Midi sound Modules!! what do you use?

[Blake Henderson]

Hello everyone,

first I would like to thank you all, I have had nothing but kind help from this page. moving on, I am getting fed up with my limitations on my 400 mhz g4. But, this is mainly because I use software synths/plugins/ etc. only. I have realized that I probably need to buy a sound module for piano/strings/etc. The E-mu Virtuoso is looking great. What do you all use? Pros and cons? what do you suggest that I take a look at?

thanks

[Kickin.da.speaker]

It seems like everyone is going the other way nowadays. I suggest you consider a more powerful computer and even more soft synths or samplers. Seriously.

[leonardmike]

Tried the Roland XV-5050. Good banks of sound for the price. Sortof a bread and butter unit without the CPU hog.

Might be getting it real soon.

Regards.

-mike

[Kamurah]

I use Reason!!

Sold off most everything else (synths, samplers, grooveboxes,etc.).... [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

In fact, I don't think I have even plugged up a hardware synth in the past 5 months.

Plus....ZERO ADDED NOISE....a completely noise free system....that's pretty cool. Only noise introduced is whatever happened to be captured with the samples I use.

Also, very economical CPU wise. I have not been able to max it out on my 500mhz G4.

cheers [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Styles Bitchly]

B]Plus....ZERO ADDED NOISE....a completely noise free system....that's pretty cool. Only noise introduced is whatever happened to be captured with the samples I use.[/B]

OK, Kamurah, you've piqued my curiosity. I've been running external sound modules via midi, and now I'm starting to wonder what "reason", and all the others are about. Can you shed some light? How do they interface with PTLE? Are they software only? Is it a relatively cheap alternative? Enlighten me, please!

[Carl Z]

I picked up a SamplCell II from Manny's in NYC for $199. Eight outs - Only 32 megs of Ram, though.

I like it cause I load samples and interact with it like a soft-sampler yet it's not eating up my CPU power.

Carl

[Kamurah]

Styles,

Reason is a complete software studio package that consists of virtual mixers, drum machines, sample players, synthesizers, reverb, delays, chorus, compressors, phasers effects, and REX loop players. What is really cool is that it is all set up in this "virtual rack" of equipment. You can add or delete modules to accomodate the song you are working on...the only limitation is the amount of available CPU you have. You also have total control of the routing of the audio within the system by using "virtual patch cables" that you can see by turning the rack around.

Plus, you can load any WAV or AIFF samples into both the Drum machine and the Sample player to use in your sequences.

There are also pattern and regular graphic sequencers onboard so you can do all of your composing in Reason. (This is how I generally do it)
The sequencer is VERY intuitive and works very well. (It kinda reminds me of Opcode Vision if you ever had any experience with that program)

After you compose a song you can "export" the song as a stereo file, or you can solo each track and export that one seperately. These audio files can be imported into PT and mixed.

As of right now there is no commercially available Rewire or Directconnect way to pass audio from Reason to Pro Tools, but I know that solutions are being worked on. Some people install another digital PCI card to pass the audio via lightpipe into Pro Tools 8 tracks at a time.

Working with Reason is a blessing as far as MIDI is concerned too. Since all sound generated is done internally there is no "MIDI slop" or timing problems. Everything stays perfectly in sync. The disadvantage is that the Reason sequencer will NOT control external modules, so if you want to use your current gear you will have to sequence in Pro Tools (or another program) and sync it (timewise) to the exported audio files from Reason.

The whole system is very cheap and very stable...(I don't think I have EVER had Reason crash on me). You can run it on a laptop with amazing performance.

Your best bet would be to download the Demo and see what you think. I was totally blown away.

Propellerheads web page - Reason Demo

Let me know if you have more questions!
You can check out some songs that were composed in Reason and mixed in Pro Tools on my website below. (scroll down to bottom of page for the most recent stuff)

cheers [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[peneslapepe]

Okay I'm trying to sync midi tracks from PT via a G4 400 to Reason Via a Laptop. My question is how do i set up the OMS on both computers? Also I have a midi controller I'm using. I have a Midiman 4X4 Interface btw. Thanks guys!

[Carbon111]

Emu makes some very nice sample-based synths, I use their Planet Earth module as it fills the gap of unusual world instruments in my studio very nicely. If you need more acoustic/orchestral sounds then the Virtuoso might be just right for your needs.

If you like modular "Reason-type" synthesis, you may want to look into a Clavia Nord Modular, it sounds like nothing else, is almost infinately configurable and can give some badly needed DSP cycles back to your CPU.

For my money though, the most powerful and flexible synth around is the Waldorf Microwave XT ! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[dans]

I use a Kurzweil PC2r, and think it's great. Amazing strings, brass and pianos. My vocal coach has a Virtuoso with the "perfect piano" module and I think that thing is pretty good too. You can't go wrong with either one.

Also, since I need a portable module for traveling, I'm waiting for the new Roland XV-2020 to come out. That looks like a good general purpose module for about $500-$600. Stay away from the JV-1010 if you're looking for realistic sounds.