Dipping toe in the water

[owd git]

I have been lurking on the recording forum decided to have a bash. Purchased a used Yamaha Audiogram6 I have the disc but the licence has already been registered. My aim is to use my Yamaha keyboard to provide all the sounds. My problem do I pay for a new key code for Cubase LI4 or go for another budget software I would be grateful for any advice. Regards Charlie. .

[Skol303]

Hi Charlie.

Cubase is certainly a good piece of software and worth the investment.

As an alternative, you could try using Reaper. Like Cubase it's a full Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) but can be downloaded with an unlimited free trial - meaning you can use it for as long as you like, unhindered, without paying for it. Here a link:

http://www.reaper.fm

Plenty of tutorials about using Reaper on YouTube to get you started. Also plenty of people here using it - so don't hesitate to ask questions!

That said, Cubase is one of the 'industry standard' DAW softwares and a very good platform for making music. But it's slightly more expensive.

Paul

[DaveFry]

Yamaha owns Steinberg now , so any of Steinberg's Cubase versions should work well with the Audiogram6 .
Ensure you get the latest driver for it , the last Windows one was released last month ; [url="http://download.yamaha.com/search/product/?site=uk.yamaha.com&language=en&category_id1=16244&category_id2=16268&category_id3=&product_id=775001"]http://download.yama...oduct_id=775001[/url]

However , that driver should work with any DAW , but if you have trouble try the free ASIO4ALL [url="http://www.asio4all.com/"]http://www.asio4all.com/[/url] driver ( I'm assuming you are using Windows ) . You can install both and then select either in the DAWs I am familiar with .

Having said that , your interface may work fine , with better latency , using a free Linux DAW and it is free to try !
The simplest way to find out would be to try a " live " install of a Linux distro ( operating system ) .
A live install is one that loads from a bootable CD completely into RAM and doesn't affect your hard disc(s) in any way , so has no effect on your existing system . If you find that your interface works okay with Linux then it is possible to partition your hard drive and install Linux to that which will run faster , but there is the risk of losing your existing system if you make a mistake during installation .Just test off a CD first and there is no risk of damaging/losing anything .
A Linux o/s on a separate partition will run faster than off a CD , allow you to dual-boot ( ie choose between your existing Windows installation or Linux at start-up ) and due to the way the kernel is written is more suited to real time , low latency audio processing .
Some Linux distros are pre-tweaked especially for audio priority and come with different DAWs and audio applications pre-installed .
I recommend the lightweight PuppyStudio for testing an interface . [url="http://puppystudio.tiddlyspot.com/"]http://puppystudio.tiddlyspot.com/[/url] it is plenty small enough to fit on a CD.

Download the PuppyStudio 4 rt ( the rt denotes a realtime kernel , - good for audio )
Burn that iso file to a CD ( not "copy to a CD " , it has to be burnt to a CD to make it bootable using an image burning app . In Win7 you can right click and choose " Open with " , then select Windows Disc Image Burner )
Turn off the computer with the CD still in .
Turn on the computer but go straight to the bios or boot menu . On some computers you just keep a key depressed when you push the power button , but the button is different for different makes of motherboards , other computers will quickly say something like " F2 for Steup , F12 for Boot " or whatever . Consult your manufacturers manual .
Configure the Boot section so that it will boot from CD first . ( Remember to change it back the next time you want to use your hard drive / existing os . ! )
Exit bios or boot menu and let it boot from the CD .

After it has booted follow the personalistion pop ups to set things like UK keyboard , language and time .
Open one of the DAWS ( Ardour , Linux Multimedia Studio , Non , Reaper or Rosegarden ) via the Menu .
Select your interface in the DAW setup or preference settings .
See if it works ! You have only spent the cost of a 391MB download and a blank CD !

If it works , investigate ; Ubuntu Studio , KX Studio , AV Linux , or Studio 13.37
If it doesn't , try your computer's inbuilt soundcard , it may give adequate results .


Some handy links / guides ;
These are for the more vanilla version of Puppy Linux , Puppy Studio is very similar .
[url="https://www.winhelp.us/recover-files-using-puppy-linux.html"]https://www.winhelp....uppy-linux.html[/url]
[url="http://puppylinux.org/main/tutorials/LucidPuppyInstallationTutorial-English.pdf"]http://puppylinux.or...ial-English.pdf[/url]

[url="http://www.getstudio1337.com/features-2/"]http://www.getstudio...com/features-2/[/url]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tMMRUWF7nA[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36t8KGQp0VE[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efwstP539Ag[/media]

If it works with your interface , another possibility would be to install to a usb stick which can then be used on any computer that supports booting from usb . Projects are saved to the stick so you can work on a track at home then take the stick and your interface round to a bandmate's computer and add to / demo it there and not affect their computer in any way.

Note on Studio 13.37 ;
The developer wants to sell Version 2 pre-installed on a USB drive , but the Version 1 iso file is available here ;
[url="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByUDhE3nQF8uQWVUTWY4cEJmaXM&usp=sharing#list"]https://drive.google...sp=sharing#list[/url]

[DaveFry]

Further thought next morning :-

Try this free one too , Charlie ; [url="https://shop.presonus.com/products/studio-one-prods/Studio-One-Free"]https://shop.presonu...Studio-One-Free[/url]

Studio One was designed by a couple of ex-Steinberg employees . The workflow is very similar to Cubase .

Does your Yamaha keyboard have MIDI over usb or over the old multi-pin MIDI cables ?
If you need a MIDI to usb interface alongside your audio-only interface , then avoid the cheap ebay ones with no name and just a treble clef symbol .
Get something like this ; [url="http://www.roland.com/products/um-one/"]http://www.roland.com/products/um-one/[/url]

[owd git]

Thanks or your replies gents. Paul I am going to try reaper as you suggest, but I am also going to try Studio one free as Davefry suggests and then choose which to keep. My keyboard is a Yamaha psr s750 and has midi in midi out also connects to computer by usb cable. Time to go get into it now and learn thanks again Charlie.PS looks like some late nights and early morning bed times coming up.

[RockfordStone]

i would highly recommend reaper, its cheap but very powerful, i have just left cubase and am moving to reaper exclusively now

[owd git]

Thanks Rockfordstone loaded Reaper last night. Now I have got to learn how to use it. I have also loaded Studio One free to compare.