lowdown

[quote name='leprechaun' post='440086' date='Mar 20 2009, 10:38 AM']Hi Al, Don't know if you're going to stick with Cubase or not but there is a great resource with video tutorials [url="http://www.steinbergusers.com/vids/XML_players/cubase/cubase_videos_content.html"]here[/url]. Cubase is pretty much at the top of the tree when it comes to DAWs along with Pro Tools, Pyramix, Logic et al. They're all good and each have their pros and cons, I would suggest that those telling you to avoid it simply don't like the GUI or maybe have never put the time in to learn how to use it (something you're going to have to do with any DAW incidentally). I use Cubase (Nuendo), Pyramix and Pro Tools at work and once you know them they all do the same thing. For more help with learning the software you could do worse than browse through the many Cubase Notes articles available on the sound on sound website. [url="http://www.soundonsound.com/search?url=%2Fsearch&section=%2F&Keyword=cubase&Keyword=cubase&Year=+&Month=+&Words=All&Summary=Yes&Section=8&Subject=14&ShowResults=yes"]Here[/url] are 112 of them to get you started![/quote] Couple of good links for folks there Sean............ And you are right they do the same thing.... DAW snobbery always gives me a good laugh. Its like the argument - MAC sounds better than PC. About time that appeared again. Garry

[quote name='Eight' post='440076' date='Mar 20 2009, 10:30 AM']Because I use Live and Sonar (Sonar has a lovelyish staff view/editor) I can't say I've ever missed it in Live but it is definitely something to consider.[/quote] I upgraded to SPE 8 a few months ago......... And the Midi editing thing has really come along. The Sonar Score editor is a lot easier on the eyes than Cubase [ but i think Cubase 5 has improved that ] Garry

One other thing to consider. Cubase has a score and notater window, Which is great for midi editing. Having a visual reference can be very helpful when having lots of midi tracks. Or if you have limited keyboard skills, you can write the bits in. Also helpful if you import midi files [ for that Bassline you want to learn] Thats bringing up the whole sight readinging thing again... But saves getting a scoring package. AFAIK...Ableton and Reaper do not have this option. Garry

Al.... The help menu in Cubase is great.. Or go to you tube - there is plenty of videos on setting up and getting started in Cubase. If you are using [b]XP[/b], you might want to go to this site..you will have to sign up [ free ] [url="http://www.musicxp.net/dnn/"]http://www.musicxp.net/dnn/[/url] It will help you turn of the sh*t you dont need. Your Audio card will not be doing you any favours, I should imagine you will get poor performance,and latency problems, but [b]XP tweeks [/b]will go along way to helping. A lot of the problems folk get with Cubase is usually down to poor system set up, Otherwise you should really not have orrible problems. I run the newer Sonar 8 and the older Nuendo 3 [ Cubase really ] They both have good and bad points - but that is down to user preference and work flow. Once you have Cubase up and running, i would invest in a decent audio card, if you are going to get serious.

[quote name='solo4652' post='432138' date='Mar 12 2009, 08:51 AM']Hi, Is there any free software for a laptop running Vista Home Premium we could use to record ourselves at rehearsal, please? Don't need anything pro-quality - just need to be able to review our practice sessions. What about a mic? Could we use one of the mic's at the rehearsal room plugged into the input jack of the laptop? Please don't get technical with your answers! I've only just managed to work out how to switch on my new laptop.... Steve[/quote] Steve its not the Software thats the pro quality - they all will do the Job, free or otherwise. [ top end software has more options ] Its in the Audio Interface / sound card, The signal and conversion will not be that great with the laptop sound card, Not to mention the dreaded latency. Garry

Just curious... Are you allowed to put covers up on My Space..? Guitards...dont you just love um..! If he wants to be that anal... Why dont he do it all on his own in Cubase or whatever... The sound of quantised midi Drums and Bass... Stunning Musical[b] performance [/b][u][/u]of the highest quality. Garry

[quote name='soopercrip' post='435757' date='Mar 16 2009, 07:49 AM']+1 it's not so much the wood, it's the dope that's holding it that creates the tone... [/quote] I think you might be spot on..! Garry

[quote name='OldGit' post='434459' date='Mar 14 2009, 10:09 AM']Oh please tell me that's a dig at all the play-alongs to the Barney Miller theme .. [/quote] I hope so to... I was starting to think that they have Cubase in Broadmoor and Rampton, Garry

And God created the DAW.. Then every Spanner on the Globe could have a Project Studio.. Garry

[quote name='Dan_Nailed' post='433006' date='Mar 12 2009, 11:06 PM']but who's to say you'll ever get the chance to demonstrate your ability unless you've scratched the right backs?[/quote] Its called business. And its a fact of life. As it happens, i can not imagine the likes of Greg Phillinganes Nathan East Paulinho Da Costa , need to scratch any ones back. Garry

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='432990' date='Mar 12 2009, 10:50 PM']Yep that's me, Essex boy got lost.[/quote] Garry

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='432968' date='Mar 12 2009, 10:31 PM']I'm feeling very much the Northern man [/quote] "Northern Man, better stay inside Cold wind blowin' Best run and hide Northern air gonna Freeze your ass Heat your house up Turn up the gas" Do you mean that Northern man? Garry

[quote name='orangepeelneil' post='432203' date='Mar 12 2009, 10:10 AM'][size=3] I now run a Licenced Pro-tools home studio set-up, Cheers Neil [/size][/quote] I bet the pro pirates are filling there pants... +1 for the CM mag... all you need there for free [ well apart from a sick squid for the mag ] Garry

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='432589' date='Mar 12 2009, 04:14 PM']immediately followed by a classic "LA Session"-sounding track.[/quote] LA studio players, LA studio, LA Producers. Strange how it sounded like a Classic LA session sounding track. Well spotted... Garry

[quote name='Dan_Nailed' post='432574' date='Mar 12 2009, 03:53 PM']getting the gig in the first place is a combination of luck and knowing the right people, NOT hard work or application![/quote] If you have not done the [i]hard work and application[/i], And turn up for an audition [ where you meet people ] Or turn up at a Jam [ to meet people, who in turn introduce you to more people ] You might end up sounding like a lemon... I get the feeling it might go hand in hand. Garry

Great stuff...... But hey wait a minute! They are reading charts! They cant possibly have any lugs or play with feel. Garry

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='431058' date='Mar 10 2009, 10:06 PM']Its great, isn't it? Did you get the workbook?[/quote] Yep, the whole lot including 5 CD's... Just got to find the time to work through it. It does look very interesting. Garry

[quote name='endorka' post='430538' date='Mar 10 2009, 02:35 PM']Off the top of my head, things notation offers as standard that tab does not; - rhythm - dynamics - articulation - direct musical pitch information - it can be used by players of other instruments, not just the instrument it was written for. ...I am sure there are many others. With a part written in notation, and some prior knowledge of how the musical genre sounds, it is possible to credibly recreate the musical part without having to hear it beforehand. This is not the case with tab. Jennifer[/quote] Well put and answered. Garry

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='430458' date='Mar 10 2009, 01:29 PM']If you look at books like Samuel Adler's 'Orchestration', they talk about all of the instruments and how to write for them (ranges, styles, techniques etc). So, when someone like John Williams writes for an orchestra, he is expected to cover all bases before any musicians get anywhere near the charts.[/quote] Hey Bilbo, funny you should mention that.. I just got the Samual Adler stuff a few days ago - good stuff [ with audio eg's ] Garry

[quote name='chris_b' post='430414' date='Mar 10 2009, 12:59 PM']In my experience a lot of sheet music is inaccurate and can't be trusted, so my order of preference is a good ear first closely followed by reading the dots. A Donald Fagin story: When Steely Dan decided to go back on the road and tour again after 20 years, they brought the sheet music to their songs to help them get up to speed. They found that the music contained so many mistakes that they threw the books away and had to go back and relearn the numbers from the records.[/quote] There is a big difference between shop sheet music, and a properly arranged score or Bass chart. I cant not imagine why Steely Dan would not have got a pro arranger to write out there material... Other than dosh! Garry

[quote name='queenofthedepths' post='430242' date='Mar 10 2009, 11:09 AM']Still, I don't see why everyone is so down on tabs?! Okay, so the Internet is full of rubbish tabs, but if I spent the next few hours uploading dodgy sheet music, would you all decide that's a bad means of writing down music? Standard notation is ideal for keyboards or wind instruments or whatever, but tabs were designed for stringed instruments, and they seem to do the job fine.[/quote] Tabs are fine for learning stuff at home... But in the real world out on a gig are limited in the amount of style info they give out. Also not easy on the eye for quick digestion, and not to mention the amount of pages and paper needed for one song. As someone else mentioned, when note reading you still need to know the various styles and whatever to make the dots sound musical. [ do i play swing or straight 8's?] Your ears also come into play when sight reading because you need to phrase with the other musos in the band or orchestra, otherwise it will sound very loose. I still think the old argument about sight readers having no lugs or feel is rubbish, Well at least in the circles i move in. Much easier on a gig rehearsal session show or whatever, getting things done, rather than everyone huddled around a CD or Mp3 player trying to learn material. Another system that has not been mentioned here is the Nashville number system. Something to be considered. [url="http://coba.belmont.edu/fac/tappant/3370nashvillenumber.htm"]http://coba.belmont.edu/fac/tappant/3370nashvillenumber.htm[/url] Garry

[quote name='YouMa' post='430230' date='Mar 10 2009, 11:04 AM']Love exciting and new,come aboard we,re expecting you.[/quote] If thats you in your Avitar.... You seem to fit the bill well. Garry

[quote name='crez5150' post='430222' date='Mar 10 2009, 11:00 AM'] [/quote] I think it would be right up tBBC's Strasse... A big bow tie would cover up that blackeye he has. Garry

[quote name='crez5150' post='430215' date='Mar 10 2009, 10:55 AM']See you in a year..... That's if it hasn't dropped off by then... [/quote] I done all that years ago Crez.... Not sure i have the stamina any more.! Plus my Wife might take a dim view on it. Garry