Received the BFD Eco yesterday and started to try it out. Great sounding drums - my plan is to get this to work with Jamstix3 (of which I only currently have the demo for testing the setup).
I got it to work rather painlessly with the Jamstix sending midi to BFD Eco (after fiddling around with the setup in ableton, jamstix and BFD), however these two plugins eat CPU resources. My CPU meter hovers around 50% with just these two as active.
I was at first concerned about the disk access and have considered upgrading my HD to a SSD, mainly because BFD uses disk streaming instead of loading samples into RAM, however I am not sure anymore that the HD is the bottleneck, it could be that they are just CPU intensive in their own right - and as long as I can still work without drop-outs and spikenoises I'll leave it for now.
I also tried adding some of my other RAM and CPU intensive plugins to test it out and it still hovers around 50-60% percent.
So far so good. :-)
Next step is purchasing a full Jamstix3, so I can use the setup with all instruments instead of just the BassDrum (which is a limitation in Midi-send of the demo of Jamstix)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Crashes with Ableton Live
I experienced a lot of crashes recently with Ableton Live when switching from arrangement to session view and back while trying to record and drag drop clips from session to arrangement.
I upgraded Ableton from 8.2.2 to 8.2.5 and the stability was hugely improved.
I upgraded Ableton from 8.2.2 to 8.2.5 and the stability was hugely improved.
Updated content
I have updated the blog with a page describing my current software and another regarding my hardware.
Waiting for more instruments coming in the mail :-)
I will try to share my experiences with my setup:
Currently I am having problems with my external harddisk: It is not stable it disappears from win7 from time to time. I am now convinced that the problem stems from the fact that I have too many USB devices on my labtops USB port (currently 11 USB thingies!!) and that theinternal USB power supply in the labtop is straining to supply enough juice. So I have ordered a new USB hub with its own power supply.
It is particularly annaying as the external disk drive is used for the samples for my larger software instruments.
Waiting for more instruments coming in the mail :-)
I will try to share my experiences with my setup:
Currently I am having problems with my external harddisk: It is not stable it disappears from win7 from time to time. I am now convinced that the problem stems from the fact that I have too many USB devices on my labtops USB port (currently 11 USB thingies!!) and that theinternal USB power supply in the labtop is straining to supply enough juice. So I have ordered a new USB hub with its own power supply.
It is particularly annaying as the external disk drive is used for the samples for my larger software instruments.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Struggling with Behringer BCR2000
Today I tried to reactivate my old Behringer BCR2000 and edit the Midi setup of this fantastic Midi controller.
However the BC edit which is the only editor available from Behringer is still in low Beta (several years into its existence - I believe it was introduced back in 2004 or something like that). And I cannot transfer presets to the BCR2000 - I get an error "Timeout error "$rev R1" ... which is an old known problem.
So trying to work around this I am using the BC Edit as an editor only and will now export the edited patches as syx files and try to send them to the BCR2000 using MidiOX instead.
I've downloaded the MidiOX program now and will try this strategy....
It actually works I can now edit the presets in BC Edit, export as syx files and send them to the BCR2000 using the MidiOX program - phew :-)
However the BC edit which is the only editor available from Behringer is still in low Beta (several years into its existence - I believe it was introduced back in 2004 or something like that). And I cannot transfer presets to the BCR2000 - I get an error "Timeout error "$rev R1" ... which is an old known problem.
So trying to work around this I am using the BC Edit as an editor only and will now export the edited patches as syx files and try to send them to the BCR2000 using MidiOX instead.
I've downloaded the MidiOX program now and will try this strategy....
It actually works I can now edit the presets in BC Edit, export as syx files and send them to the BCR2000 using the MidiOX program - phew :-)
Friday, August 12, 2011
New software on the way :-)
Today I ordered Miroslav Philharmonik from an english company (who had the best price I could find).
Now I am eagerly awaiting the package.
Can't wait...
And it also arrived as expected. It is a great warm sounding library. I am looking forward to applying it. I've started a rendering of Albinonis Adagio in G-minor (which as and aside was actually composed by Remo Giazotto in the 20th century :-)
Now I am eagerly awaiting the package.
Can't wait...
And it also arrived as expected. It is a great warm sounding library. I am looking forward to applying it. I've started a rendering of Albinonis Adagio in G-minor (which as and aside was actually composed by Remo Giazotto in the 20th century :-)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Current setup update
So now my current setup is the follwing:
Hardware:
Software:
Hardware:
- Dell Vostro 3300 (Core i5 M480 @ 2,67GHz, 4 GB RAM, 285 GB HD) - laptop
- ESI ESU18008 USB 2 - audio interface
- Behringer Eurorack MX-1602 - Mixer (analog)
- Korg nanoKontrol - Midi controller
- Novation LaunchPad - Midi controller
- Waldorf Blofeld (with Sample option) - Synth
- Ensoniq TS-10 Keyboard
- Roland SH-201 Synth
Software:
- Ableton Live 8.2.2
- Alchemy softsynth from Camel Audio
- Gladiator softsynth from Tone2
- CamelCrusher Fx from Camel Audio
- CamelSpace Fx from Camel Audio
- SSL LMC-1 compressor from Solid State Logic
- SSL X-ISM fx from Solid State Logic
- SSS X-Orcism fx - from Solid State Logic
- GSnap-GJ - pitch correction
- dblue-Glitch - rhythmic glitcher
USB Audio interface ESI ESU1808
Recently bought a new audio interface for my setup as I no longer could live with the small 1-in 1-out behringer lowbudget interface :-).
After some research I decided on the ESI ESU1808 an 18-in 8-out USB 2.0 interface, I ordered it from Thomann.de and received it quickly.
After following the recommended installation procedure (downloading the newest ASIO driver from ESIs homepage www.esi-audio.com) I started playing around with Ableton Live and the interface - after about one minute artifacts started showing up in the audio (crackling and popping - the usual indication that the ability of the setup was not high enough) - however changing parameters on the interface (for instance chosing a new sampling rate or clock) sort of reset the problem and it worked for about a minute and then problem reappeared. Not nice :-(
Did some surfing on the problem and found out that the ESI ASIO driver does not have the best reputation - I previously have had great experience with the alternative and free driver ASIO4All and this was mentioned in one of the posts I found - so I installed this driver instead (from www.asio4all.com) and voila the problem was resolved - so my recommendation is: use ASIO4all for a ESI ESU1808.
It seems the problem has resurfaced however now the problem has been identified as being CPU temperature related.
No it seems not to be temperature related after all, but while struggling with new hardware I upgraded the ESI ESU1808 driver to the newest version 2.9.28 which seems to have been a mistake, I now downgraded to 2.9.15 and now clicking noises are gone again
After some research I decided on the ESI ESU1808 an 18-in 8-out USB 2.0 interface, I ordered it from Thomann.de and received it quickly.
After following the recommended installation procedure (downloading the newest ASIO driver from ESIs homepage www.esi-audio.com) I started playing around with Ableton Live and the interface - after about one minute artifacts started showing up in the audio (crackling and popping - the usual indication that the ability of the setup was not high enough) - however changing parameters on the interface (for instance chosing a new sampling rate or clock) sort of reset the problem and it worked for about a minute and then problem reappeared. Not nice :-(
Did some surfing on the problem and found out that the ESI ASIO driver does not have the best reputation - I previously have had great experience with the alternative and free driver ASIO4All and this was mentioned in one of the posts I found - so I installed this driver instead (from www.asio4all.com) and voila the problem was resolved - so my recommendation is: use ASIO4all for a ESI ESU1808.
It seems the problem has resurfaced however now the problem has been identified as being CPU temperature related.
No it seems not to be temperature related after all, but while struggling with new hardware I upgraded the ESI ESU1808 driver to the newest version 2.9.28 which seems to have been a mistake, I now downgraded to 2.9.15 and now clicking noises are gone again
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Current setup and installation
The last week has gone on-and-off with search for, installation and purchase of VST plugins for my DAW Ableton Live 8.
I've purchased and installed Gladiator 2 from tone2 http://www.tone2.com/ a great allround synth module with a revolutionary type of synthesis called HCM, I find it has a very distinctive sound and a great inspiration
Also a couple of VST from Camel Audio http://www.camelaudio.com/ another favourite company. I've installed Alchemy another great allround synth, and two fx VSTs: CamelSpace and CamelCrusher.
Also surfed for a pitch correction module. My budget does not allow for the professional tools like AutoTune or Melodyne, but finally found a freeware called GSnap which seems to be able to fille my current need :-)
Finally I surfed around for a breakbeat "rhythm rearranger" and found the nice VST called Glitch from dBlue, it can rearrange your beats - hack them into bits and apply 9 different effects to the different bits: reverse, slowdown, tapestop, gate and others
I've purchased and installed Gladiator 2 from tone2 http://www.tone2.com/ a great allround synth module with a revolutionary type of synthesis called HCM, I find it has a very distinctive sound and a great inspiration
Also a couple of VST from Camel Audio http://www.camelaudio.com/ another favourite company. I've installed Alchemy another great allround synth, and two fx VSTs: CamelSpace and CamelCrusher.
Also surfed for a pitch correction module. My budget does not allow for the professional tools like AutoTune or Melodyne, but finally found a freeware called GSnap which seems to be able to fille my current need :-)
Finally I surfed around for a breakbeat "rhythm rearranger" and found the nice VST called Glitch from dBlue, it can rearrange your beats - hack them into bits and apply 9 different effects to the different bits: reverse, slowdown, tapestop, gate and others
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Blofeld sl upgrade completed
Well it did succeed and the samples are there.
However the smpsounds.mid from waldorf still sticks when transmitted to the Blofeld - I have contaced Waldorf on what this file contains (their download section is not the best seen - sections and files really lack information).
Now I just have to experiment with actually creating some patches using the samples as there doesn't seem to be any default ones.
However the smpsounds.mid from waldorf still sticks when transmitted to the Blofeld - I have contaced Waldorf on what this file contains (their download section is not the best seen - sections and files really lack information).
Now I just have to experiment with actually creating some patches using the samples as there doesn't seem to be any default ones.
Blofeld Sample upgrade
Finally got the file from Waldorf and tried to get it to work:
Used sweet MIDI Player to upload unlocking mid file - my initial enthusiasm for the program is beginning to decline... but I was met by success - on startup the display now reads "v 1.15B11 SL" - I'm thinking that the SL is significant ;-)
The mail from Waldorf also described that I should probably upload the sample sounds from their site to the blofeld. So i searched the site (www.waldorfmusic.de) for the blofeld sample content and ended up with the file smpsounds.mid filling about 8 kB and tried to upload this to my blofeld using sweetmidi - without success the blofeld display just sticks with the message "Receving data, please be patient..." and never does anything else. And my blofeld still contained no samples.
So I tried some more internet-research - I discovered that the Spectre program (supplied as a beta from waldorf) actually can upload the mid files and that the samples I needed are in the spectre section of the waldorf site (sigh) - so I downloaded the Samples from that location and am currently in the process of uploading the samples to my blofeld using the Spectre program - the upload of samples takes about 18 minutes using USB/midi so theres plenty of time for this post :-)
However the smpsounds.mid file still did not work but I have come to the conclusion that I don't need it.
More on this later when the upload has completed (curerently at 63%)
Used sweet MIDI Player to upload unlocking mid file - my initial enthusiasm for the program is beginning to decline... but I was met by success - on startup the display now reads "v 1.15B11 SL" - I'm thinking that the SL is significant ;-)
The mail from Waldorf also described that I should probably upload the sample sounds from their site to the blofeld. So i searched the site (www.waldorfmusic.de) for the blofeld sample content and ended up with the file smpsounds.mid filling about 8 kB and tried to upload this to my blofeld using sweetmidi - without success the blofeld display just sticks with the message "Receving data, please be patient..." and never does anything else. And my blofeld still contained no samples.
So I tried some more internet-research - I discovered that the Spectre program (supplied as a beta from waldorf) actually can upload the mid files and that the samples I needed are in the spectre section of the waldorf site (sigh) - so I downloaded the Samples from that location and am currently in the process of uploading the samples to my blofeld using the Spectre program - the upload of samples takes about 18 minutes using USB/midi so theres plenty of time for this post :-)
However the smpsounds.mid file still did not work but I have come to the conclusion that I don't need it.
More on this later when the upload has completed (curerently at 63%)
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Waldorf support
Still waiting for response from waldorf for the SL upgrade license for my Blofeld - wondering if they are on vacation... all of them at the same time ;-)
Installed the Blofeld Sound organizer from Kotro Laszlo Lehel
http://www.youtube.com/user/KotroLaszloLehel
or
http://lady.rdsor.ro/~kotro/index.php?m=soft
This is highly recommended for any Blofeld user though it is not too happy on my win 7 64-bit platform - but it works and has a nice random function (apart the obvious benefit of enabling you to manage all 1024 programs/patches of your blofeld). And he responds to your questions - super for a one-man show.
Installed the Blofeld Sound organizer from Kotro Laszlo Lehel
http://www.youtube.com/user/KotroLaszloLehel
or
http://lady.rdsor.ro/~kotro/index.php?m=soft
This is highly recommended for any Blofeld user though it is not too happy on my win 7 64-bit platform - but it works and has a nice random function (apart the obvious benefit of enabling you to manage all 1024 programs/patches of your blofeld). And he responds to your questions - super for a one-man show.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Upgrading my Waldorf Blofeld synth with SL sampling option
So to get acces to the samples residing inside my Waldorf Blofeld:
I bought the option from Waldorffs homepage - I then had to play an attached midi file to the Blofeld to access the "Challenge Code" which Waldorff needs to activate my Samples.
So that started a longer search for the right tool to do this:
After some false starts (midiOX and anvil studio) and wrong goings (it does not help that in win7 you cannot adjust your midi player and thus win media player couldn't do the job either)
I finally came across Sweet MIDI Player and voila: install, start program load midi file press play and the display showed my challenge code.
Now I am waiting for the file from Waldorff :-(
So that started a longer search for the right tool to do this:
After some false starts (midiOX and anvil studio) and wrong goings (it does not help that in win7 you cannot adjust your midi player and thus win media player couldn't do the job either)
I finally came across Sweet MIDI Player and voila: install, start program load midi file press play and the display showed my challenge code.
Now I am waiting for the file from Waldorff :-(
The blog has been started
So now I have started my first blog - I recon subjects here will be my challenges and experiences with music and synthesis using the equipment I have.
Ableton live
Gladiator plugin
Waldorf Blofeld
Roland SH-101
Kurzweil K2000R
just to mention a few
Ableton live
Gladiator plugin
Waldorf Blofeld
Roland SH-101
Kurzweil K2000R
just to mention a few
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