A Beatles Virtual Instrument

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Eleventh Hour Sound
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Eleventh Hour Sound »

Frodo wrote:
RecordingArts wrote:
Frodo wrote:I just downloaded the first of the Studiophonik sounds (drums), and am eagerly waiting for more. I chose Amplitube Metal as my freebie, but I ordered Sampletank 2.5L anyway since I could get it for $99. It should arrive before the end of the week if all goes well.
You Metal Head! :) That's what I chose also! Install it and turn it up to 11! 8)
Yeah-- I'm going to check it out later tonight. I think that completes my IK guitar and bass sims-- unless they release another one! :shock:

Speaking of 11, I thought I should have Metal since UA appears to have dropped support for Nigel on the UAD-2 card. I'd like get that one day, but I'm out of slots-- so UAD-1 stays until I can rebuild my Nigel tones. I'm a little concerned that UA might try to pull Nigel from the UAD-1 as well. I'm not sure about that, but dropping Nigel for the UAD-2 came as a shock.
I see that IK has a road (ie) proof metal enclosure for a MacMini to use live with their Stomp I/O. I hope the Mac Mini's (or Mac Laptop's) get cheaper and cheaper to the point where we can just dedicate 'em to certain instruments.

Speaking of which.... I really wish there was a Mac Version of Open Labs Miko or Neko... Sounds like an opportunity for someone :) <grin>
DP11.1, 16" MacBookPro 2.3Ghz 8 Core i9's 32GB Ram 1TB SSD, (2) external 1TB Samsung SSD's , Steven Slate SSD 5.5 and Trigger Drums, ML-1 Mic and VSX Headphones, Omnisphere 2, Trilian, Ivory2, EW, MSI, MX-4, Philharmonik 2, Komplete, Reason, Live, Melodyne, IK Multi's Total Studio, ARC, T-RackS, SampleTron, AMG's KickA--Brass. and my beloved guitars :-)
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Frodo »

I'd need to take a closer look at Miko/Neko to see what the benefits for me might be. $4-5k each ain't a cheap add-on. It looks like a very nice idea, though-- sort of like a Portastudio on 'ludes.

But no Mac compatibility? Hmm.
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Eleventh Hour Sound »

Frodo wrote:I'd need to take a closer look at Miko/Neko to see what the benefits for me might be. $4-5k each ain't a cheap add-on. It looks like a very nice idea, though-- sort of like a Portastudio on 'ludes.

But no Mac compatibility? Hmm.
A Mac version would be sweet so we could take all our VI and Plug in goodness to go :) Maybe the Pystar people can install OS X on it <grin> http://www.psystar.com/

Or maybe we can design our own! 8)
DP11.1, 16" MacBookPro 2.3Ghz 8 Core i9's 32GB Ram 1TB SSD, (2) external 1TB Samsung SSD's , Steven Slate SSD 5.5 and Trigger Drums, ML-1 Mic and VSX Headphones, Omnisphere 2, Trilian, Ivory2, EW, MSI, MX-4, Philharmonik 2, Komplete, Reason, Live, Melodyne, IK Multi's Total Studio, ARC, T-RackS, SampleTron, AMG's KickA--Brass. and my beloved guitars :-)
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Frodo »

RecordingArts wrote:
Or maybe we can design our own! 8)
Did you say DIY? :shock: :lol:

My first move would be to make a surface especially customized for DP. It would have swappable templates for DP5 and DP6 for a start. It would have a sort of "startup disc" so that one could run Tiger, Leopard, and eventually Snow Leopard with any version of DP the user desires to use. Okay, so I'd consider generic templates for other DAWs as well.

But this is interesting. If we long for some sort of hardware interface beyond basic audio and MIDI from MOTU, the big Apple might have put out a combo hardware extension for Logic by now-- (wouldn't they have?).

Okay, so I'd want to give it a Eucon-type of controller with resolution way above and beyond that of the current HUI or basic MIDI. It should be portable to gigs, but easily re-integrated into one's studio to port live recordings over for post-production (which it seems it is currently).

But while it would have certain fail-safe backup features, it would not have any sort of redundancies which would undermine its existence or purpose.

I would also make sure that it is 100% compatible with Audio Units so that the user is not limited to Emu, Ensoniq, or Arp-- etc. It needs to also work with Waves, Apogee, RTAS, NI, VSL, EW, Audio Ease, and other MAJOR third party developers the way DP and Logic work in conjunction with Core Audio and Audio Units.

This is a tall order, I know-- but what is it going to take to convince a consumer in THIS economy to part with $5k?

There's a great guitar store in Portland, Oregon-- getting back to the topic of Beatles--- that has an annual sale which is on right now. There's no sales tax in Oregon, and last year I happened to be there during the very week of their sale. Many things were half price. I bought two guitars and a bass on the spot. Seemed impulsive, but I've wanted these particular instruments for 30+ years. They were a Rickenbacker 4003 bass, a Rickenbacker 330, and an Epiphone Casino--- all Beatle guitars.

Today, they called me to tell me about what Beatle guitars they have now "on sale". They have a Lennon '58 and a Lennon '64 black Rickenbacker Capri. Amazing. Problem is, they are not half price as so many of their other guitars were. I got my Rickenabcker 330 last year for about $700. Unheard of. Prices started at $2700 and went up to the mid $3k's. The guy insisted that these instruments were rare and would appreciate in value. Nice-- but I would have no intention of selling them. I love the Beatles and I ache for a Lennon Rickenbacker--- but money is money. If I had that kind of money right now, I'd buy a UA 2192 interface and a set of ADAM monitors first-- and perhaps an Avalon M5 to give the instruments I already have the best input opportunities possible.

What I'm saying is that when $4-5k are at stake with the state of the economy being as it is, priorities mean a lot more. For all that Meko/Niko have to offer, I'd sacrifice a few of their current features for a few other different ones-- even if that means spending that same money on some coveted guitars and amps!!
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Eleventh Hour Sound »

I agree, parting with $5k would require some pretty compelling Reasons.. (no pun intended)

Yes, the monster DP Docking Control surface would be nice. Sounds like you're thinking bigger than me, something like a Mac OS X/DP/AU compatible version of the Mackie digital X Bus which would rock. I was just thinking of something like a Mac version of the Miko... audio interface, faders, transport, keyboard(s), etc.

WOW! Sounds like you got some great deals on some nice instruments. I bet they don't require reg codes, or iLoks to run either :)
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Frodo »

RecordingArts wrote: WOW! Sounds like you got some great deals on some nice instruments. I bet they don't require reg codes, or iLoks to run either :)
Man-- way earlier in this thread-- dating back to January, 2007 (!) we were talking about guitar sims and samples. As usual, someone got snarky and suggested to just learn to play a real guitar. Well, I got equally snarky and decided that I'd make good on my childhood fetish. So, even though I'd bought a Les Paul back in 1999 I decided to get "serious" about it. What I really need is a Strat, but I've blown my wad on Beatle guitars for the moment. LOL!

Tonight, I'm trying to figure out how to play a bass part that was sequenced on a 5-string sample using a 4-string bass. I'm trying to resist buying a 5-string, but it's not easy.... and the 5-string I'd like to have ain't cheap, either. I wonder if I could get away with a cheap 5-string with good pick-ups.. hmm.

But-- maybe I can get away with some good bass samples for this. I've already experimented with Pettinhouse Bass and it's the wrong sound for this project. So, I was playing around with the Rickenbacker 4003 going through IK Ampeg. If only it had 5 strings!! ARRRGGGH!! It's SO right.

I'm hoping Studiophonik has something worthy to offer...
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Eleventh Hour Sound »

Frodo wrote:
RecordingArts wrote: WOW! Sounds like you got some great deals on some nice instruments. I bet they don't require reg codes, or iLoks to run either :)
Man-- way earlier in this thread-- dating back to January, 2007 (!) we were talking about guitar sims and samples. As usual, someone got snarky and suggested to just learn to play a real guitar. Well, I got equally snarky and decided that I'd make good on my childhood fetish. So, even though I'd bought a Les Paul back in 1999 I decided to get "serious" about it. What I really need is a Strat, but I've blown my wad on Beatle guitars for the moment. LOL!

Tonight, I'm trying to figure out how to play a bass part that was sequenced on a 5-string sample using a 4-string bass. I'm trying to resist buying a 5-string, but it's not easy.... and the 5-string I'd like to have ain't cheap, either. I wonder if I could get away with a cheap 5-string with good pick-ups.. hmm.

But-- maybe I can get away with some good bass samples for this. I've already experimented with Pettinhouse Bass and it's the wrong sound for this project. So, I was playing around with the Rickenbacker 4003 going through IK Ampeg. If only it had 5 strings!! ARRRGGGH!! It's SO right.

I'm hoping Studiophonik has something worthy to offer...
The Pettinhouse Bass didn't work huh? Even with the right Ampeg SVX patch? Hmmm. There's some trusty 'ole basses in Reason. <Grin> Reason's got so much amazing stuff in it, I often take it for granted.

Does the stock Kontakt library have any other good basses? Or... maybe SampleTank, or Sonik Synth? I think they've got some 5-strings. I know they're often not very exciting, but maybe with some Ampeg SVX on it :)

Update:I got it, use a VI bass tone that matches your Rickenbacker, record the sequenced 5 string track and then punch in where possible with the real Ricky!
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Frodo »

Don't get me wrong. I love Pettinhouse!! It's just that this particular tune needed a certain "umph". Running the 4003 through a nice tube pre really did the trick. Of course, even as I considered certain lines with Pettinghouse sounding like a bass player, what I discovered was that not every phrase was doable on the bass. But's that's okay. It forced me to stay creative as opposed to re-creative.

One thing I'd like to try one day is to run a sampled bass track (via Amepg SVX) out of DP through this external tube pre and back into DP again to see if I can get a similar effect. My real bass track turned out fine-- it just took me most a full day and part of an evening to get to that point!

To the issue of the 5-string-- I played as much of the part that I could on 4-string. I'd tried to detune the entire guitar down a fourth, but it just sounded flabby. What I'll do is to just detune the E string and will fly in a few notes in sub world.

One day, I'll go in search of a good 5-string. I confess to know less about shopping for basses, but of the 5-strings I've played the Tobias models have gotten my attention. But perhaps a Fender would a better place to start.

On that note---

Sampletank 2.5x arrived today. I just got it installed and need to get it authorized. The track I'm working on could use some ep padding and some of these sounds just might be the ticket. I also got the Piano expansion disc-- can't wait to check it out.

As for Studiophonik-- no further word yet.
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Eleventh Hour Sound »

Cool. SampleTank 2.5 XL's stock library has a boatload of basses too.
DP11.1, 16" MacBookPro 2.3Ghz 8 Core i9's 32GB Ram 1TB SSD, (2) external 1TB Samsung SSD's , Steven Slate SSD 5.5 and Trigger Drums, ML-1 Mic and VSX Headphones, Omnisphere 2, Trilian, Ivory2, EW, MSI, MX-4, Philharmonik 2, Komplete, Reason, Live, Melodyne, IK Multi's Total Studio, ARC, T-RackS, SampleTron, AMG's KickA--Brass. and my beloved guitars :-)
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Frodo »

RecordingArts wrote:Cool. SampleTank 2.5 XL's stock library has a boatload of basses too.
Yeah-- there's lots of nice stuff in there. I've not had a chance to go through everything just yet, but it's a good turnkey all-in workstation library in a pinch.

It has this familiar odd feature that all tracks default to volume = 127. But so far, I've not been able to get it to respond to any automation at all. I was able to go to the controller prefs and set a volume limit to 50. Odd way of working, but I'm only using an ep for now. Not a big deal as long as I have access to MIDI velocities. I'll get it sorted out later. Right now, my biggest concerns right now are with audio instead of MIDI, there are some pressing deadlines on that front. Ay-yi-yi.

But, the system is working very well. Don't know what did it-- but I totally shut off Spotlight in Tiger (which is not easy to do). I can't recommend it to everyone because somehow I also disabled the regular search feature in the finder inadvertently.

Be that as it may-- the past two days have been crash-free, and I've been hitting 5.13 in 10.4.11 pretty hard. At one point I had over 1000 soundbites as a result of edits, etc. I've been deleting unused soundbites at strategic moments just to play it safe. And did I mention backing up as I go? I've got 4 locations to where I "save as". I'm convinced that the act of backing up alone prevents crashes. It's the moment you forget to back up that things go sideways.
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Frodo »

OK-- the Studiophonik guitar, bass, and drums appear to be ready for downloading.

And IK T-Racks 3 looks very interesting with a Fairchild-like comp and Pultec-ish EQ among other things.
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by monkey man »

Curious, Hobby - what did you think of Ringo's announcement this week that he'll no longer respond to fan mail or sign anything including mementoes?

FWIMBW, I felt that the manner in which he continued to repeat the phrase, "Peace and love, peace and love" sounded disingenuous. I heard the statement several times on the BBC, and tried for all I could to make excuses for him (as is my nature), but I wasn't convinced his arguments would stand up in a court of the heart.

Thoughts? Am I way off target here, or has he started to show signs of becoming a grumpy old man? :lol:

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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Frodo »

monkey man wrote:Curious, Hobby - what did you think of Ringo's announcement this week that he'll no longer respond to fan mail or sign anything including mementoes?

FWIMBW, I felt that the manner in which he continued to repeat the phrase, "Peace and love, peace and love" sounded disingenuous. I heard the statement several times on the BBC, and tried for all I could to make excuses for him (as is my nature), but I wasn't convinced his arguments would stand up in a court of the heart.

Thoughts? Am I way off target here, or has he started to show signs of becoming a grumpy old man? :lol:
Oh, we all get to a certain age if we keep living. :lol:

Honestly, I had not heard the news about Ringo, although when someone dedicates 50 years of their life to being gracious I suppose they're entitled to ask for a slow-down at some point. It's not easy for me to keep up with my family and friends. I can't imagine what it must be like being as admired internationally as Ringo is. Whether or not his die-hard fans will actually leave him alone is another story which may shed some new light on his impact and his legacy for even him. Ringo has been an honest fellow over the years, one who has often been driven to the point of having to say "enough is enough". It's all quite interesting to digest on first impact.

"And though the news was rather sad", what can we do? I confess that I should see the video footage (and I'm sure I will), it's hard to imagine Ringo being "genuinely" disingenuous over the cessation fan mail responses. I hope you don't mind if I withhold judgment for a while longer... (?)
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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by monkey man »

Well, to mind is not my lot, Hobby, nor is it my right IMHO. I too should wait to see the video, but even then, 'tis not ultimately our place to pass judgement on him, is it? In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have made any judgements; it was really only the final dual utterance of that phrase that he used to sign off with that had a bit of a whiff about it, and as you said, he did put in 50 years of service.

One of the many impressive things about Don Bradman, our all-time greatest sporting hero down under, was the fact that he never once refused a signing of anything 'till the day he died. Another way of looking at it: I cannot imagine Paul Newman's having put things quite the way Ringo did, whereas Shirley Maclaine... LOL. Lastly, we ought perhaps to consider that Ringo constructed this message at his own leisure, and not whilst under fire. The thicket plottens, but as I said earlier, I concede that it's not our place to judge.

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Re: A Beatles Virtual Instrument

Post by Eleventh Hour Sound »

monkey man wrote:Curious, Hobby - what did you think of Ringo's announcement this week that he'll no longer respond to fan mail or sign anything including mementoes?

FWIMBW, I felt that the manner in which he continued to repeat the phrase, "Peace and love, peace and love" sounded disingenuous. I heard the statement several times on the BBC, and tried for all I could to make excuses for him (as is my nature), but I wasn't convinced his arguments would stand up in a court of the heart.

Thoughts? Am I way off target here, or has he started to show signs of becoming a grumpy old man? :lol:
Ringo is invited to forward his fan mail and royalty payment directly to me. I will gladly accept the checks and write the fans :)
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