New and Broke

[rdagio]

I don't mean to make this a sob story, I just want to utilize what I have to the fullest. I currently purchased Mbox2 which came with ProTools LE 8.0 (windows), I am a guitarist/musician and I have not yet purchased the midi controllers yet or studio monitors (that will have to be another paycheck). I have headphones of course and am using the di for the guitars through mbox2

I would love to use the Instruments listed in that section (i.e. Structure Free, DB-33, etc...) Everytime I think I am recording with these, it turns out I am not on playback.

Question is.....can I record at all with these plug-ins without a midi controller and if so.....what settings do I need?

Thank you for your time and help with this!

[danander11]

The short answer is yes, you can record and use them now.

The longer answer is you really need to learn how, and learn about the software you bought.

I would suggest reading the Reference Manual and read up on Audio Tracks, and Instrument Tracks.. followed up by a healthy dose of Midi..

A faster way would be to search Youtube or The Air Users Blog for videos on how to use the different instruments.

Spend a bit of time getting to know the program.. you'll like it.

Peace!

[LincolnT]

You mean you do not have a midi keyboard yet? Or do you mean you do not have an outboard midi synth module to make realistic sounds from the midi data?

[rdagio]

To answer both questions....I have gone through the instructional dvd and some of the manuals but I could not find how to utilize the plug ins w/out a midi controller. To answer the other question, I do not have a midi keyboard or an outbound midi synth module.

It's just me and my guitar and the mbox2 at the moment. Oh, and some headphones

[LincolnT]

Well, if you could somehow get the midi notes into Pro Tools, you of course can use those instrument plugins to make music.

You could get real good at entering midi notes with your computer mouse.

Or, there are certain programs that can convert analog data, like guitar audio into a midi signal that can be fed into the midi plugins.

I think Melodyne plugin or Auto-Tune can do that. But that may cost money if you don't have a plugin that can convert your guitar audio to midi.

You could get a microphone and record a real instrument.

You could make some awesome guitar music if you know how to play the guitar?

[The Weed]

"New And Broke"

Ain't we all, although some of us are old and broke.

Welcome to the beginning of a road that is long, steep and filled with many twists and turns and deep potholes into which one pours money, more money and even more money. Think of them as black holes and your cash - and time - as sacrificial lambs to the gods of digital audio.







Cheers,

[rdagio]

Thanks Bruce, I am quickly figuring all this out. Best!!!

[Fastermouse]

Open an instrument track. Instantiate a VI (Xpand for exp.) use the pencil tool to draw a note on the piano roll. Use the grabber to move it around. This same note can be used to trigger any sample in Xpand. Drums, organ, anything! Draw another note, HEY! 2 sounds! Draw many notes! Open more tracks! Quantize! Write a symphony and never play anything! And btw cheap Casio type keyboards have MIDI, and you can get them at pawn shops for dirt.

[danander11]

rdagio,

Entering the notes in via Mouse is tedious, but you will get used to it quickly. I have a small 49 key controller that I use, but most of the time I just do it via mouse.. It's become fast and easiest for me (a non-keyboard player). However, if you are fluent on a keyboard, you will probably like that way best.

My point was that it is very easy to use the instruments without having a ton of gear, you just need to adapt and be creative.

For example, if you are writing a song and you want some drums in the background, you go to the content that came with PT8 and drag a pattern or seven over. Cut and stitch them to suite and there you go... Or, you just take individual hits for each drum, cymbal, etc... and create something closer to what you had in mind, again, all with the mouse.

The same can be done for any other instrument to a lesser or greater degree..

All of it can be accomplished with what you have on hand right now.

Peace!

[The Weed]

Originally Posted by rdagio

Thanks Bruce, I am quickly figuring all this out. Best!!!

There's also this quote from Hunter S. Thompson to keep in mind as you journey on down the digital audio highway:

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

Cheers,