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Hi All,
I'll be getting an SD2 soon from Jim111. I have a tiny AKAI midi keyboard, but it only has a USB connection, no MIDI connections on it. I use a Line6 Guitarport as an external soundcard and audio interface, and it too is connected by USB, and only has a high-z in, 3.5 mm line in and two rca jacks out. I will also hope to use the Ketron in my DAW, which is Sony Acid. Do I need to get a new keyboard, one with MIDI connection? Ideally, I can just use a MIDI to USB cable with the Ketron and all will work, but that sounds too easy. I'm guessing the keyboard has to go into the Ketron first. Any help appreciated, or if you can point me to instructions, I've looked on Ketronus, pgforum, google, etc. Thanks.
Bob
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Bob, I tried to figure out the best way to do this, but you run into a few walls along the way. You need a MIDI interface to go to the SD2. You need to get the audio out of the SD2 and into the computer. You need to monitor everything. I have a better idea. Sell and Akai and the GuitarPort and get one of these: http://line6.com/podstudiokb37/specifications.htmlGary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Hi Gary,
Thanks for the quick response. I have thought about the kb37, but since it didn't have any MIDI connections I didn't think it would work with the SD2. I would be happy with that solution, but how do I connect the SD2?
It sounds like almost everyone is using the 2496 soundcard. Can you use microphones and guitars with that? I'm looking at the cables and only see RCA and MIDI. Would I have to get an audio interface with MIDI I/O? I can do that, I've used my kludgy setup long enough (but it works!).
Bob
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Bob, I assumed that you wanted to continue to use the GuitarPort. You'll still need a MIDI interface to go to the SD2, there's no way I know to get around that. A 2496 will provide that for you, in fact it's what I use. For a couple of hundred dollars, you can buy the M-Audio 2496. That gives you audio in and out, and a MIDI capability. Next, you'll need a small mixer. For small mixers, I like Behringers. They're quiet, and they're inexpensive. The UB802 would work nicely for your setup. http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-EURORACK-UB802-Mixer?sku=631238That will give you two stereo inputs, as well as two phantom powered mic inputs. Connect the output of the SD2 and the output of the GuitarPort to the stereo ins of the mixer. Run the Main Outs of the mixer to the inputs of the 2496, and then the outputs of the 2496 to the Tape In of the mixer. You'll need a good set of monitors, if you don't already have those. That may set you back a few hundred more dollars. For about $410, you can get a pair of KRK Rokit 5's, Generation 2, a MXL Mic, Sony headphones, mic stand with boom, and cables. http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pro...kage?sku=484205So, for about $600 total, you can put together a nice little recording setup that will still use your GuitarPort, will allow you connections to the SD2, keeps your Akai, and gives you a monitoring and mixing solution as well. I was tired yesterday, and ended up being a bit short in my answer, when I figured out you were going to start running into audio issues with multiple USB devices, the KB37 would have offered an elegant solution, other than the need for a MIDI interface. By the way, I read two reviews for the KB37 on Musician's Friend, and one of them is rather critical of the unit, including poor Line In distortion, so maybe this other solution would be a better way to go for you. Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Ah, a mixer, that's how to use my mic and guitar. Thanks Gary for taking so much time to answer me! Hopefully, I can be the one passing on advice in time.
You'd laugh at what I use in place of mic stands and such. I pull a ficus tree over to me that has a coconut bird hut in it (I have pet birds). The coconut holds my mic. I can't really use monitors, so I use 5 different sets of headphones. If it sounds okay on all of them, I keep it. I'm pretty sure the room is an acoustic conundrum, so instead of a condenser, I use an old Shure dynamic sa533. I get better results, IMHO, than with an SM57 or 58. The guitarport has no preamp but models some vintage preamps and I use those for vocals and am surprised at the results. I also run a two liter soda bottle through the mic cord and up to the mic for an acoustic seal when I play harmonica, which is my main instrument. And to top it all off, I use GSnap because my vox need all the help they can get. ; ) (Well, I used Autotune and ran it back through all my projects. The demo expired, so I'm hoping GSnap will fill the bill. It's free.)
When I recover from buying the SD2, I can go to work on your other suggestions. No problem with that mixer price, though, can't beat it! Thanks so much again!
Bob
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Forgot to add: used 2496 cards are easily found on eBay for around $50-$60, so this is a good and cheap solution, too (which is important!). Thanks for the KB37 caveat as well, I've not found reviews, just new product blurbs.
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I started with the Beheringer mixer. I wished for sliders right away, but that's me. Put up with that setup a long time.
Never thought about a mic in a ficus tree. That's a new one. Would keep the wife's arms from getting tired. I tried the bend over..never mind. You my friend are gonna a fun.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Well, I feel bad asking for more help after Gary so kindly and diligently laid out so much information for me. But after buying the Ketron, I need some time before buying more gear. I have an audio-usb cable into the Ketron. I have a cable going from the Ketron's audio outs to the line in of my line 6 guitarport. I can use the Ketron fine in BIAB and I can even record MIDI in Acid. I have no idea how to change instruments in Acid, but I discovered if I choose an instrument in RealBand and exit, that instrument will be what plays and records in Acid. Haven't learned much else in RB yet. Took years to get good at Acid (no jokes!).
My main problem is rendering MIDI. I can't do it in either Acid or BIAB. I've been through different settings in Windows audio and I think it's all correct. I have chosen Guitarport for playback and recording, volume levels high, and chose the Ketron for MIDI playback (it just IDs as usb2). Any help appreciated, thanks again to all who've gotten me this far. I have inquired at line6 and sony user forums but not a lot of help yet.
Bob
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Best advice now is get out a pencil and piece of paper.
Draw it out.
The output from the Ketron is .wav .
I always found it easiest to put a mixer in between my outputs and the eventual input back to the system. That way you have all the options, hear yourself and the mix, or hear just the mix. Record or monitor.
Once you sort it out the first time, stop and write it all down. That's important. Other than the computer and the Ketron we have little in common.
The other thing is get happy with the Ketron. Use all midi tracks, and your ears. Download the .pat file,install that, and use the higher banks. Substitute one trumpet on melody for another in the family, and sort that out. Then start adding Realtracks or Drums one at a time.
You might just hear how some of the newer midi styles sound on the SD2.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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A lon g time Acid (the program) user here, but i finally had to give up the "habit" as it was just to hard to use with midi. Sure it works, but not as intuitive as the other DAW programs. I use RB and MTS these days, since i never use loops anymore, there is no real attraction to the Sony product.
Lenovo Win 10 16 gig ram, Mac mini with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2022, Realband, Harrison Mixbus 32c version 9.1324, Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app, Komplete 49 key controller.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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The advent of these marvelous RealTracks from PGMusic relegated my copy of Sony Acid to the trash heap of innovation here.
*No long sessions auditioning and selecting loops.
*More realistic tracks that actually sound like a real player sat the session and played from point to chosen point.
*Push one button and the track is automatically generated.
Unless you are after tracks that sound like they are looped (some may be after just that) then the RealTracks are simply several cuts above Acid IMO.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Thanks again, all, for input. I was about to order the 2496 and Behringer mixer but saw a disclaimer on the M-Audio website: XP MCE not supported. Then I link to this huge list on Sweetwater of audio hardware and software that they don't recommend with MCE. Almost every name out there. Zheesh. I may get it anyway, most of what I've wanted to do musically has worked fine with MCE. In fact the only thing that isn't working is rendering from the SD2. But now perhaps I should think about a new computer. Or a new OS.
I like the Ketron enough to keep plugging away. Eventually it will all work. I'm not a pro, so there's no time limit except for my bucket list of tunes...
I haven't heard much good about Acid and MIDI. People still use it, even pros. I use Vegas video (consumer version), so learning Acid was particularly easy. I don't use it for loops, I use it like any other DAW. But it looks like I'll have to start transitioning to RB. I see a Ketron patch for PTP, is there one for RB? If not, how do I access the other banks? The BIAB Ketron patch is working fine for me. When I first heard the Ketron, I didn't get it, but I do now. As many here have said, the SD2 and Realtracks together is the way to go.
Thanks again, folks.
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Quote:
In fact the only thing that isn't working is rendering from the SD2.
Rendering automatically can work *only with a DXi synth* -- The Ketron SD2, or any other hardware synth for that matter, cannot do the Direct Render because the sounds it makes are not within the domain of the host CPU. Any hardware synth must be played back from beginning to end and recorded to a stereo audio track in order to convert to audio .wav file. There is nothing wrong with your computer in this case.
Quote:
I see a Ketron patch for PTP, is there one for RB?
Realband uses the exact same patchmap as Powertracks. Installs the exact same way. This is because RealBand is based on the Powertracks engine. They have much in common.
--Mac
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I got an email today from line6 which said my line-in is only for playing along with a CD, not recording. So that explains the problem. My apologies for posing an unsolvable question. I'm now deciding whether to buy the 2496/802 solution, or get a new computer. Thanks again to all who tried to help.
Windows 10, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 6i6, Komplete keyboard, Sony Acid Music Studio 11, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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