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Subject:"Includes Xpress Keyboards VSTi soft synth bundle"
Posted by: spinweb
Date:1/18/2005 12:06:46 PM
OK. Let's, for the sake of this thread, say I just landed in this forum fresh from Saturn's moon, Titan. I play guitar and bass. I've recorded about 50 songs in ACID (v3-v5) to one degree or another. I'm clueless about the whole synth/keyboard world. 1. What is this? 2. What can it do? 3. How do I get it to do it? Thanks, Rick |
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Subject:RE: "Includes Xpress Keyboards VSTi soft synth bundle"
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:1/19/2005 10:23:22 AM
They are software versions of MIDI sound modules. For example: the FM7 is like the Yamaha TX7 (which was the expander module that was basically a DX7 without a keyboard) You play them like any other MIDI sound module except there is no hardware to worry about. It’s all emulated in software. To play them, you would need to use a MIDI keyboard controller or add a device to your guitar that can generate MIDI note information. You could also use the MIDI Piano Roll Editor to enter MIDI notes manually and have them play the softsynth. ~jr |
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Subject:RE: "Includes Xpress Keyboards VSTi soft synth bundle"
Reply by: spinweb
Date:1/19/2005 12:10:43 PM
Thanks JR. That's a help. Where do I find out more, perhaps with some examples I can follow. In the meantime I have a Yamaha keyboard I can use. However, my ECHO Indigo I/O soundcard does not have a MIDI port on it. Can't I just play the thing in real time? Will you book have anything to walk newbie non-key players through this? Rick |
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Subject:RE: "Includes Xpress Keyboards VSTi soft synth bundle"
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:1/22/2005 11:57:20 AM
For MIDI on my laptop I use the Midisport 2x2. It plugs right into the USB port. I think I picked it up used for $47 on eBay. This will give you two MIDI ins and outs. The Instant ACID book talks about all of this. The MIDI chapter covers what interfaces you will need, what MIDI controller to use based on how you will use it, wiring diagrams, as well as setting up your VSTi’s and recording MIDI. CMP Books just released the book this weekend at the NAMM show so it should start showing up in stores soon. ~jr |
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Subject:RE: "Includes Xpress Keyboards VSTi soft synth bundle"
Reply by: spinweb
Date:1/22/2005 7:03:44 PM
The reviews for the Midisport 2x2 are not that great: http://www.harmony-central.com/Synth/Data/Midiman/Midisport-2x2-01.html |
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Subject:RE: "Includes Xpress Keyboards VSTi soft synth bundle"
Reply by: JohnnyRoy
Date:1/23/2005 8:49:45 AM
First off, what the heck does an 6.8 rating for “Expressiveness/Sound” mean for a MIDI IO port that makes no sound? It got an overall 8.6 on Features and 8.3 on Reliability. What’s wrong with that? I read a few of those reviews. One guy couldn’t figure out that the EXE file he downloaded from M-Audio was NOT the actually driver but an installation program for the drivers (Duh!) and another guy gave it a 1 rating because it didn’t work on Linux! (it never said it worked with Linux) Another 1 rating was from a guy in 2002 who couldn’t get it to work on his Mac because (at the time) they didn't have OS X drivers yet. Yea, I trust these reviewers. NOT! It only takes a few idiots giving it a 1 rating because they couldn’t figure out how to install a driver on their emachine (oh, there’s a quality PC for doing audio) to drag a 10 rating down. Most of the reviews were happy customers. I have one. It works flawlessly. Buy any MIDI IO device you want. I was just relating what works for me (and many others). ~jr |
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Subject:RE: "Includes Xpress Keyboards VSTi soft synth bundle"
Reply by: spinweb
Date:1/23/2005 2:27:18 PM
Point taken. I just happened to Google that particular product and was surprised by the number of people bitching about it. Out of date drivers, etc. The take away bit in this is that there *is* a cheap solution to the MIDI input for my laptop, regardless of which particular product I buy. <<what the heck does an 6.8 rating for “Expressiveness/Sound” mean for a MIDI IO port that makes no sound?>> lol! -Rick |
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Subject:Xpress Keyboards
Reply by: bodster
Date:2/4/2005 7:07:52 AM
This may sound stupid, but I cannot for the life of me find my serial number for 'Xpress keyboards'... Could anyone point me in the right direction? I've looked throughout the manuals and all the packaging... :( Bod |
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Subject:RE: Xpress Keyboards
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:2/6/2005 11:58:41 AM
Hi Bod, Give SPD's customer service a buzz. I'm sure they can help you out. HTH, Iacobus ------- RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid Buy Instant ACID by JohnnyRoy and Me! Now! mD at ACIDplanet |