[ruler protractor pen penc]

hi everyone,

i was goin to make a little music for a school project and just have a question for those who make music on their computers with string samples and whatgnt

first, where do you get your string notes/samples? i was just searching the internet to buy a CD wiwth string samples..i found one that costs 1000 dollars..yippiee...hmm

what program do you use/? I found a program on internet called "Jeskoba Buzz"...anyone familiar with this? seems to be good...is it worth learning?(i've just begun going through the manuals)

thanks

PS. for some reason i feel cheap searching for string samples online,almost like i'm steeling someone else's work(paying for it is another thing).. i just wish there was a way to connect my keyboard to the computer/.,

[Loki]

Hey!

keyboard: does it have a midi out/in port on the back? Then all you need is a midi interface - midiman's midisport series isn really good - connects on the USB port and starts at around U$50.-

music program: one that comes with everything you need is REASON by propellerheads - but it'll cost you around $300 to legally acquire it. But it should do anything you need. Except syncing it to a quicktime - it doesn't do that. Then you'd need Cubase or a similar tool of that class.

strings: there is a wonderful string sample collection for Reason - called the "Strings Refill" and it's insanely good. Runs about $100 ... but it's totally worth it!

[balistic]

Are you wanting realistic strings, or something more aggressive and Detroit-ish? If its the latter, check http://www.analoguesamples.com .

[Giant Hamster]

I use Jeskola Buzz, myself. It's a bit difficult for most people...so I would suggest using another program just to get your feet wet, then venture into Buzz.

For strings I use mainly soundfonts and some samples. Buzz is free...and it has a free soundfont loader, but the loader doesn't work that great. it will suffice! but if you really want to have some good quality sound and full soundfont support, buy the jeskola XS-1 for only $50(cheaper and higher-quality than the stuff reccomended above!) off of buzzmachines.com

Now, prepare your ass for a massive mp3 attack!:

Click! <---8 good one-shot strings. no sustaining ones.

Click! <---How the above strings can be used.

Click! <---my latest buzz song.(get version 2)

Click! <---yet another example of the strings.

Hmmm...I feel I can get away with sharing one more example...right?

Click! <---a LoFi version of a song I've done for a movie using the strings above aswell as others(soundfonts).

You can get soundfonts @:
www.thesoundsite.com www.hammersound.net (might be .com)

[Ian Jones]

Hi there. I also use Jeskola Buzz. Omg it is so powerful! but... it is so confusing if you don't know the technical stuff, sure I have learnt a lot, but there's never an easy way to get there and no one driving force to tell you if your heading in the right direction. Unfortunately you can't expect miracles from Buzz, other software gets closer by being easier to use and having a bazillion presets, but they are just that. Presets. If you want to get into nitty gritty stuff, want to know how the sound is produced, how to alter it manipulate etc... then Buzz is really, really awesome. You can't do everything with it, but it has so many amazing features that it makes other 'professional' soft-studio's laughable.

Just some advice from a Buzz newbie who has been in your position. I may be totally wrong, because Buzz is the only program I have used. But from the advice I have been given and from what I understand it really kicks ass!

Giant Hamster: Aha! you are Hamsteralliance (Hey its a revelation to me!) . I just go by the name 'ian' at Buzzmachines.com

Cya round. (oh and if you have some really helpful advice for me, about Buzz, or music production in general, please, please help!!!)

[ruler protractor pen penc]

thanks all for your replies...

thx, i will check reason out...but i think i'm already getting used to how buzz works...

Giant Hamster...wow...WOW, those are AWsume!!

haha, i loved how the drum beat started at the end of "Symphony unfinished." Geat work!

thx for all the info everyone, i will probably learn Buzz, buy Jeskola XS later on and stick with it.

thx

[ruler protractor pen penc]

Giant Hamster: i just started usin g soundfonts with Buzz...very cool! (only problem is that it doesnt give you enough option to modify the sound) but buzz likes to crash often with it...every few minutes buzz crashes when i'm using soundfonts...also, it doesn't seem to want to play some of the soundfonts i got from that site you mentioned(mainly the large soundfont files)

so does JeskolaXS1 have a better soundfont loader?

thanks!

oh also, what's 'Bank'? i saw a list of them to download from one of the sites you gave me...

[ruler protractor pen penc]

well... i'm starting now, but i want to be able to make music for my projects...i used Acid a long time ago and:

"alot of commercials use the same loops"

GoD i Hate that. i would Rather make my own music...the thing i'm liking about Buzz is that you have control over every little thing possible... so basically, you can make the music exactly the way you want it to sound like...then maybe mix them in forge or acid Foundary...

if only Buzz didn't have so many Bugs...

Giant Hamster?

[[Shizo]]

Yeah Buzz sucks, Giant Hamster? :D

[Ysg]

If you don't want to spend the big bucks and your only gonna make music now and then I would suggest Acid music by sonic foundry. You can get it for around $50 and they sell loop cd's for about the same price. The only problem is you'll notice that alot of commercials use the same loops.

[Giant Hamster]

"so does JeskolaXS1 have a better soundfont loader?"

YES, It does. Complete multi-layerable soundfont support with the highest quality playback you can get in software.

The XS-1 is buyable now off of buzzmachines.com. It's "beta" but it works just fine and you get free updates to any newer versions.

the thing i'm liking about Buzz is that you have control over every little thing possible... so basically, you can make the music exactly the way you want it to sound like...then maybe mix them in forge or acid Foundary...

You can do mixing right in buzz, but if you want to use ACID, sometimes I do, you should use the CYANPHASE STEREO RECORDER and record out loops. you then put the loops in soundforge, fix them up a bit, and then into ACID where they'll loop just perfectly.

if only Buzz didn't have so many Bugs...

Eh, once you figure buzz out, you'll notice a lot of the "bugs", were just you. =P

Shizo: *SMACK*, bum!

[ June 10, 2002: Message edited by: Giant Hamster ]