Conference napalm::commusic_v1

>       (Why do I feel like I'm tossing a dog a bone?)
    
Why do I feel like a dog?

--------
Not sure what your question is. If you're looking for a synth recommendation,
please feel free to browse through the directory of this conference. It's
loading with reviews. Can you be more specific?   /Mitch

>       (Why do I feel like I'm tossing a dog a bone?)
    
	I think it's more like opening a pandora box.  Everyone everywhere
is going to have a different opinion on what you want, need, or should get.
I, for example, am pretty hooked on Roland.  But some prefer Yamaha, Ensoniq,
or Korg...  One of the things you could do is go to clinics.  I know of a 
Roland clinic coming up (ask Dave Orin at SUBSYS::ORIN), but I don't want
to just mention them.  It just happens that that's the only clinic I know of
right now.  Try going to music stores (that have a wide range of models; even
if in only one brand) and playing around with them, or ask the manager for 
specs on them.  Many have demos that can give an accurate if not understated
picture of their capabilities.  It is also important to know what kind of
sounds and features you want.  For instance, do you want analog-type sounds
(strings, etc.) rather than digital sounds (bells, etc.)?  Or a powerful
synth to put them together?  Do you want to split keyboards?  Layer many 
voices?  On board digital effects?  Like -.1 said, you can read various 
reviews here and shop around, but basically you have to decide what's best
for your needs.

Mike

    >	I think it's more like opening a pandora box.
    
    Difference is, at the bottom of P's box lies hope. When you
    start into amateur music, there is no hope...
    
    Richard.

    I've noticed the author of .0 has entered a variety of 'basic'
    questions lately. That's good, the people in this file just
    love to talk....
    
    ...but, good as this file is, it's no substitute for just getting
    out there and DOING IT. 
    
    Questions like "What should I do now?" or (hypothetical) "What's
    the best ....?" will probably get a different response from
    every respondee and only confuse the person asking.
    
    You'll probably get better info if you go out, shop around and
    come back with some specific questions.
    
    I don't mean to sound discouraging, I trust my willingness to help
    a new noter has been amply demonstrated through the years, but
    frankly, many of these questions have already been answered.
    
    MIDI isn't difficult, but you can't learn it in a notesfile.
    
    Edd (who really ISN'T trying to scare anyone away)

RE: .0

    Ok, Nick, you've got an EPS and a MAC, right?  And you think you might
    want something else?  Here's my recommendation ...

    Don't fool with getting another synth yet.  You haven't had time to
    learn what the EPS can do for you.  There are two products put out by
    Digidesign that will (or at least should) help you out a great deal.
    The first is called Sound Designer, which will allow your MAC to do
    sample editing and tweaking graphically.  This editor should
    effectively let you build L/A type sounds, since you can cut/paste
    samples onto each other.

    If you're really into additive synthesis, there's a second program
    called Softsynth, which turns your sampler into an additive machine by
    letting you build your own waves on the MAC and downloading them to the
    sampler. 

    Use the EPS's sequencer and spend the bux on something else.

    If that still doesn't satisfy you, you first need to define what kind
    of sound you're looking for.  Analog?  FM?  Why?  Can it be done with
    the EPS?  What's your objective?  Be a one man band?  Function as a
    member of a band?  Diddle for your own pleasure?  Lots of open ends
    here.

    Bottom line - take what you think you're willing to spend now and put
    it in the bank @ 6%.  Then in two years after you've decided what you
    really *NEED* then yank it out and buy it. 

-b

    
    re: .-1, .-2, .-3, nick
    
      Nick, I agree with Brad. Don't fall into the "Technology Overload"
    trap! You have a monster of a sampling/synthesizing keyboard, and
    with the Mac you can do quite a bit. Have you looked at Alchemy
    yet? It turns your EPS (or anybody else who speaks Sample Dump
    Standard) into an additive synthesis workstation. I'll bet it's
    a lot cheaper than anything else you'll want to buy right now!
    
      /pjh

    
    To true, you can't learn MIDI through reading these notes files.
    But, you can learn through reading into other peoples problems and
    replies.  I have read about every file on hardware and MIDI review
    that exists.  But you guys need to realize something, I live in
    Anchorage Alaska.  There are two real electronic keyboard dealears
    up here.  One store deals in strictly in Yamaha and Ensonic.  The
    other deals in Casio and Korg.  None of them store decent demo boards
    for more then a day because as soon as they get here they are gone.
    The support for their products is very bad, the salesmanship techniques
    are okay, but support for the products sucks.  They don't know enough
    about MIDI yet to answer questions.  They say "Hey it can do this
    and this and this..."  What I would like to know is how...  Talking
    to them is no better than reading a magazine add.  
    
    I found a book the other day, MUSIC THROUGH MIDI by MICROSOFT that
    answers about any question I could ask.  What I wanted to know from
    you, the people out using MIDI,  are suggestions on where to go from
    this stage.  The topic I started was just to get some people talking. 
    Kinda global questions I know, but the activity here was quite slow...
    
    I'm torn between signal processors, MIDI modules, and software.  
    
    What I want to do is drum programming and write songs.  Rhythm and
    drums like Vince Clark from YAZ and ERASURE.  Pop dance stuff to
    entertain as well as sound good.  Eventually I will perform live
    at the college on Jam days...
    
    By reading and asking questions on this notes file I have come
    to the conclusion that I need one more module, a MICROVERB II,
    and three pieces of MIDI software.  
    
    After I have these, I will either be entertaining or just entertain
    myself. 
                                                    

    All things considered, it looks like I owe you a bit of an apology.
    I tend to just take for granted that noters *all* live and work
    in Metro-West Boston where there are more music stores than you
    can shake a MIDI cable at.
    
    Sometime I should just go back to the early days of this file and
    read my entries. That should keep me humble...
    
    Sorry for the attitude. Welcome to COMMUSIC.
    
    Edd

    Kellyni:
    	
    I am also fairly new to MIDI and can empathize with your desire
    to "come up to speed" as quickly as possible.  I've read some of
    the responses to this note and would tend to agree, you have the
    makings of a pretty powerful setup with just the EPS and the MAC.
    You will need some S/W and the additive synthesis stuff sounds like
    it would be appropriate.  I have a Kawai K5, which is a synth which
    uses additive synthesis.  I love it; in very little time you can
    be altering factory sounds to taste.  (I found it helped to get
    a couple books from the library on sound waveforms, to give me a
    rough idea of what different sounds "looked" like).
    
    As far as additional new toys, I would advise you to live with your
    rig a while (that is after you get the S/W).  You will make far
    better choices for additions based on knowledge of what you CAN
    or CAN'T do.  I say this based on personal experiences.  The one
    addition that I would recommend would be some sort of effects
    processor.   I bought a Alesis MIDIverb II based on recommendations
    here and have been extremely satisfied.  
    
    Finally, regarding being in God's Country, I am in Minneapolis and
    sometimes feel a little "out of it" when reading about events and
    news in COMMUSIC.  Having said that, however, I still feel it is
    a great place to learn an incredible amount about MIDI and music
    in general.  I use it as sort of a tutor in addition to the regular
    course material I find in equipment manuals, magazines, and MIDI 
    textbooks.  And, besides the good info, there always seems to be
    some controversy raging, just in case you need the diversion.
    
    Happy tunes,
    
    Bill Allen @MPO
    
    PS Do you like the Microsoft MIDI book?  I was thinking about buying
       it.

    
    Awww shucks guyz..
    
    No hard feelings here.  It b all in the fun of it.  
    
    I love the Microsoft book.  I have been trying to find any source
    of literature that doesn't talk a mile above my head for about a
    year.  Music Through MIDI is a good solid learning manual.  It talks
    about basic MIDI functions and is clear on each point and omits 
    nothing.  And it does get technical, I never knew that MIDI
    talked at 31250 baud.  It even gives you MIDI pinout charts and
    explains how bits travel between devices.
    
    I am about 1/3 through it and now I feel I have a good base to at
    least comunicate about MIDI and synthesis.  
    
    Every new MIDIot should include it in your library...
    
    Cheers  /Nick