MIDI Virtual Instrument Recommendation

[JeffTronics]

MIDI is new territory for me. Audio is not.

I’m looking for a recommendation and recording solution for a small personal recording project I’m doing. I have DP 6

I want to record Guitar and Vocals, and using MIDI add the drums, bass, and keyboard. My experience with MIDI is new, while I understand DP’s audio side really well.

I notice DP doesn’t have much in the way of Virtual Musical instruments like I’ve seen in other packages, including Garage Band. I like the virtual instruments (drum kits, keyboards, bass) in GB and would like to know if there’s a way of using them in DP?

If not, what would be my free alternatives, or lowest cost ones.

Thanks

[grouse]

MIDI is new territory for me. Audio is not.

I’m looking for a recommendation and recording solution for a small personal recording project I’m doing. I have DP 6

I want to record Guitar and Vocals, and using MIDI add the drums, bass, and keyboard. My experience with MIDI is new, while I understand DP’s audio side really well.

I notice DP doesn’t have much in the way of Virtual Musical instruments like I’ve seen in other packages, including Garage Band. I like the virtual instruments (drum kits, keyboards, bass) in GB and would like to know if there’s a way of using them in DP?

If not, what would be my free alternatives, or lowest cost ones.

Thanks

Dp actually has lots of VI's.
I don't need to list them but there's a drum module (with loads of drum samples), a dedicated bass synth, a sampler and a few other synths.
If you're talking about the loops in GB then, yes, DP has none of that type.
I suppose it depends on the type of sounds you want to make.
The DP VI's are good and worth experimenting with.
MIDI in DP is fantastic so it is worth doing your MIDI work in DP.
If you do want to work with the GB instruments in DP search this forum for "Soundflower".
It enables the programs to link in some way, though, to what extent, I'm not exactly sure.

[JeffTronics]

Maybe I’m not describing what I’m looking for clearly, I’m sorry – lol.

I did see what you’re referring to in the Add Instrument Track section, for my MIDI. However, I guess what I’m expecting to see are more specific virtual instrument listings for say; Keyboard, Bass, Drum Kits, etc. What you’re referring to look to me like these are more synth sounds of sorts. Which, would require me to start turning knobs endlessly until I have the right sound. Like in Garage Band, you can choose stuff like ‘classical piano’, drums: jazz drum kit, etc.

I’m definitely not looking for loops.

Thanks hope fully I’m on the right track.

[grouse]

You have to delve a little deeper in DP, I guess.
So if you open up a "Model 12" for example, there is a menu at the top which will load any number of different kits (Acoustic, Electronic, Distorted, Brushes etc.).
Once you load a kit you can use MIDI to control the device.
The sampler works in the same way and the sounds are divided into categories (bass, keys etc.)
The stock sounds for the sampler are pretty limited though.
Take a read of the virtual instruments chapter in the DP manual. The concepts are the same as GB.
One question though, if you like the GB instruments and are not hugely familiar with MIDI, why not do all the recording in GB?

[Armageddon]

Most virtual instruments, even the stock ones that came with DP, have subsections divided by instrument class. Just pull down the Presets menu inside of the virtual instrument GUI inside of DP.

If you're unhappy with DP's stock sounds, though, you may have to buy something like MachFive, Kontakt, HALion, Plugsound Pro or even SampleTank to get an across-the-board workstation with a decent set of sounds you can use for your MIDI tracks. And as pointed out above, if you like GarageBand's VIs so much, you can either just use GarageBand and work in a program you're comfortable with, or record all the MIDI tracks to an audio file inside of GarageBand and import that audio file into DP to use with your live recorded audio tracks.

[Shooshie]

If you're looking for sampled instrument libraries like those that come included with Garageband, then you'll have to go 3rd party. DP is a pro workstation; it's not a beginners' all-inclusive package. MOTU assumes that anyone buying something as sophisticated as DP will want have particular tastes as to the kinds of instruments they prefer to use. No DAW's bundled instruments are of the quality level of even the cheapest orchestral library such as Garritan's Personal Orchestra ($149) or MOTU Symphonic Instrument ($280).

The range goes all the way up to Vienna Symphonic Library, which is apparently limitless in cost, depending on how much of it you want to own. To own a good chunk of it would take at least $25,000.

You're looking for typical band instruments, and there are so many of those I wouldn't even know where to start pointing you. Get on google, Amazon, or Sweetwater.com (the links above take you to Sweetwater), and just start checking out the possibilities. People in this forum will direct you to some of the best for the investment, but you'll see a wide range of preferences. In most cases, the quality of the sound, the flexibility and range of the instruments, and their "believability" will far outpace even the best that Logic has to offer, and Logic is probably the most "bundled" DAW on the planet. Apple basically uses it as a loss-leader to sell more Macs.

Meanwhile, don't be too quick to dismiss the instruments that come bundled with DP. If you explore, you'll find a LOT of great classic sounds, such as those of the old Roland Juno 120 (Polysynth), the Yamaha DX-7 and other FM synths (Proton), some great drums including a lot of ethnic instruments (Model 12), classic guitar and keyboard leads (Modulo), and all kinds of basses (Bassline). There are even a lot of sampled instruments that you can play in Nanosampler, which simplifies the sampler dramatically even if it only plays one sampled instrument per instance of the plugin. All of these instruments have very low footprints (little CPU draw) and they have several advantages:
• they are free
• they have simplified some complicated concepts
• they are powerful in the greater context of DP (you can add DP plugins to do things to them that normally would require the most powerful synths)
• they function within the DP domain and do not require learning new interfaces
• they are not difficult to "hook up" through DP's bundles. Some sample libraries actually are very tedious to get multiple outputs routed to DP's busses. With DP's bundled instruments, you don't need multiple outputs; just add another instance of the same synth, and give it a different output.

If you need examples of some sounds from these instruments, I'll post some.

Shoosh

[daniel.sneed]

If you're new to MIDI, you would probably take great fun and serious jobs out of the Reason4 package. The included library has been greatly improved since Reason3.

Two different samplers are included, N19 and NNXT. The last one can play many third party libraries, such as the good one designed specially by Garritan (GPO).
BTW, you'll also get a good drum machine, several deep synths, and some more.

If you own DP, you'll probably won't have any use of the Reason sequencer. DP is another beast, for sure, deeper and wider.

Reason connects out of the box to DP in Rewire mode. There are many tutorials on this board.
In Reason, you build a virtual instrument rack to your liking, just as you would do with a hardware rack.
BTW, Reason has one of the best patch browsers I've ever used, is rock solid and low on CPU.

Reason is very widely spread in PC and Mac worlds. I guess, one of your friends may take you for a Reason tour.

After you're completely done with Reason, then the big VIs will come. But they will cost an arm, or leg.

[JeffTronics]

I want to thank all of you for your excellent suggestions. For a basic request, you guys volunteer so much information. THANK YOU.

I've had some time to investigate some of your suggestions. To be honest, It's not my intention to become a MIDI expert overnight, and so, I'm less inclined to let anything distract me from making music. With that said, I did check out the presets in DP. And yes, I now see a partial for what i'm looking for. Some are pretty cool. However, I was surprised to find there weren't any classic piano instruments. There are some drum kits of sorts and they might be useful. And as far as going 3rd party, yep.. look at those prices. If i were more committed to producing, I would consider them. Including MachFive. So I might just use what's in GB for, for the few instruments I need.

Also, the question came up, why not mix in GB? Well, i've been in DP since 2.x but have used it solely for audio. I'm less inclined to move my recording project to GB while sacrificing a great tool like POLAR. And, I'm so used to editing in the sequence window, I don't think GB would compare. Which speaks to the point about DP. I realize it's Prosumer quality - at least.

GB and DP Sync? There's a post in the forum here about synching GB with DP. It peaked my interest but I couldn't get it to work. The post pertained to earlier versions of both programs and it wasn't clear to me if I could really play my virtual instruments in GB, have it synced to DP and record the track in DP. At a glance that what it seemed.

I'm moving forward with laying down my Acoustic and Vocal tracks, and will ponder how I'll add some virtual instruments.

Again, thanks for sharing some excellent ideas. I'm not done checking out all the suggestions...

JT

[dbl]

This link might help you link DP and GB...

How do I use my GarageBand instruments with DP?
http://www.motu.com/techsupport/technot ... earchterm=

[JeffTronics]

Hey, thanks. Yes, these are the same instructions I found in this forum too. Unfortunately, i'm unable to get passed the following step, in those instructions:

"Create an aux or stereo audio track. Assign its input to "Input Stream #1 1-2", and its output to the stereo output you monitor from (such as "Analog 1-2")."

I can create the Track, but do not see anything titled "Input Stream #1 1-2". I do have Soundflower installed, but will reinstall it. Perhaps that is an input name it's providing between the two Apps.

Thanks

[bdr]

Have a look at VI.ONE by vir2

http://www.vir2.com/4DCGI/vir2/products ... .html?1198" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

excellent meat and potatoes library, and is often sold by Guitar Center for $99. Should cover a lot of bases for you.

[JeffTronics]

A follow up to my efforts with trying to sync Garage Band and Digital Performer. It's now working and not only am I able to play and record to DP, but I can specify the Soundflower Input in POLAR. This is an added bonus for me.

Previously I mentioned i didn't see an input named "Input Stream #1 1-2". I reinstalled Soundflower, and now i see the input in DP.

This a more than an acceptable solution for my workflow. Thanks everyone.

[jlaudon]

I would suggest downloading the UVI workstation and the free sounds included. Then download Independence Free as well (Yellow Tools).

You can also go to kvraudio.com and search for all the free plugins (you can specify exactly what you are looking for - Mac only, AU, VIs and/or effects, free, etc). There's plenty to compliment DP's bundled synths.

[Armageddon]

If you're looking for sampled instrument libraries like those that come included with Garageband, then you'll have to go 3rd party. DP is a pro workstation; it's not a beginners' all-inclusive package. MOTU assumes that anyone buying something as sophisticated as DP will want have particular tastes as to the kinds of instruments they prefer to use. No DAW's bundled instruments are of the quality level of even the cheapest orchestral library such as Garritan's Personal Orchestra ($149) or MOTU Symphonic Instrument ($280).

This is probably the best summation of DP and its virtual instruments I've ever read. I think, once DP moves the rest of the way away from MAS, and gets a little more comfortable with pre-render (which may have already happened, per the accounts I've read on here regarding 7), they may develop more bundled VIs ... or they may just move on and focus on the program itself. They certainly don't need bundled VIs. I prefer buying third party VIs and audio plugs that address exactly what I need and having a dependable DAW to run them in.

If you (i.e. - the OP) are looking for a great stock of ground-floor sounds and VIs, I strongly recommend IK Multimedia's Total Workstation 2 (http://www.ikmultimedia.com/totalworkstation/features/, ignore IK's price and check out the pricetag at sweetwater.com, about a hundred dollars cheaper), which includes all of IK's sampled sounds spread across five VIs and addresses everything from pop to rap to orchestral to vintage synths. It's also the easiest-loading and -running sample-based VI inside of DP. And there's enough sounds to get you started with any genre of music.