Originally Posted By: Mike "ex-genius" Kelley
.........What little background I have in music is rather classical in that I still like to view things notationally and an actually DAW isn't something that I like working with much.

I do have some hardware sound modules, but honestly they are so old the sounds they produce can't even compete nowadays with even inexpensive software solutions (I have the Roland Sound Canvas and a couple of drum ones). I don't want to get into hooking those back up again because I want to keep everything in software now (for a wide variety of reasons, not the least of which is portability).


So...all the more reason to use a DAW if you work notationally. Your DAW will allow you to display the tracks in notational view.....lines and staffs. Much of my early music was midi based and while I don't read well, I still preferred the staff view over the PRV. (Piano roll view) Staff view just made way more sense. AND... you can display numerous staffs for multiple instruments, just like a conductor's score.

Working in the box is strictly how I work. All my synths are VSTi plug ins and there are no hardware external synths used in my studio.

GPO is good, but Kontakt is better and has a wider variety of sound banks and libraries made for it.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.