Advice request - choosing composition software
Hi everyone, sorry my first post is a "needy" one but I'm running out of places to go for adive!
I need advice on what software package might be best for me. Basically, all I want to do is compose, playback and export (as mp3 or wav) music on a piano-roll-style editor (like Cubase's), editing velocity, expression, etc etc and using VST instruments (Edirol Orchestral, for example) for composition projects. I have had some experience using Cubase, and while it suits my needs in many respects, is too expensive for me to justify buying the whole package when I'm not looking to use complicated stuff. Is Cubase Elements a good half-way house? The price is right but I'm concerned about the limiting of the number of VST instruments I can plug in and write with.
I hope this makes sense. Please help a newbie!
Here's a short piece I wrote for a friend's short film when I had access to Cubase 4 and Edirol Orchestral. Hopefully it will demonstrate that I'm not a newb when it comes to composition, just the hardware and software!
http://snd.sc/MZnDW0
Last edited by Badgerwocky; 6th August 2012 at 11:16 PM. Reason: added sound clip
Are you using a mac or PC?
That'll probably change things quite a bit.
I'm guessing PC....
Urm, yeah, I should have said. My bad, sorry.Originally Posted by Ash96
Id say cubase is a fairly good shout then, i personally don't know much about cubase (or PCs) but its pretty good to start. my mates have used it with good results in the past.
For any mac based stuff i'd recommend logic. cheap ish, industry standard and can use any interface with it (pretty much)
Do you have an Audio Interface B?
If so did it not come with some recording software? Many AI's today are bundled with Cubase LE5 and that should be powerful enough to tell you if it is for you.
In any case you can download a "lite" demo of Cubase 6. Elements 6, I have that and musical son finds it more than good enough.
Also do try the demo of Samplitude Producer (£149 to buy) massive sound library with that.
For "serious" notation you can work your way thru the trials of Finale Music.
Dave.
Thanks for all the advice so far, it's helping me narrow it down!
Yes, I do have an audio interface - an MI4 on loan from a friend (the same friend who transferred his copy of Cubase to me when he upgraded) - sadly my attempts to install Cubase 4 on Win7 (64 bit) haven't worked, which is why I'm looking for new software.
Another issue is that I've used Reaper (trial version) to try my MI4, but it isn't transmitting input from my main (Juno-D) keyboard to the PC. My crappy plasticky little USB keyboard seems to work just fine! Mystified.
Last edited by Badgerwocky; 7th August 2012 at 12:14 AM.
Some of your trouble might be that there does not appear to be a proper W7/64 driver for the M14 (see< http://www.cubase.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=126168&sid=0022b4c836ab26fb2f8caff ee7ebf8d5>) and no, Cubase 4 won't have it on W7. I have C Essential4 and had to buy Elements 6. Steinberg are bstds for this. You can however, as I say download a fully functioning 30day trial of Elements 6.
But I suggest a fresh start. I am boringly predictable I know but! The Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 is a cracking AI for the money and comes with Cubase LE5, Kontakt player and huge bundle of sounds. I have no doubt your Juno kbd will DIN into that just fine.
If cash is tight the only other AI that I know will deff' work on W7/64 is the venerable M-Audio Fast Track pro, £50-£80 at Cash Converters etc.
Don't know why that link did not "bright" up but you can copy and paste it, I tried!
Dave.
Last edited by ecc83; 7th August 2012 at 05:35 AM.
Hi ecc83,
Thanks for your advice. I have tried various ways to install Cubase 4 under Win7 64bit. The sticking point is that it fails to recognise the eLicenser dongle no matter where I plug it in, so yeah, I'm giving up with that. It's very frustrating that a perfectly good piece of software that, while admittedly free to me as a hand-me-down, cost my friend a couple of hundred pounds is no longer supported, for no good reason. It would have been absolutely fine for my needs and I could have spent my money on new VST instruments instead of new software.
I very much appreciate the advice about the Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 package which does seem very good value for money. But for my purposes I think a new AI might be a bit excessive, considering that I prefer to compose directly into the piano-roll (weird I know, but I'm not actually that good a keyboardist and can write far more complicated piano pieces than I can play!), and use a simple USB keyboard for improvisation or for imputting those elements that I can play. I think I'd rather get less-sophisticated software, as I don't need it to be all-bells-and-whistles, and spend my money on good VSTIs.
Cubase Elements 6 is the most likely candidate at the moment, then, I think - but I'm a bit worried about the number of VSTi slots it has and what that means. If there's a limit, does it just mean a limit on the number of VST instruments I can have plugged in at once, or is it a limit on the number of tracks within the project? In other words, if I plug in Garritan Personal Orchestra, will I be able to use the full thing in one project, or will I be limited by the number of tracks per project (does this make any sense)?
Also, would a MIDI->USB adaptor be a possible workaround for my Juno? It seems too easy...
Last edited by Badgerwocky; 7th August 2012 at 10:36 AM.
VSTis? Well I am not a musician, son plays and composes, I mostly pay and solder.
He IS a pretty good keyboard player but a much better guitarist. He is also very strong on theory and reading. He uses some of the CM software synths but for a good piano sound at reasonable cost we have found Modartt Pianoteq unbeatable and getting THEIR software activated is dreamtime compared to Steinberg!* We use the CM freebie of BFD for drums (tho I have bought the offered BFD Eco but he has yet to see that, he is in France).
*Steinberg have ALWAYS been a PITA. Basically they don't care how much they piss the average punter about. All they are interested in is zero ripoff and if that makes things hard for you? Tough. Physical shops do not of course like lifters and theft is of course very wrong but if Sainsburies had a zero tolerance attitude like Steineys they would go bust in a fortnight!
Dave.
Hahaha! Mostly pay, I would imagine
Thanks for the advice you've given me. I am wary of Steinberg on that whole DRM issue, but the attraction to Cubase Elements is difficult to ignore, because I'm semi-familiar with Cubase 4 and might find it easier to adapt. And given that Reason Essentials doesn't support external VSTi plugins that's not a choice. You've been very helpful, ecc83! I feel like a bit less of a fool now.
Does anyone who's been kind enough to read this thread have experience with Cubase Elements 6 and know what the heck I'm talking about re: VSTi limits?
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