some tricks.

Babz

[labman]

If I recall Babz, I think he uses a Peavey PC1600. Built like a tank from many years ago.

And VEPRo is the bomb Babz!

[Shooshie]

If I recall Babz, I think he uses a Peavey PC1600. Built like a tank from many years ago.

And VEPRo is the bomb Babz!

Babz, I too have been looking for something exactly like the Peavey PC1600, but apparently it's not made anymore. I've bought a pedal board by Roland, a little keyboard with 8 knobs by Behringer, but I haven't found anything with 16 active faders and a data knob, which would be perfect.

If anyone finds such a thing, I'd love to know about it. Not too interested in used ones, but I might go that route. I did find several used ones online, but I want to see what's available before committing to a used MIDI hardware product. I'm guessing they were made during the 80s or 90s, back when things were still made with steel. But I may be wrong. Anyway, I haven't found a new one yet.

Shooshie

PS: Thanks, Labman, for the info.

[Michael Canavan]

Thanks a lot for the video. The thing I realized watching this is I can use remote desktop to access libraries on my retina macbook pro. Shouldn't be any different than using Cord to access a PC.

Wondering though, is there any reason to buy Vienna Instruments Pro for this set up? The retina doesn't have ethernet, don't know if VEPRO responds well to other ways of connecting two computers?

[bayswater]

The retina doesn't have ethernet, don't know if VEPRO responds well to other ways of connecting two computers?

Maybe this would work.

http://store.apple.com/ca/product/MD463 ... et-adapter

[Marc7777]

I use the M-Audio Oxygen 49 which was 8 sliders and 8 twist knobs. All completely assignable in DP. Although I don't have them set up to anything specific, I'll assign them when need be during the project. DP makes it pretty easy when you just right click on a fader or knob and "attach MIDI controller". then when i'm done I just un-attach.

But a friend of mine who has a really nice, weighted, keyboard - uses the Korg NanoKontrol 2. Thing is pretty sweet! All completely programable and really tiny and fits anywhere. He has it running through USB through his keyboard even!


To the original poster - I'm assuming you are on a PC then when doing this video? you replied "Yeah, DP on is on the Mac Pro. Template still on PC. Will consider moving over to the Mac Pro, but need at least 64 gigs of ram."

What's your secret on getting your template so big?!?! Ever since DP8 I've had to DOWNSIZE my huge template just to get DP to not freak out! Maybe PC's are the way to go for that? ..and here I am with $10k worth of Mac Pros..

[Kubi]

To the original poster - I'm assuming you are on a PC then when doing this video? you replied "Yeah, DP on is on the Mac Pro. Template still on PC. Will consider moving over to the Mac Pro, but need at least 64 gigs of ram."

What's your secret on getting your template so big?!?! Ever since DP8 I've had to DOWNSIZE my huge template just to get DP to not freak out! Maybe PC's are the way to go for that? ..and here I am with $10k worth of Mac Pros..

AFAIK, he's on a Mac Pro for DP, and hosts the VIs in VE Pro on a PC, connecetd to the MacPro via ethernet.