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Joined: Jul 2006
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I have a question here for y’all. I am basically a gigging musician and have been so for a few years. I am trying to set up my mini home studio. I have developed a habit of sequencing on my Yamaha Motif ES 7 sequencer over the years but I have been told by a few good friends of mine that I would be amazed if I saw the potential of using a DAW (Sonar, Cubase, Logic, Pro tool and of course in matters of PG MUSIC -POWER TRACKS PRO AUDIO) to sequence, edit midi and record digital audio etc instead of using the Motif sequencer. I am told that it is much faster and more efficient so I wouldn’t mind exploring this option to be honest. In terms of hardware, My gear includes a Motif es 7, a Lexicon omega interface, an Hp laptop and also a Macbook. Software-wise, I have Logic express 9, power tracks pro audio 11, Band in a box 2008 Megapak and Cakewalk Sonar 4.
Here is my question. Is there any good instructional DVD /CD Rom OR BOOK out there that can step by step show me how to sequence, edit midi etc in a DAW? I am a very visual learner so a DVD would be really good. I am desiring to learn to arrange, edit, sequence, record and produce music tracks using a DAW…………………say POWER TRACKS PRO AUDIO. I have heard a lot of folk say “well it is the same as you are doing on the Motif ES Sequencer but it’s just that you are using the software instead of the hardware sequencer.” I am like well yeah, I hear ya, but for me, I find it involves a lot more. Nobody has shown me how to do it. Do I continue to lay down the midi sequence on my Motif sequencer and then record the midi into the DAW or do I work using the software and just the motif as a midi controller? Then what about the details in how to do, what to do etc? Yeah I know some folk can get it like easily but I learn differently. I guess we can say different strokes for different folks.
I need baby steps instruction in other words in making the transition from sequencing on a workstation to a software DAW. Any suggestions from y’all. I have all the equipment that I need to make it happen.
Thanks much.
Jacobins
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Jah,
Check out Ray Thigpen's (member here) Power Tracks video tutorial. It is on his signature line in his forum posts. Do a search for his name and find a recent post. He posted a few days ago.
The tutorial covers the basics of using PT and its effects etc . . .
If you are already comfortable with making songs on the Motif, I would stick to that for the backing music process. You can always record to PT or another software for making your wave or MP3 files or want to add any extra parts to your song.
If you are making music from the Motif, no need to change that process.
Trax
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If you learn well from the printed word, Thomson Course Technologies publish a superb line of third-party manuals for music production software, such as Nuendo Power. Manufacturer's manuals tell you how to do things, which is nice if you know what you need to do. The Power series fills in that gap.
The books are very specific as to software version. I don't know whether everything stays in print or whether you will have to hunt around on ebay, but I couldn't recommend anything more highly. Current titles are in stock at Barnes and Noble.
I know something about music and something about computers and recording, but the combination was about to get the best of me until I found "PC Recording Studios for Dummies." It is the best organized single source for an introduction to the subject I have found.
Richard
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Back in the day, PowerTracks Pro Audio came with some great tutorial videos on the distribution CDs. Those videos, the manual and help here on the forums were enough for me to switch over from the built-in sequencer in my Ensoniq VFX SD to PTPA. I just looked to see if they have any videos for PTPA on the PGMusic support site and it appears that everything is RealBand and BIAB up on there.
I see you also have Logic Express 9. I'm not completely familiar with that version, but my experience with Logic is that it is a better design for visual folks than most other DAW on the market. It is very similar to Mackie Tracktion in that regard.
As for editing MIDI data - PTPA has great MIDI editing tools compared to most other DAW softwares; particularly the mode where it is a combination between a notation editor and a piano-roll editor. I know of no other DAW which makes this easy to understand connection between the staff and piano roll type of paradigms.
I've tried sequencing on a Motif 6. Ugh!!!! I was trying to do VERY simple stuff - simulating turn signal and other audible warning signals found in automobiles and it was terribly complicated. But I find most Yamaha equipment that has a 'brain' in it of some kind to be very hard to use.
You may end up finding it easier to sequence in the DAW rather than try to sequence on the Motif and then transfer those sequences over to the DAW - at least this was the way it worked for me moving from the easy to use sequencers in Ensoniq keyboards (I had the ESQ1 and the VFX SD; actually still have the VFX SD - it's my controller keyboard). The only thing that was easier in the VFX SD sequencer was constructing songs from midi sequences. That was simply a matter of chaining together sequences - it was a little more complicated in PTPA - but after-the-fact MIDI editing ease of use more than made up for that inconvenience.
Some choices you'll be making and thinking about:
1. What is the actual end goal of moving into the home studio/DAW world? If you want to be making your own CDs and so forth, going the DAW route is in the right direction.
2. Following on from #1, do you like the sound output of the Motif? If so, then eventually, you will be recording the analog output of the Motif into the Lexicon if you want to make CD or .mp3 files of your work.
3. Do you sing, play other instruments besides keyboards, etc.? If so, you can add these into what you record with the Motif with a DAW; not with the Motif by itself.
Many other things, too many to list here.
Don't be surprised if you end up thinking this is all too much work. I know many folks that get all glazed eyes no matter what DAW software they are trying to learn. These people typically end up using some kind of dedicated desktop recorder.
However, I think you'll eventually get to the point where the additional visual helps in the DAW will overcome your complete dependence on the Motif; a terribly non-visual interface/instrument.
-Scott
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Hi Guys,
I do appreciate all of your wonderful feed back (Muzic Trax, Ryszard, rockstar_not) I sincerely do. 2 latest developments. Today, I ordered "PC RECORDING STUDIOS FOR DUMMIES" by Jeff Strong...as advised by my good friend in here Ryszard at indabamusic.com.......Ya Monnn !! I read a few reviews on it and I even went ahead and viewed the first 2 chapters online. Sounds like a great book just for me. I purchased it on AMAZON.COM for $10.95 (condition says GOOD, just like new). Interesting my neighbour has 2 resources that is sittting in his library shelf that he doesn't need any more as He is now using PRO TOOLS 9. He has a book entitled SONAR 4 IGNITE and also an instructional DVD entitled SONAR 4 CSI STARTER...both the book and DVD are from THOMSON COURSE TECHNOLOGIES. HE IS GONNA be giving me these 2 resources and so I am gonna kick start Cakewalk SONAR 4 AGAIN.
I will keep you all inform of my progress as I will be reading and viewing that DVD. So look out SONAR 4 'cause HERE I COME.
THANKS GUYS.
Jacobins
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 123
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 123 |
Quote:
He has a book entitled SONAR 4 IGNITE and also an instructional DVD entitled SONAR 4 CSI STARTER...both the book and DVD are from THOMSON COURSE TECHNOLOGIES. HE IS GONNA be giving me these 2 resources and so I am gonna kick start Cakewalk SONAR 4 AGAIN.
I have both of those also, they are a big help. I am a Sonar user but the last version I bought was 5PE so I am now several releases behind. I bring that up b/c a lot of time the manufacturer's website has some good videos too but mainly focused on what's so great about the latest release.
Sometimes you can find some good how-to videos on YouTube.
I don't mind reading the manuals (in my day job I am constantly thumbing through various building codes....boring!) but I find I learn faster if I just start to try to do something and if I hit a snag, then refer to the manual. Once I have solved it I continue on until I get stuck again. Sometimes there's a bit of a learning curve as you find out you should have laid the whole thing out differently from the very beginning and now it would involve a lot of work to go back and change it. But, that usually only happens once or twice. Once you get it down, You'll be flying! And BiaB is turning out to be a HUGE time-saver and an excellent musical resource.
Best of luck!
BiaB 2024
Reaper v7.15
Melodyne Essential 5.3
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Yo Dan 45,
Thanks for your reply. Now, I guess I need to set up a Patch Map in Sonar 4 for my Yamaha Motif ES 7? I will check on Cakewalk website and or Yamaha's website to see if I can find me one. When you reply, tell me how you have your set up to record MIDI & AUDIO.
Hit me back soon again.
May JAH Bless !!
Jacobins
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
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