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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 39
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OP
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 39 |
I am PowerTracks 15 user. Thinking of transitioning from coyote to a better soft synth. Using a laptop, would need an external sound card.
Looking for good drums, strings, pianos, brass, etc. Any suggestions for a synth and sound card would be appreciated.
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,463
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,463 |
You are asking for two things; a synth and a sound card. They are different. The sound card records/plays the audio. A synth generates audio out of MIDI messages. (and plays the audio through the soundcard) Which do you need? A better soft synth requires no external sound card, and that is the first thing you mention needing. If you need both that's another set of options. Which Coyote do you have now? The standard WT version is pretty weak but the Forte is an improvement well worth the $40 for a starter. About the same quality of the old standard VSC depending on taste. Search soft synth on the forum; there has been a lot of discussion on this lately and a lot of suggestions. http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=283968#Post283968http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=283895#Post283895
Last edited by rharv; 02/12/15 01:06 PM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,142
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,142 |
I like the sound of my edirol hyper canvas more than the coyote. Slight hiccup I pointed out to the manufactureres but they haven't patched it as development has stopped is that one of the kick drums (note 35 I think) does not respond to velocity change although note 36 does.
You might even pick up a cheap copy on ebay. If you do get a cd, the installation is a little confusing on Windows 7 (and maybe Vista - can't remember. Windows 8 is an unknown as fgar as I'm concerned). You have to install the update patch first and then install from the cd. You get both dxi and vst version on one disc. You'll find the update on google easily enough.
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PowerTracks Pro Audio
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,727
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,727 |
Any decent interface that connects with USB and uses real ASIO should be just fine for the sound card..... Presonus, Focusrite, M-Audio, ROland, and a bunch of others all work well...
For the soft synth... on of the best investments you can make in a good synth is Kontakt by Native Instruments. The reasons why include... it is a solid, well designed synth. NI makes a ton of sounds for it. Third party vendors make a ton of sounds for it. It uses sampled sounds.
It comes out of the box with everything you asked for.... I think it's lacking a bit on modern drums since IIRC the drums is has in it are orchestral in nature...... BUT.... if you purchase the NI Komplete collection you get Battery which is the drum synth..... Kontakt and the Komplete collection are not cheap... but they are worth every dollar.
Another cool thing going on right now is the sale on the new Music Creator 7 by Cakewalk. It's selling for $20 and comes with drums, bass, piano, strings, guitar, TTS, and Sound center. Sound center is one of my favorite synths. It uses sampled sounds and the add on sound packs are grouped by like kind....and also sell for around $20 each. In addition, the new MC7 has a bunch of loops.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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