Re: question for a friend - MILES! READ THIS

[mech <mech@m3ch.net>]

I'd second Kris' recommendations, with the caveat that there probably 
should be a little thought and discussion put into the type of 
soundcard hardware he's considering.  There are plenty of options out 
there depending upon what you're looking to do: simple stereo or 
multiple output; Cardbus, USB, or Firewire; digital I/O; 
self-contained or break-out box; and, of course, price.

And, as he mentioned, this is a simple solution (simple is good). 
There are more complex solutions (Ableton Live, NI Reaktor) and much 
more complex solutions (Bidule, Max, Audiomulch, PD, Supercollider). 
Again, depends on if there are any further aims to what he's doing, 
as well as how much of a hexhead he wants to be.  ;)

        --m.


At 10:38 PM -0700 1/8/07, Krispen Hartung wrote:
>If he wants to keep things simple with not a lot of programming or 
>fiddlig with virtual wires, commands, etc, I'd use something like 
>the Chainer VST host, with a decent sound card, and then take 
>advantage of all the free VST plugins available on KVR Audio.
>
>Here is something I wrote up for another person interested in 
>getting his feet wet with VST plugins:
>
>1. Download the demo version of Chainer: 
><http://www.xlutop.com/html/downloads.html>http://www.xlutop.com/html/downloads.html
>
>2. Download these free VST plugins, and put the .dll files in the 
>same folder, somewhere on your CD drive:
>
>tube amp simulator: <>http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1860.html (it is 
>free, and absolutely delightful..very warm and natural sounding)
>compressor: <>http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1144.html (really nice, and 
>free)
>reverb: <>http://www.anwida.com/product.asp?pid=7 (excellent and free)
>chorus: <>http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1860.html (it is free, and 
>absolutely
>delightful...very warm and natural sounding)
>delay: <>http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-delay.php (also free)
>More here: <http://www.kvraudio.com>http://www.kvraudio.com, 
>and 
><http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.php>http://www.kjaerhusaudio.com/classic-series.php
>3. Launch Chainer. There is a dropdown menu for Options...there is a 
>place where you tell it where your VST directory is (Plugin 
>Directories)...just point it to the director with your VST dll 
>files. You also need to select your soundcard in the System and 
>Settings section
>
>4. The first slot of your Chainer rack is your input. Just click on 
>the drop down arrow and click "Insert Input"
>
>5. Now click on the next drop down arrow for the next rack slot, and 
>click Effects...you should see the VSTs you put in your directory. 
>Fill the next five slots with the above VSTs, or more...you can use 
>a different order if you want.
>
>6. To deactivate a plugin, you click the button that is between the 
>plug-in window and the section with Wet, Pan, Dry, etc To see the 
>plugin window, parameters, etc, just press the button with "1" in 
>it. You can tweak the settings and then save them by click on 
>"Presets" and "save as".  You can tweak the dry and wet mixes in 
>each lot as well.
>
>This will get anyone up and running with a VST system. For a tuba 
>player, I would recommend running the laptops sound card 
>inputs/outputs through the effects loop of a mixer board, so that he 
>can use higher quality inserts, and also have manual/hardware based 
>control of the mix.
>
>Have him email me if he wants more guidance.
>
>Kris
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:richard@glasswing.com>Richard Sales
>To: 
><mailto:Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
>Cc: <mailto:miles@visibletechnologies.com>Miles Ward
>Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 10:12 PM
>Subject: Re: question for a friend - MILES! READ THIS
>
>He's a Windows systems designer, a wanderer and master of terabytes, 
>fiber networks and tubas... and he's always been a windows man so 
>I'm assuming that's what he's using. Mies, are you there? Yoooo 
>hoooooo! (It's 9:00 p.m. - he's probably just leaving work).
>
>thanks
>richard sales
>glassWing farm and studio
>vancouver island, b.c.
>800.545.6846
>250.752.4816
><http://www.glassWing.com>www.glassWing.com
><http://www.richardsales.com>www.richardsales.com
><http://www.hayleysales.com>www.hayleysales.com
><http://www.blueberryfieldsfarm.com>www.blueberryfieldsfarm.com
>On 8-Jan-07, at 8:30 PM, mech wrote:
>
>At 7:03 PM -0800 1/8/07, Richard Sales wrote:
>
>
>So he wants to play his tuba live and use VST plug ins live - and 
>HEAR the plug ins live, real time. I think I've been reading about 
>'all of y'all' doing that so if you have an answer you can reply to 
>Miles in the CC,,, OR I'll copy and forward your replies. He is, by 
>the way, one killer tuba (actually sousaphone) player and a fabulous 
>person. Plays in my sometimes band, The Musical Fruit.
>
>
>Yeah, you're right. Lots of people here do that exact kind of thing 
>(unless I'm missing a level of complexity in your question), and 
>there are a lot of ways to do it depending upon one's personal 
>preferences.
>
>Quick question to start, however: is there a computing platform he 
>prefers (Mac, Win, or Linux)?
>
>--m.
>--
>_______
>"You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike..."