HARDWARE V SOFTWARE

[PKING]

Been looking at loads of equipment recently, and the Roland MC-505 and the Yamaha RS7000 Integrated Sampling Sequencer have caught my eye.

The latter has been described to me as "simply the first machine to incorparate everything you need to produce any type of dance music".

Thoughts? Also, it retails for £1300 ($3200) and the Roland £849 ($2100).. Am I best investing in these types of equipment, or, opting for software. I do not have a PC at home, and Im worried that if I buy one, I'll have to worry about virus checks, maintenence, bla bla bla bla bla blaa. I know that if I invested in the Roland 505, or even the Yamaha, it would hopefully do the business, and wouldnt have to know how to install Windows as a prerequisite of owning it!!
Ive been told the advantadge of Software V Hardware is that you can store a sample on a PC for literally free, and it takes up next to NO space on the computers memory, unlike Hardware.

Was hoping for feedback towards this as I want to invest in something that can produce decent tunes, that obviously I can take down a proper studio for the "finishing touches".

[Morphix]

Forget the MC-505.
It's a peice of crap. Once you get bored of the presets and PCM samples stored in it, you'll regret it.

Buy a proper synth, not a toy.

[kranky al]

ive heard the mc hammer is pretty good and mc feasts are always good after a hangover

[Section9]

If you have trouble installing Windows i suggest you learn to play the spoons instead

[eeJoT]

i haven't fiddled with a rs7000 yet, but it got 10/10 in future music recently

[ZD]

ahhh, this is an age old debate, very similar to Holden vs Ford. theThere are pros and cons for each and both scenarios have their groups of hardcore followers that will not use any other method. theBut just like the whole car arguement, real ethusiasts will see the pros in each type of music creation and use all available resources to their advantage. the

Hardware is good for hands on, it's easier to work around and quicker. theExperimentation is easy. theBut, it's also a lot more expensive.

Software is cheaper (even free if you know where to get it), just as powerful, and contained within your PC. theSoftware sound editing absolutely pisses all other hardware. theBut, you need a PC, software sometimes has bugs, combatibilty problems, etc. theTweeking knobs on screens with a mouse is just plain annoying in some programs. the

I currently use software only, but only because I'm saving for some hardware (Roland PC-200 MIDI ctrl + Pulsar II). theSoftware sequensers are a dream to use and the editing power is huge IF your comfortable with a PC. theUnfortunately you don't have one so I reckon you'll be cursing the day you get one if your unfamilure with 'em. the

My advise is this. theFind some friends at either end of the spectrum. theSome software, some hardware, some both. theSee how they do it and see if your brain and music creation process is going to work the same way. theThere is going to be a steep learning curve no matter what you choose.

The most important thing about music creation is the ability to quickly and accurately transfere the music from your head into sound for others to hear, all else is second. theWhat works best for you is all that counts and nobody is going to be able to tell you how that is until you have a play around. theOnce the decision is made then you can listen to advise about what type of things you'll need and what tpye of things to avoid.

[zd]

[kranky al]

try starting off with the sampler you feel is a appropriate and midi controlling it with an atari 1040ste and cubase- plug and play - they never crash there is no installation or midi controller woes and you can get a second hand atari for a couple hundred- it already has midi ports built in as standard and if you need cubase i can get you a crakkopy on email.
later on you will have to look at getting a computer such as a mac or pc for mixdowns and mastering but first you should start writing tunes and see how you go with that. using software only on a pc is a nightmare unless you really know how to optimise them and macs whilst being a lot easier to set up are expensive.

[reflekt]

use what your comfortable with, not what your told to use.

[Opiate]

try starting off with the sampler you feel is a appropriate and midi controlling it with an atari 1040ste and cubase- plug and play - they never crash there is no installation or midi controller woes and you can get a second hand atari for a couple hundred- it already has midi ports built in as standard and if you need cubase i can get you a crakkopy on email.
later on you will have to look at getting a computer such as a mac or pc for mixdowns and mastering but first you should start writing tunes and see how you go with that. using software only on a pc is a nightmare unless you really know how to optimise them and macs whilst being a lot easier to set up are expensive.
Atari's fucking rule!!!

You can get lots of software from http://www.atari.st and http://www.atari.org

There are some midi software resources and trackers at http://www.atari.org/links/Midi/Software/

Just searching through atari.org finds heaps of stuff. Any software downloaded can be easily transferred to an atari by DD floppy.

[smurf]

I have removed my post due to the bullshit i have recieved for my professional opinion. FUCK YOU ALL MOTHERFUCKERS.

IF YOU WANT TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO FUCKING SAY THEN FUCKING EMAIL ME YOU FUCKING CUNTS
FUCK YOU

[Morphix]

Hey smurf,
Want to write as yet another 6 page essay to atempt to boost your ego once again? http://www.teknoscape.com.au/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kitKatkid]

Amazing what kids get up to these days http://www.teknoscape.com.au/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[tomgeezer]

thanks smurf

finally someone with a brain

[smurf]

FUCK YOU CUNTS

except u tomgeezer, your wicked

[reflekt]

so by that rational, that top producers own mc-505's...
i really think u should get one.

PFFT.

they may look neat and make some "kOoL" noises in the store,
but they really are not suited to what u want, or what u are
looking for.

Oh and besides why not just d/l all the samples to your harddrive, the ones that are supposedly set in the mc-505,
which would be 808 & 909 kits yes...?

I have 50 different combinations of each, stored in my sample
directory. no hardware needed, all money saved.

[GoOsH]

Hey smurf,
Want to write as yet another 6 page essay to atempt to boost your ego once again? http://www.teknoscape.com.au/forums/images/smilies/images/smilies/smile.gif
your contribution to the thread has been awe inspiring morph. Try contributing instead of bagging

[smurf]

YOU CUNTS

[Section9]

what style(s) do you intend on making? Thats pretty relevant when you wanna take a look at what to buy.
My personal opinion though is that a hybrid of hardware and software works best when it comes to quality and ease of use. If you are jumping in with the attitude of "I want to make tunes like him" or "I want to score" or something similar i suggest you start off by grabbing something like buzz and see how things go for you. Working with hardware takes ALOT more thought processing and dedication.
The best method is to basically not jump in feet first. You dont wanna buy 15 grands worth of gear then find out producing is boring as fuck. The tried and true method of starting on buzz or fasttracker or whatever other free software programs out at the time then working your way up is the safest and still the best. As your knowledge and love for producing grows you get a grasp of what software/hardware you want to move onto and take everything step by step. Along the way you pick up musical skills too which in the end is the only thing that counts

[PKING]

Looking to produce:

*Dark and Tribal House- Steve Lawler stylee
eg:
The Neantherdal "Animal" (Groovilicious)
Superchumbo "Revolution" (Twisted)

and DnB
eg:

Ed Rush and Optical and all things Virus.

I REALISE ITS JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO SIMPLY BUY A FEW SYNTHS AND SAMPLERS AND THEN COME UP WITH THE GOODS!!! (AS ABOVE)- THOUGH SURELY THERE IS EQUIPMENT OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN BUY WITH THE UPMOST CONFIDENCE AND HAS THE CAPABILITY TO NEARLY PRODUCE TUNES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CALIBRE.

[reflekt]

why dont you ask steve lawler wot he uses?

he could use fruityloops for all you know.

its not the instrument, its how you use it.

[Section9]

THOUGH SURELY THERE IS EQUIPMENT OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN BUY WITH THE UPMOST CONFIDENCE AND HAS THE CAPABILITY TO NEARLY PRODUCE TUNES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CALIBRE.
The thing with hardware is its more of a collectors hobbie. Buy what you want, be it a $16,000 workstation from Kosmic or a $20 Casio Play & Learn Keyboard from some random's garage sale. Play with hardware like you would lego- mix, match, pull apart even. If something is going cheap no matter how shit it may be, grab it. Somewhere down the track you may opt for a cheap, harsh metallic sound from that piece of shit Casio in your tune as opposed to a rich,warm pad from you jp8000 rackmount.
If the concept of collecting hardware and fiddling with it doesnt appeal to you just go with software. Software emulates the best of the best nowadays to near (unnoticable) perfection anyway... (at a quater of the price)

[tomgeezer]

FUCK YOU CUNTS

except u tomgeezer, your wicked
i love you smurfy

[Slurm]

I just love the professional attitude.
"Someone disagrees with me? FUCK YOU CUNTS!" etc. Perths a small place Smurf, you dont want to step on too many feet.

[smurf]

fuck u ondy you dirty hippy
"i went to sae and then i taught at sae and im better then everyone because im older even tho i never go out and never do any live mixing and have done fuck all work in a studio and all i know is theory and cant put it to practice even tho i dont need to because i went to sae and sae is much better then working in the industry because you dont have to lift anything heavy and dean hasnt ever even mixed a live gig himself because he doesnt like it and blah blah blah im better then all of you because i have lots of macs"

[Slurm]

OK, smurf, point taken.
You are young and inexperienced, and feel threatened by us older types.
But stating blatant untruths, and making slanderous accusations against a company i dont even work for is pretty dangerous ground to be blindly groping across.
I reiterate, Perth is a vary small place, how many more enemies can you afford to make?
I welcome your thoughts in answer to this question.

[sNuf]

smurfboy slagging people off on teknoscape is weak.
i've done i before and i regret, don't be so rude to people you don't even know in real life, stop living in a virtual world.

[HERETIK]

not very nice smurfboy...

how can u give SAE shit when u were in there the other day
being interviewed, and considering a course...

im telling the dean on you

j00r fux0red.

/me hugs ond.

[Morphix]

marc is winner
ha ha ha
marc is winner
ha ha ha
marc is winner
ha ha ha

[PKING]

why dont you ask steve lawler wot he uses?

he could use fruityloops for all you know.

its not the instrument, its how you use it.
agreed... though its not as if I can just give Stevie a bell and say "eh up mate! was wondering what type of equipment you used...beep, beep, beep, - hullo- hullo?" http://www.teknoscape.com.au/forums/images/smilies/images/smilies/wink.gif

[smurf]

cint: i do know ondy, and ondy knows me.

marc: hhuhuhuh tell dean to bite me http://www.teknoscape.com.au/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

ondy: i have made no slanderous accusations whatsoever. i do not feel threatened by you whatsoever, in fact i think it is quite the opposite, and that you feel threatened by me, hence your need to cut down anything i say. ondy it is a long time since you have been a practicing sound tech, you seem to be worried that someone as young as myself can work confidently in this industry. i think you have some issues to deal with.

[smurf]

oh and i wasnt at SAE i was at WAAPA

[Catholic Quarantine]

smurfboy slagging people off on teknoscape is weak.
i've done i before and i regret, don't be so rude to people you don't even know in real life, stop living in a virtual world.
if you're taking it so seriously maybe its you thats living in a virtual world

nancy

[Breakbeat Cowboy]

Forget the MC-505.
It's a peice of crap. Once you get bored of the presets and PCM samples stored in it, you'll regret it.

Buy a proper synth, not a toy.
yes, it's a toy. but not a piece of crap.

why are you using the presets? WHO uses presets anyway? the whole idea is to work with the basic waveforms and fuck around with them to hell to be unrecognisable and to be yer own

but... you didn't get past the crappy presets, did you? shame, shame

[Urbane]

I am the great cornholio, you will bow to my 64 Rewire channels, Pro52, Dr. Rex Recycled Loop Sampler and 100% digital software studio.

http://www.avitarcity.com/heretik/nuendo.gif + http://www.avitarcity.com/heretik/reasonlogo.gif = bliss

[HERETIK]

= bliss when more RAM is installed

nuendo and reason together is probably the best software
option available...
reason's sequencing sucks and has no VST plugin support..

by rewiring it into nuendo... hey presto, better sequencing
and vst plugins.

wot more could u ask for?

An Mc-5o5 SmUrfBoy!@?@#??

[Catholic Quarantine]

unfortunately there's nothing impressive about a "studio" inside your computer.

seriously though; you guys always on about connecting nuendo to reason, i ask again - WHY THE HELL DO YOU NEED REASON??? since nuendo is VST compatible, what does reason have that you couldn't find a better VST version of?

reason is the biggest overrated pile of tripe since rebirth

[HERETIK]

for its 500mb or so of samples

minimal stress for some good samples.

[Catholic Quarantine]

?? seriously? they are just wavs... and they're all shit. ooh except for the "deep latino house kit" yeah .. that kicks

[HERETIK]

keyword : "some" in previous post.

[Catholic Quarantine]

yeah but like i said.. they are just wavs.. seems stupid to have a big-arsed program with a taste for all your system resources running just to play wavs!! just copy the wavs from the CD and sequence them another way!

[HERETIK]

yes son, they dont come in wav form on the cd..
so u have to save them, which is what i do...
and sequence them through buzz at the moment.

[Catholic Quarantine]

well there you go, you don't need reason - that was my point

nor do you need reason samples

[HERETIK]

yes, ive been playing around with reason all arvo...

and i still fucking hate it.