making music

[firewire2001]

hello

as a long time musican i am currently considering buying the m-audio oxygen 8 midi keyboard (http://www.midiman.net/products/midiman/oxygen8.php).

i have a couple questions.

is are there any programs that can process the midi signals from this deivce better than the basic quicktime midi stuff for recording

also, what sort of programs are out there that can process the signals coming from the keyboard and then show the notes on the screen for composing. (i have a demo of sibelius, can that app do that stuff?)

and finally what exactly does the app reason do; i know a lot of people use this app with midi devices. and what is logic?

i hope im clear. thanks so much. i cant wait to get this thing i think it would be surreal to be sitting on the beach and working on compositions, etc. whatever.

thanks a lot again

 

[cpjakes]

MIDI Sequencers

If you are looking for software, it really depends on your product. If you want the keyboard for input for writing beats and loops, it'll be fine. If you're a keyboard player, the size will probably drive you nuts.

Logic and Digital Performer are among the best MIDI composition/sequencing programs. I prefer Performer, but that's just me. Both programs will also let you expand into digital audio if you want.

Reason is a software sampler that can create and manipulate sounds. QuickTime MIDI sounds are pretty generic, but you can use Reason to tweak other sounds and create your own. It's much more powerful.

Basically, if you want to make print music, you could use Finale or Sibelius with your keyboard. If you want to create audio with sounds, then you need something like Reason or another software sampler.

Digital Performer (sequencer) and Mach 5 (software sampler) are both made by MOTU and would be pretty sweet.

Have fun shopping!

cpjakes

 

[howard]

i'm also a digital performer user.

both logic and dp do just about the same thing, basically it depends on which interface you like more...so far its dp for me. though i'm curious to see if apple will do any major changes to logic.

anyway i would definitely suggest reason for a wide variety of good sounds. it has samples for electronic, rock, and classical. for the price its an amazing deal. if all you need is a midi program then reason would be it. it has everything you need, the sound sources and the sequencer built right in. however, like cpjakes said, if you want to record audio as well get dp. also incase you don't know, programs like dp and logic do not come with any sound sources, you have to get those on your own and use them with dp or logic.

you may get pissed at the size of the oxygen 8 while using it...i would recommend a larger keyboard. if you end up getting a program like dp i would look for a good keyboard syntheizer and then you have another sound source as well


what type of music are you looking to create?

 

[firewire2001]

i really couldnt tell you what sort of music im looking to make; in terms of genre. im not such a wonderful keyboard player but i have a lot of inspiration to learn.

i like the idea of a small keyboard in that i can take it anywhere and play things wheneber i feel the right mindset. but perhaps i should give some thought to a larger keyboard, i really have to go to guitar center or something and try one out or something.

i was looking over the keyboards though in general and i think i may be slightly more interested in what is called the ozone model (as opposed to the olxygen one) because it has instrument inputs for guitar for instance and phantom mic inputs.

perhaps, though, could any of you guys recommend a different company that makes keyboards. something maybe in the price range of 100-300. (thats one of the reasons a small keybaord is feasible for me)

thanks again

 

[howard]

check out evolution keyboards

they make them in all sizes...look on musiciansfriend.com for one..the 49 key is only $100 pretty sweet deal... they're very compact too, and 49 would be a nice size if your looking to move around with it... i use a 61 and sometimes thats even to small

i would strongly recommend more than a 25 key...which i think the oxygen 8s are right. if your doing just note entry they might be great...or just playing one chord at a time...but if your actually going to play anything its damn near useless.

an evolution combined with reason will cost you less than 500 and will give you powerful tools to make casual music on the go.

 

[howard]

here you go...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...7951/g=key/g=key/search/bigpid/base_id/90220/