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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 271
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 271 |
OK... after two weeks of messing around and pulling my hair out with my out-dated MIDI gear that I haven't used in so long, but have the urge to start up again, I'm ready to throw in the towel and start looking at more up to date equipment. Keep in mind that I'm not looking to spend a fortune... I'm a guy who just likes to mess around with Country music for my own pleasure - and of course, my family think it's great. I have been looking , pricing stuff from our local music store here in Montreal (Steve's Music Store) after doing a lot of research on different things on the Web and have come up with these products. I am also a new user of BIAB and RealBand UltraPack and so far I have been making great strides with them.
Any comments on my search findings would be appreciated - would it be suitable for what I want to do with it?
Software:
Native Instruments Absynth 4
MIDI Controller (I've been looking at 2 of them:
E-MU Xboard 2
OR
E-MU Xboard 49 (for $30.00 more than the above)
I'm running Win XP Pro, Intel 3gig dual core prossessor, loads of memory and a Audigy Platinum sound card.
Thanks...
Bobby
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,163
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,163 |
Check out the Ketron SD2 module. I believe Mac (member here) is a distributor of that product. He also owns one and has had some experience using it with the PG Products.
Trax
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Ok, in order:
1. Nothing wrong with your JV1010, it just works and is easier in many respects to the SD2, I have both colline.
2. A good small mixer if you don't have one. Mackie is top end, Behringher is what I have. I also have a powered mixer from Behringher, but don't know your setup.
3. The Dxi synth or the Forte synth are both pretty good, not Ketron quality, but on par at times with the JV1010.
4. The sky's the limit, you need to describe your objective, and go from there.
5. Tell us what instruments you play, and who's music you want to do? Yours, or covers..?? Tex Lecor? Frigidaire? Johnny Paycheck? Tommy Hunter? iyou ca se peut ...attendez....um um Johnny Cash....Brad Paisley? Is la poubelle still open? I was there, Montreal, worked at expo 67, terre des hommes 68, lived in Verdun, puis, Mont Laurier, puis Rouyen, la baie James...non all that is made up I never was there. Leduc, ou Dugay, eh bien, lache pas la patate....
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 271
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Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 271 |
Wow John... your French is way better than mine... and I've lived here for all of my 53 years. Back then French wasn't such a big deal like it is today. I spent a lot of time at Expo 67... I was 11 years old during that time.
I play rhythm acustic guitar and I sing. I worked in clubs around here for over 35 years, doing Country and some old rock and roll... I started very young, much to my mother's dismay... heh... The last band I worked with had quite a following. We worked in one club for almost 10 years - almost unheard of for local bands.
I do covers of old Country music from the 60's 70's and 80's - all the classic, pure Country stuff - George Jones (the best damn Country singer of all time), Buck Owens, Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard - along those lines. I have also written a few songs. One of them was used as background music in an episode of an old Canadian produced TV show called "The Rez". It played for 1:32 minutes in a bar scene. It also gets air time on a local radio station here. On average, it gets played once every other week. I was the only musician around here collecting royalty checks. By far not enough to retire on... but at least I had bragging rights... heh Thus, this is the kind of stuff I do - old Country classics.
As for the JV1010... whether it still works or not... I'm not interested in using it anymore (hello eBay???). I want to get "modern" stuff now. But like I said... I don't want to spend a fortune - I'm not a pro... it is only for my own pleasure now.
The Native Instruments Absynth 4 is going for $240 at Steve's. The usb controllers are going for $170 - $200. I kind of like the idea of the smallness of the E-MU Xboard 25 - Not because it's $30 cheaper than theE-MU Xboard 49 - I just don't think I need a 49 key as I'm just a "hunt and peck" keyboard player. And so all this stuff would be around $500 - and so I'll be completely set up for about $1,000 when you factor in BIAB/RB. I wouldn't want to go above this, considering what I'm doing with it.
As for finalizing my decision about all of this... It won't be a done deal for 2 weeks... I'm off to somewhere sunny and warm where I'll be basking on the beach this afternoon... can't wait!!!
Thanks for your much valued and appreciated input... and I'm hoping that I'll get plenty more before I take the leap.
Bobby
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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In my opinion since you're just getting back into things you don't need the Absynth. Biab with Real Band will do it all for you and the Country Real Tracks with the Nashville Drums are simply the best. Instead of the Absynth, look into picking up a midi guitar. With one of those you may not need the keyboard controller either but I'm a keyboard player, the guitar guys can advise you on that one.
You're background is almost identical to mine in Calgary in the 70's and 80's. I was with Faye Stevens for 5 years when she was doing her country albums. Jazz was not happening in those days so I became a pretty good 'kicker and I still like it now, like they say, them boys can sure party!
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 10,199
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Bobby,
My opinion, okay? Absynth is wonderful if you are doing abstract sounds, pads, synth leads etc. If you want a fiddle, or a mandolin, skip it. Secondly, if you aren't a keyboard player, why get a keyboard? You said you're a 'hunt and peck' type player, so, instead of that, why not just use the piano roll feature to 'play' the notes you want, instead of trying to play them on a keyboard? Especially if you're not a good keys player. Now, if you're being self deprecating, and you can play, then a keyboard is the way to go.
Since both Band In A Box and Real Band are still built around the idea of General MIDI, if you decided to get the Absynth, you would need to make sure that it was set up for General MIDI. If you get the Ketron, as suggested earlier, it already is, plus there are patch maps for it already, just drop and go.
The small mixer, the Behringer is a great little mixer, is a good idea, but I would get rid of the Creative card, and get an M-Audio 2496. Won't do 7.1 surround sound when you're fighting the Horde in WOW, but dollar for dollar, nothing does audio as well bang for the buck wise.
All of this, and a good set of powered monitors to listen to the mix, and you're there.
Regards,
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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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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