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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
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OP
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If I buy the SD2 could I send midi in data to a DAWS and record it or would I have to record the SD2's audio output through a line in on pc's sound card? I would like the signal to be as clean as possible.
Also, can anyone who has it tell me what they think of the orchestral instruments ensemble and solo (cello, viola, violin, timpani, etc)? I have been leaning more towards classical compositions. If they aren't so good I guess I could also get the Garritan or Miroslav Orchestras and use them in a soft synth. However, any tips on orchestral sounds would be appreciated.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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We have to record the Audio Output of any hardware synth like the SD2 to audio at some point if our desired product is a digital audio file of the performance.
That is done by connecting the Audio outputs (stereo L & R) to the Line Inputs of your sound device and recording the MIDI performance as it plays back from beginning to end.
This is the way to do it with any hardware MIDI synth.
The classical side of the SD2 works well, with the one caveat I have to give, that the vibrato on some instruments is a bit much for certain ensemble work.
This kind of thing is subjective, but I don't think that the SD2 can do the classical orchestra as well as either of the two softwares you mention, especially the Garritan GPO. Be advised that use of the GPO is "different" and nonstandard.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
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The trumpet has a vibrato sound, too, IMHO. The strings sound okay to me, but I'm not very knowledgeable about wire band instruments. Did you listen to the SD2 demos and the sounds that Mac recorded with it? There's a thread that Mac started in Off-Topic? There are more at the Ketron website. FWIW.
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2009
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OP
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Thanks Mac and Shastastan. I haven't recorded anything using a hardware synth since around 2002! With the plethora of great software from Spectrasonics, Motu and other companies I jettisoned all my hardware and have just been using the PC, vst instrument and effects and a keyboard midi controller. For vocals I've just used royalty free samples.
I've only considered the SD2 for ease of use in sketching songs using the GM standard which I'm using again for the first time because of revisiting BIAB and Jammer Pro 6.
I have listened to Mac's very impressive demos and those on Ketron's site which is the main reason I've been considering the SD2. I'll have to think about it more carefully as apart from vibrato there are issues such as applying separate effects to each sound which will be difficult with all instruments coming in on one line input.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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Quote:
I'll have to think about it more carefully as apart from vibrato there are issues such as applying separate effects to each sound which will be difficult with all instruments coming in on one line input.
The SD2 can do MIDI efects on separate channels.
But you can also choose to convert only one MIDI track to a single Audio track at a time and then apply Audio plugin effects to the single track if desired. I don't do that much if at all anymore because the sounds inside the SD2 happen to blend very well together "as-is".
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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I would endorse Mac's view as I have been experimenting with the Ketron SD 2 for six months and find it a cut above a number of external and internal synths I have used previously, Yes I have patches elsewhere that are as good as the Ketron and some that are better in some contexts. Although use of the Ketron has meant returning to my previous method of recording through the soundcard instead of rendering, the overall development time scales have been significantly reduced and I now use this method even for sounds provided by DXi/VXTi and Samplers.
I have noticed also that some patches seem to have increased vibrato over my preferences such as some sax patches. For tracks using these patches, I find little or no Bends are desirable and I try to vary and control the vibrato using CC1 Modulations.
Lyn
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 25
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Thanks for your input LynB. This fits well with some recent information I got from one of the owners of a business providing a range of services to musicians. The feedback on the SD2, which they use, was very positive.
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