Laptop as synth..

[Sir Cenora]

i was wondering about a laptop as a synth.. and its possible to get cracked softwares for free..
about the configs of the laptop..any sugestions? soundcard? ram memory?
and about the softwares? is it possible to make the changes LIVE using a pedal?
is there any software with good organs leads pianos ? or im supposed to have 1 software per instrument?
and about the midi controller? any suggestions? kurzweil sp88x is one that i can afford..
thanks

[Berrido]

I don't think that a Labtop is a good synth, I. E., if you loose power (some guy disconnect the power supply, you run out of battery, etc.), you have to wait 'till the labtop charges Windows (I dunno if you have Mac), then the software, then the plugins, and all that shit.

[Deceit]

This is not all about it - in fact this argument is rather weak.
I don't think that a Labtop
LaPtop
some guy disconnect the power supply, you run out of battery
Uhm, where do you usually gig at? Drunkards' Inn? What about your bandmates? :D (just jokin huh!)
A laptop should be power-disconnection safe, it's meant to work with batteries, *which are charged while plugged in*!
This should really be the last concern - have you ever played live with one? :D
you have to wait 'till the labtop charges Windows (I dunno if you have Mac), then the software, then the plugins, and all that shit.
The only real problem is OMG-Windows-Crashing-Again-Due-To-Crap-CPU-Management (and related
issues). But there's good software (efficient hosts) and tweaking to avoid this. Check www.musicxp.net ...

Generally, at an almost-professional level, where samples are at least NECESSARY (i.e. Jordan used to load hundreds of samples, and it took like 20 minutes - he had a backup rack though), any power loss is a threat to hardware synths as well as laptop computers.
If any top-level hardware workstation (i.e. Motifs, Tritons, Fantoms, K2600s) runs out of power you will lose all the samples and have to back them up again.
Of course, if you use presets & default sounds you may be right, but I believe any pro musician makes abundant use of samples loaded in the RAM.
Anyway, I see myself using laptops to compliment my hardware synths setup in quite a short time. Of course, you have to tune your computer for an intense 2h stress, but if you're a wise player I'm sure you'll find VSTs essential in your sound. JR is promoting the Muse Receptor these days, which is basically a hardware host (much like an optimized music pc) for software synthesizers and effects. That would be the best choice, live-wise, these days. If you own a laptop just hook a CME-UF* masterkeyboard, load your favourite vsts into Brainspawn Forte (great, absolutely great and meant for live use, check Marillion keyboardist :D) and rock the road! :D
Deceit.

[Berrido]

Well, Deceit that's your opinion and it's true that Labtops are a very good compliment but, my opinion is that I don't trust in labtops as a main synth, as a compliment, yes perfect, but as a main synth I don't trust.

[hephiroth]

laPtops, not laBtops

[Sir Cenora]

CME-UF,Brainspawn Forte and a lot of vsts?
and another question... i have NO idea how to setup everything ...
is there any tutorial that some one know? and is possible to do this with a pedal?
a big thx to all

[Berrido]

laPtops, not laBtops
sorry, hehe, Laptops, i'll keep that in mind. But I think that what I've tried to say is clear, huh?

[hephiroth]

yeah, i understood you, just trying to spread good spelling! (sorry, i'm an english major...i'm a grammar nerd)

-jeff-

[awfulgrace]

I've been using my Powerbook as my main synth for about 4 months with 2 bands with no issue. With one band I use Ableton Live to trigger and change out loops while I play soft synths over them - and the other I just play different sample libraries & soft synths out of Logic.

The reason I started with this rig was the Scarbee W.E.P. - the library just blew away the vast majority of the Wurli patches I've heard and I tend to use that sound quite a bit. So I was left with a choice of either buying & maintaining a real Wurli, geting a Nord Electro, or just using my laptop live. I love being able to load 2 GBs of samples in a relatively short period of time.

Another reason I prefer to use this setup is for the flexibility of pulling soft synths from anywhere for use without issues with hardware compatibility.

I can't speak for Windows, but OS X is extremely stable and has never went down on me during a show or practice. I run into headroom problems sometimes when I'm doing crazy things (running 6 loops out of Live while playing 2 layered sample libraries with one MIDI Controller and a soft synth with another) - but this is a non issue if I just increase the latency a little bit.

The drawbacks are the latency & headroom issue, the higher probability of failure due to more pieces of gear, the sensitivey of a lapop, & the pain in the butt of having to hook up all the components (laptop, MIDI controllers, & the Audio Interface).


As far as changing patches... I set up all of my instruments, splits, & layers within Logic beforehand, and have them all built to respond to different MIDI channels - then I just switch the MIDI channel to change the patch. For instruments where real-time editing is needed, I just set up the knobs on my controller to control whatever parameter I want to tweak - but believe it or not, I use the mousepad alot...

As far as cracked software goes, I don't know anything about that and I wouldn't suggest using it for live performance due to stability issues (as well as being a d*ck for using cracked software).

IN terms of a MIDI controller - there are some goods ones out there and some absolute crap. The CME controllers are nice and I like the Edirol ones. Stay away from the Radium as it plays like a $5 kids keyboard - but I do like the M-Audio keystation as a super cheap controller that plays pretty nice - and at $170 for the 61 key version they're nearly disposable.

i was wondering about a laptop as a synth.. and its possible to get cracked softwares for free..
about the configs of the laptop..any sugestions? soundcard? ram memory?
and about the softwares? is it possible to make the changes LIVE using a pedal?
is there any software with good organs leads pianos ? or im supposed to have 1 software per instrument?
and about the midi controller? any suggestions? kurzweil sp88x is one that i can afford..
thanks

[Alkemist]

I am still kind of weighing up buying a Motif ES 8 and getting a laptop-system.

After some minor calculations, the Motif, with all the accessories (gig bags, headphones, stands, cables, pedals and pedal rigs) is setting me back about 3700 €, something around 4600$. (I know, sounds too much - blame the Finnish taxes...)

While at first it might seem a lot more than using a laptop, take a loot at these calculations.

Almost-top of the line potent laptop (Powerbook G4, 15') 2400€
Soundcard 500€
Workstation-in a box solution (Colossus) 800€
Synthesizer (NI Reaktor) 500€
Add. software solutions (host, etc.) (Brainspawn Forte etc.)500€
88-key controller (Assuming I can 1000€
find one that I like as much as Motif)
-stand 200€
-gigbag 200€
-cables 50€
-pedals 200€
(we're talking half-pedal capable sustain, Behringer FCB1010, etc.)

Perhaps, if we're needing a sequencer,
Logic Express, that can be later upgraded to the real thing. 300€

6650€
(~8500$+)

Okay, okay, if I could satisfy myself with Reason replacing the software side, it would still be 6650-1500= 5150€.

Of course my approximation might be a little above the real figure, and for many the expenses for the controller would be a lot smaller. And you have to take into account that this system is modular: I could enormously upgrade it by just buying some symphonic library (like the Vienna Symphonic Library, slurp), or any kind of analog simulation, free VSTi's, etc. Or perhaps a Karma system.. The quality of the Colossus (soundwise) is also claimed to be above something a Motif can offer.

I'd however still think the Motif to better suit my needs: I have everything in one enclosed case, don't have to worry about compatibility, have only one interface to learn, don't have to set up my rig that long. While I'm working on it I don't have distractions like the Internet and other things a computer-user has to bother about.

For me the Motif is a sort of heart of my future rig. While it will more than suffice for any use I have for it, it will later prove to be an excellent controller for perhaps the above-drooled-over modular computer system with it's limitless soundscape-possibilities, multihundred-gigabyte-sample'ROM's, and be the heart of my studio comprising of perhaps a couple of more tradititional.

Modularity is the future of keyboard rigs. With that in mind, and with money-stuffed back-pocket, the laptop would be the wiser choice ;).

[awfulgrace]

Alkemist - you're totally right about the money thing. If you need to start from the ground up and the laptop will just be your module, a keyboard is the less expensive choice.

For me, I already had the Laptop, soundcard, & Logic for use in pre-production recording- so the cost of adding a MIDI controller & cases was much cheaper than buying a nice board.

[Sir Cenora]

u can download reason cubase and a lot of NI from internet.. check emule...
by the way.. thank u all guys (:

[Deceit]

u can download reason cubase and a lot of NI from internet.. check emule...
by the way.. thank u all guys (:
Yes, and if you'll ever play on stage with warezed stuff and undergo an inspection on your software you'll get an uncountable fee on your head.
Deceit.

[Luca_Capozzi]

I don't think is a good attitude discussing about pirated software on a public board. I hope a moderator stops this discussion here...

Luca

[Sir Cenora]

ok sorry dudes =P
but here in brazil there isnt ANY kind inspections about warez, i dont know how it works out there..
sorry anyway..
so it seems that laptop got another point=P

[Enigma™]

u can download reason cubase and a lot of NI from internet.. check emule...
by the way.. thank u all guys (:

Great way to get yourself banned.

Watch it...

[LithoJazzoSphere]

The CME controllers have no patch memory, so I'd be wary of using them live. They're more useful for studio controllers.

I think this topic mainly has to do with a player's comfort level in being in control of a computer setup. For me, I know enough about computers to get around, but not nearly enough to trust one on a gig live. Mine don't crash often at home, but enough to make me wary of Murphy's law. My keyboards have Never crashed on me, and they haven't crashed on most of the people I know, so that is comfortable to me. I'm also not currently in any bands that employ samples, so that's a non-issue right now.

[jeebustrain]

I currently use a laptop in my live rig and have never had a problem with it. I use it for controlling patch changes on my hardware synths, running software synths, samples, and running sequences.

I've been gigging like this since may with my band and have only had one problem with my rig. One night at a club (during setup), somebody tripped my power and my midiman external midi interface lost power (while connected to my laptop) and it screwed up all the midi ins/outs. A quick sequenced reboot of all of my gear fixed it, though.

I control all my patch changes at the song level. My KSP88 has the capability of having 4 different zones. I've permanently set up each one... One the full keyboard, and the other three split across the board. Thru Ableton Live, I can set everything else. I also have a Motif6 that I use the master mode to control splits and such (whether the voices be internal, external hardware, or softsynths)

I don't know how many patch changes you go thru in a song, but the most patches I use in any particular song is 9 and the only thing I have to do during the song is hit one button on my motif to access the 2nd group of splits.

As far as piracy and pay synths and all that jazz goes, for the most part, I actually use freeware VST instruments. If you take the time to learn how to work with them, you can come up with some really nifty sounds. The only commercial ones I use are the NI B4 (better than any organ I've ever tried short of a real B3), NI Pro-52 (the old version), and an Edirol Orchestral VST module that I use for strings, brass, and pianos. All of the stuff I use for leads, pads, and other "synthy" stuff is all freeware stuff that I found on the net.

My laptop is an HP Athlon64 w/ 1GB of ram. It's a dedicated audio machine for the most part (though I write a bit of code on it in my spare time and use it for email when I travel). I am in IT and deal with troubleshooting Windows problems quite a bit, and I've never run into an issue that I haven't been able to resolve. The main thing to keep in mind is to keep as little "crap" on the machine as possible. If you're going to install stuff on it, make sure that it doesn't have any services or those little startup widgets running in the background (quicktime, realplayer, msn messenger, Office Startup, whatever else...). 95% of the time, they aren't needed and just eat ram and cpu resources. There are lots of guides and resources floating around the web about tweaking an audio PC, and they all apply to a laptop.

Another thing to keep in mind. I use an external audio module (M-Audio Firewire 410) and was getting all kinds of ground noise whenever I would move the mouse or load a program.... Not really noticeable at home, but on stage with your laptop connected to a loud PA system, it's really noticeable. Basically the problem is ground noise that's making it's way to the audio out. There are all kinds of elaborate (and expensive) ways to do a ground lift. I went the simple route and got a 2 prong to 3 prong AC adapter (like what you use to connect a grounded cord to an older non-grounded AC outlet). If your audio adapter is grounded, you should do the same for that, too. I spent about $4 on it and it's since made my rig absolutely silent.