16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

PC Based Studio Musicians I DESPERATELY Need Your Help

by Steven Wagenheim
14 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
I'll get right to the point.

I'm going to be working on a project with a fellow Warrior (God bless you)
creating royalty free music.

I have Finale 2012 for actually creating the scores and can write like a fiend,
so that's not an issue.

This is.

The sound, right out of Finale 2012, is okay but it's not going to cut it if I'm
going to sell music for people to use in videos or whatever.

I need suggestions for a PC based DAW (digital audio workstation) and the best
VSTs (virtual studio technology) sounds so that these recordings sound as close
to radio ready as possible. My budget is up to $1,000 for this project. If I
can come up with quality sounds for that budget, let me know. If not, let
me know what I need to get and how much it's going to cost.

This is very important as my business is essentially in the toilet so I really
need this to work. I think it will but I need to have quality equipment.

Thanks for your help.
  • Profile picture of the author Fernando Veloso
    Mac + top sound card + mastering software USED to do the trick. Really hope project goes ahead and you can share some stuff with us

    Edit: Just check what was a "digital audio workstation", and have good news: I've tested Ableton Live last month, and it was very, very intuitive and powerful. Mastering sound is great, especially with a good soundcard.
    Signature
    People make good money selling to the rich. But the rich got rich selling to the masses.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8431615].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
      Steven,

      All of the major DAW's come with a pretty good selection of sounds these days (of varying quality). Cubase, Sonar, ProTools, Reason, FL studio... just to name a few. Ableton Live, as Fernando mentioned, is a very cool piece of software, but it's geared more towards electronic music... probably not what you're looking for if you're interested in doing orchestral-type stuff (which, if I recall correctly from your previous posts, is what you're interested in).

      You can download trial versions for most of the major DAW's. Then just run through the sounds, and see which one you like best.

      Alternately, you could bypass the DAW altogether, and just buy a 3rd party software sampler (aka virtual instruments) to use with Finale. MOTU MachFive, Steinberg Halion, Native Instruments Komplete, and IK Multimedia SampleTank are some popular ones that all have a wide variety of sounds. But there's lots of them out there... just depends on what kind of sounds you're after. If you're looking for mostly orchestral-type sounds, check out this page.

      I can't recommend any of the above software samplers specifically, as I haven't spent much time with that stuff lately (been working too hard, lol). But hopefully I've at least given you some ideas.

      Of course, you'll probably get much more meaningful suggestions for this stuff if you post in an audio recording forum.
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8431925].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Steven,

    I'm about to give you an audio production boner:

    Apple - Logic Pro X - Music production. Cranked up to X.

    A Mac Mini would run you $700-$1000

    You can use your existing monitor/mouse/keyboard, etc.

    ** I know you specified PC, but...
    Signature
    Brian McLeod
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8431942].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
      ^ Logic is a great program, and was probably my favorite DAW back in the late 90's. Too bad it's Mac-only now.
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8431959].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Brandon Tanner View Post

      Steven,

      All of the major DAW's come with a pretty good selection of sounds these days (of varying quality). Cubase, Sonar, ProTools, Reason, FL studio... just to name a few. Ableton Live, as Fernando mentioned, is a very cool piece of software, but it's geared more towards electronic music... probably not what you're looking for if you're interested in doing orchestral-type stuff (which, if I recall correctly from your previous posts, is what you're interested in).

      You can download trial versions for most of the major DAW's. Then just run through the sounds, and see which one you like best.

      Alternately, you could bypass the DAW altogether, and just buy a 3rd party software sampler (aka virtual instruments) to use with Finale. MOTU MachFive, Steinberg Halion, Native Instruments Komplete, and IK Multimedia SampleTank are some popular ones that all have a wide variety of sounds. But there's lots of them out there... just depends on what kind of sounds you're after. If you're looking for mostly orchestral-type sounds, check out this page.

      I can't recommend any of the above software samplers specifically, as I haven't spent much time with that stuff lately (been working too hard, lol). But hopefully I've at least given you some ideas.

      Of course, you'll probably get much more meaningful suggestions for this stuff if you post in an audio recording forum.

      Brandon, actually for this project, I'll be doing all genres as my understanding
      is that the demand for royalty free music covers just about everything from
      rock to classical. I want to put together as comprehensive library as possible
      as this is probably going to become my main business model from now on. If
      I'm going to be poor, I at least want to be poor doing something I love and
      music (all kinds) is my life. So I need something that will give me an all
      around library of sounds. From what I've read about Cubase today, it sounds
      like it will fill my needs combined with the Garritan VST I have already that I
      use with Finale.

      Originally Posted by BrianMcLeod View Post

      Steven,

      I'm about to give you an audio production boner:

      Apple - Logic Pro X - Music production. Cranked up to X.

      A Mac Mini would run you $700-$1000

      You can use your existing monitor/mouse/keyboard, etc.

      ** I know you specified PC, but...
      Brian, I know that ProLogic is great but I don't own a Mac and I don't want
      to have to buy another computer plus have to get the stuff I need to make
      the music. Money right now is beyond tight. Truth is, I'm living on fumes.
      Thank God my wife pays the bills but personally, I'm broke. So I need so spend
      as conservatively as I can and still get the job done.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8431966].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    Steven, take a good look Reaper. It uses VST and iVST files, and even comes with a good group of them included.

    REAPER | Download

    There is a 2-tier pricing system depending upon one's use. For a commercial studio, recording clients who come to the studio it's $225, and for a project studio it's only $60.

    You can even download it for free and try it for 60 days, and there are manuals, and lots of videos on YouTube about how to use Reaper.

    I was able to get it working pretty well without watching the YouTube videos or reading the manual. Then I simply needed to look up a couple items in the manual to expand my use.

    :-Don
    Signature

    Studies prove happier people have massively more success. It has worked for me. Use this one trick too... Click Here

    Total Competition Stomper - Simply the most powerful tactic your IM or Offline business will ever use... See it here!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8432119].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Don Schenk View Post

      Steven, take a good look Reaper. It uses VST and iVST files, and even comes with a good group of them included.

      REAPER | Download

      There is a 2-tier pricing system depending upon one's use. For a commercial studio, recording clients who come to the studio it's $225, and for a project studio it's only $60.

      You can even download it for free and try it for 60 days, and there are manuals, and lots of videos on YouTube about how to use Reaper.

      I was able to get it working pretty well without watching the YouTube videos or reading the manual. Then I simply needed to look up a couple items in the manual to expand my use.

      :-Don
      Don, I assume this is what you use. How is the sound? Good enough to create
      music of sufficient quality to sell as royalty free music good enough to use
      for high quality videos?

      I'm looking to eventually target some heavy hitters so I need to produce the
      best quality. That's why I'm being so picky here. When I hear $225, I can't
      help thinking to myself "How good can it be?"

      Maybe amazing quality is cheap today. I don't know. But I come from an
      era where a Yamaha CS 80 went for like $8,000 and sounded like crap
      compared to today's sounds. That's what I get for getting in on the music
      technology thing almost from the beginning (one of my first synths was as
      Moog Sonic 6)

      So if you have any music samples using this product that you can post, or
      point me to where I can hear some, that would be great.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8432135].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KingOfContentMarketing
    I've used them all of them except for Logic, and I'd encourage you to download the major ones and fool around with them. Each has a slightly different workflow and feel, and when you spend hours upon hours with a DAW for weeks on end, you want it to flow with your style of working. I love Ableton Live, for example, but some people don't like its "look" and layout.

    As far as VSTs, you can add them as an instrument or plug-in in all of the DAWs. Don't be afraid to use free VST instruments like Crystal; some sound better than many paid products. To find some gobs of VST effects, plug-in and instruments, check out KVR Audio.
    Signature
    Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
    - Jack Trout
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8432211].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    I've just started playing with it to learn it. Apparently there are number of pro studios using Reaper. There are comments on gearslutz.com and on recording.org.

    Perhaps you might try downloading it, the sample version really is the entire version, and you can play with it free for a couple months. Hear if you like it.

    :-Don
    Signature

    Studies prove happier people have massively more success. It has worked for me. Use this one trick too... Click Here

    Total Competition Stomper - Simply the most powerful tactic your IM or Offline business will ever use... See it here!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8432214].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Don did we ever meet in a previous life on the Yamaha 4416 list?
    Signature
    Brian McLeod
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8432237].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
      Originally Posted by BrianMcLeod View Post

      Don did we ever meet in a previous life on the Yamaha 4416 list?
      No, but we should have. :-)

      Actually when I got back into recording about a dozen years ago, I had a Roland VS-880, and about a year later replaced it with the VS-1880. That thing was really clunky to use, and I replaced it with an Akai DPS24.

      The DPS died about a year ago, but luckily there is a shop near LA that has repair parts. The fixed it (now it can't produce children) and made a few mods to keep it working longer. You can see it here: https://www.facebook.com/DonSchenk

      It is really old technology which is why I started playing with Reaper. All the reviews I've seen like Reaper. It is a powerful program. I just need more hours in the day to find the time to play with it more..

      :-Don
      Signature

      Studies prove happier people have massively more success. It has worked for me. Use this one trick too... Click Here

      Total Competition Stomper - Simply the most powerful tactic your IM or Offline business will ever use... See it here!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8434551].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        I just sent this email to Steinberg who makes Cubase.

        Hi:

        I'll make this short and to the point.

        Because of my bad eyes, I need to keep my screen resolution at 800x600. If I use a larger resolution such as 1024x720 I can't see the screen.

        Here are my questions.

        1. Can I run Cubase 7 in 800x600 resolution?

        2. If I can, will I be able to access all parts of it? I don't mind if I have to move things around the screen. But one VST I downloaded doesn't display the load banks menu at the bottom unless I change screen resolution to larger than 800x600.

        I need to know this information before purchasing as not being able to access the entire program's menus, screens, etc. at 800x600 means I can't use the program. And I don't want to spend $600 on something that I can't use.

        Thank you for getting back to me on this.

        Sincerely,

        Steven Wagenheim
        Is there anybody here who can answer this question for me? I'm not holding
        my breath on them getting back to me.
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8434843].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    I'll get right to the point.

    I'm going to be working on a project with a fellow Warrior (God bless you)
    creating royalty free music.

    I have Finale 2012 for actually creating the scores and can write like a fiend,
    so that's not an issue.

    This is.

    The sound, right out of Finale 2012, is okay but it's not going to cut it if I'm
    going to sell music for people to use in videos or whatever.

    I need suggestions for a PC based DAW (digital audio workstation) and the best
    VSTs (virtual studio technology) sounds so that these recordings sound as close
    to radio ready as possible. My budget is up to $1,000 for this project. If I
    can come up with quality sounds for that budget, let me know. If not, let
    me know what I need to get and how much it's going to cost.

    This is very important as my business is essentially in the toilet so I really
    need this to work. I think it will but I need to have quality equipment.

    Thanks for your help.
    I'm happy to learn that you're doing this. You strike me as someone who belongs in a Beverly Hills mansion living off the proceeds of film scores (and being freed by fortune to pursue personal projects).
    Signature

    Project HERE.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8437336].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

      I'm happy to learn that you're doing this. You strike me as someone who belongs in a Beverly Hills mansion living off the proceeds of film scores (and being freed by fortune to pursue personal projects).
      Well, I've been writing music for over 35 years. It's about time I actually did
      something useful with it.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8437440].message }}

Trending Topics